NON-RESIDENT CARDS

Borrowers who do not reside in Monticello Township and live in an area that is not served by another local library can purchase a non-resident card.

Please note that having a Monticello postal address does not necessarily mean you live in Monticello Township. For clarification of what township you live in, you may check your voter’s registration or check what district your residence is located in by checking the map at  Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Geospatial Mapping, Applications, and Research Center (GeoMarc).

In accordance with Illinois Library Law, non-residents must apply for a non-resident library card at the public library located closest to the person’s principal residence. ILCS 5/4-7.

HOW NON-RESIDENT CARDS WORK 

Non-Resident cards may be used at any library in the Illinois Heartland Libraries System including those in Mahomet, Decatur and other participating towns and cities.

Non-Resident cards are good for one year from the date of purchase. Payment may be made by check or cash.

A library card will cost you exactly the same if you live in Monticello Township as it would if you lived outside of Monticello Township.

The difference is non-residents pay the library fee directly to the library and Monticello Township property owners pay their library fee with their property tax bill.

Non-residents pay for a library card so that everyone who uses the library contributes their fair share.

Just show us your current property tax bill and we will calculate the fee for your non-resident card.

You can look up your current net taxable value on the Piatt County Property Tax Inquiry website.  

NON-RESIDENT HOMEOWNERS

The cost of your card will be the net taxable value (tax year must be set to Tax Year 2025 PAYABLE 2026 on the Piatt County Property Tax Inquiry Website) multiplied by the current Non-Resident Tax Rate for 2026/2027 .0018226.

The assessed value is about 1/3 the fair market value of your property. For example, if the net taxable value of your home were $50,000 (for a home with a market value of about $150,000) the cost of your card would be $91.13.

.0018226 x $50,000 = $91.13.

NON-RESIDENT RENTERS

If you pay rent for a residence, the cost of your card is $75.00.

Just bring in your current lease agreement so we can verify that you are a renter.

EXCEPTIONS TO NON-RESIDENT FEES

• Veterans who are 70-100% disabled and do not pay property tax.
• Kids who receive free or reduced lunch (or are eligible to receive one based on parents’ income) are eligible ​​for a state program called Cards for Kids. Letters are sent to eligible families from the library in January.
•  Allerton Public Library has an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Monticello CUSD #25. Under this agreement, Allerton Public Library will provide a free library card to any eligible school aged student who lives outside of the library’s legal boundaries and are not serviced by another library. (If you live in Goose Creek or Willow Branch Library districts, you must obtain your library card from your home branch. With that card you can access Allerton Public Library services through reciprocal borrowing.)
• Owners of property within Monticello Township.

If any of the above apply to you, ask a staff member for more information.