An eCard is a Boston Public Library card that you can sign up for online, opens a new window and which provides access to all online resources, including OverDrive and Hoopla.

eCards are available to anyone who lives, resides part-time to attend school, owns property, or works in Massachusetts.

Register for an eCard, opens a new window if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You reside permanently in Massachusetts.
• You are living in-state for most of the year to attend school.
• You commute to a Massachusetts employer on a sustained and regular basis. (Your primary place of work.)
• You own property (real estate) in Massachusetts.

Other Restrictions
Unfortunately, if you are a short-term resident staying in Massachusetts you are not eligible for an eCard. However, you can visit any of our locations and apply for a research card in-person at the Central Library in Copley Square.

If you have any other card with the BPL, you are not eligible for an eCard (and don’t need one!)

Children under 13 years of age are ineligible for an eCard due to COPPA restrictions.

If you have any questions about eligibility, please email websupport@bpl.org.

No. Your physical library card provides all the benefits of eCards plus access to the physical collection, including museum passes.

Requesting and borrowing physical materials, including museum passes, requires a physical card. eCards can be upgraded to physical cards at any BPL location.

We're unable to accept eCard registrations submitted from outside the country due to security and licensing concerns. Please register when you've returned from your trip.

Please note that many of our online resources also may not be available for use outside the United States due to vendor licensing restrictions.

Only eligible individual users may register for eCards. Organizations may not register for eCards.

Library cards for corporations, businesses, libraries, and other organizations must be obtained in person at any of our locations.

Institutional cards provide borrowing and interlibrary loan privileges, but do not allow remote access to electronic resources, due to vendor licensing restrictions.

You can renew your eCard 10 days before it expires or later. Just complete the registration form, opens a new window again using the same email address that's in your account. We'll find the expired account and send you an email confirmation of your renewal.

All eCards can be upgraded by visiting any BPL location. Bring photo ID and proof of your Massachusetts address. A Massachusetts driver’s license or ID meets both requirements.

After you upgrade, you should still be able to see your active holds, checkouts, and other digital activity when you log in with your new library card credentials.

However, if we need to create a whole new borrower record for you, we may need to transfer your activity to the new account. You can email us at overdrive@bpl.org to transfer your holds and checkouts in OverDrive to your new card. Please send the old and new library card numbers.