Taipei Public Library (TPL / 北市圖) individual library cards allow borrowing up to 25 books plus 7 popular collection items, with a regular borrowing period of 30 days and up to 3 online renewals; New Taipei City Library (NTCL / 新北市圖) individual library cards allow up to 30 items combined (books and audiovisual materials), with a regular borrowing period of 30 days and 2 renewals. Both library systems offer "Taipei-New Taipei-Keelung Unified Card Access" (北北基一證通用) to borrow across both municipal systems using a single card; however, official guidelines on the TPL website state clearly that TPL materials must be returned to TPL service locations and NTCL materials must be returned to NTCL service branches, without cross-municipal borrowing/returns or cross-municipal reservation pickups. Below is a side-by-side comparison of card application, loan periods, renewals, reservations, and overdue suspensions across Taipei and New Taipei.
Reminder: Regulations differ between the two library systems; the most common areas of confusion are renewal allowances (3 times for TPL vs 2 times for NTCL), reservation pickup retention periods (5 days for TPL vs 7 days for NTCL), and overdue suspension caps (90 days per card for TPL vs 60 days per item for NTCL). This article is compiled from current official rules (TPL Reading Regulations amended May 12, 2026 / ROC year 115; NTCL Reading Service Regulations amended February 22, 2024 / ROC year 113); actual terms follow latest library announcements.
Loan Limits, Loan Periods, and Renewals: Comparison Table
| Item | Taipei Public Library | New Taipei City Library |
|---|
| Individual card book loan limit | 25 volumes; plus an additional 7 popular collection volumes | 30 volumes (combined with audiovisual materials up to 30 items) |
| Family library card | 40 volumes (restricted to households registered in Taipei City) | 30 volumes (restricted to households registered in New Taipei City) |
| Regular book loan period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Materials with shorter loan periods | Popular collection 14 days, non-renewable; audiovisual materials 14 days (borrowing cap 7 items) | Audiovisual materials, comics, and periodicals 7 days |
| Renewal limit | 3 times, each extending 30 days from the day following renewal (audiovisual 14 days) | 2 times, each extending 30 days from the day following renewal (audiovisual, comics, periodicals 7 days) |
| Renewal methods | Online only (website or APP); counter, telephone, or email renewals are not accepted | Online via the "Collection Query System" |
| Reservation limit | 7 volumes (items) per card | 10 volumes (items) per card; family and group cards cannot place reservations |
| Reservation retention | Retained for 5 days after arrival (FastBook and self-service lockers retained 3 days), excluding national holidays and library closing days | Retained for 7 days after arrival |
| Card validity period | 6 years | 5 years |
TPL's "popular collection" status is dynamic: books with a reservable copy count of 6 or more where the number of reservation requests divided by reservable copies exceeds 4 become popular collection items the next day, shortening loan periods to 14 days without renewal; when the ratio drops to 3 or below, items revert to general collection status. Items already checked out do not have their loan periods retroactively shortened.
Card Application Documents and Fees
| Item | Taipei Public Library | New Taipei City Library |
|---|
| Domestic citizen ID (choose one original) | National ID card, driver's license, disability certificate (handbook), household certificate, or household registration transcript issued within 3 months | National ID card, driver's license, disability handbook, or household certificate |
| Children | Under 12 years old applying in person may use photocopy of household certificate or transcript within 3 months | Under 7 years old must be handled by lineal relatives or statutory guardians |
| Foreign and Mainland residents | Passport or Alien Resident Certificate (ARC); Mainland residents use entry/exit permit or residence certificate | Alien Resident Certificate or passport; Mainland residents may use Exit & Entry Permit for Taiwan |
| Card format | No physical personal cards issued since July 1, 2019 (108); use own EasyCard, iPASS, or mobile cards via TaipeiPASS or iRead APP | Individual, family, and group cards; mobile library cards also available |
| Initial application fee | Free | No fee regulation found in public documents; card renewal is free |
| Replacement for lost cards | Provide own EasyCard or iPASS for reissue, or switch to mobile card free of charge; family card replacement fee is NT$50 | Replacement fee is NT$100 (same applies for reapplication after cancellation) |
Entrusting others to apply on your behalf requires an authorization letter and original identification of both parties; proving lineal relative or spousal relationship waives the authorization letter. Online application for TPL requires submitting the online form first, followed by bringing ID and an EasyCard (or iPASS) to a branch to encode the card. For EasyCard refund and loss procedures, see how to refund and check EasyCard balances; if your ID card is lost, see how to replace a lost national ID card.
Overdue Consequences: Suspension Days and Compensation Fees
| Item | Taipei Public Library | New Taipei City Library |
|---|
| Upon becoming overdue | Borrowing and reservation privileges are suspended immediately | Borrowing and reservation privileges are immediately suspended if any single book is overdue |
| How suspension is calculated | Cumulative total of overdue days for each volume (item) | Calculated separately based on overdue days for each volume (item) |
| Suspension ceiling | 90 days for individual cards, 120 days for family cards (calculated per card) | 60 days per volume (item) |
| Cash substitution | Each overdue day converts to NT$1 breach penalty; payable online (additional handling fee applies) | Each overdue day converts to NT$1 fine |
| Point deduction substitution | Every 10 reading passbook points offsets 1 suspension day | No relevant provisions found in published guidelines |
| Restoration timing | After returning books, upon expiration of suspension or payment of breach penalty | Borrowing rights: upon suspension expiration or fine payment; Reservation rights: restored immediately upon returning overdue books |
TPL online point/fine offsetting has restrictions: it cannot be used if the library card has expired or if other overdue items remain unreturned; suspension days must be offset entirely in one transaction and cannot be canceled once confirmed.
Uncollected reservations also result in suspension. TPL rules state that accumulating 3 uncollected reservations within 6 months suspends reservation privileges for 90 days; NTCL imposes a 90-day suspension upon accumulating 5 uncollected items within one year, resetting uncollected points under 5 to zero every December 31. Neither system allows canceling reservations once book dispatch transit has commenced.
Unified Card Access Does Not Equal Inter-City Circulation
"Taipei-New Taipei-Keelung Unified Card Access" integrates borrowing privileges across Taipei Public Library, New Taipei City Library, and Keelung Public Library into a single card. According to TPL FAQs, note the following after linking:
- No inter-city book returns or pickups: TPL collection items may only be borrowed and returned at TPL service branches; NTCL collection items may only be borrowed and returned at NTCL branches.
- Rights follow respective library rules: Loan limits and borrowing days do not change as a result of unified card integration.
- Suspensions do not cross over: Being suspended in New Taipei does not affect borrowing at TPL as long as TPL privileges remain in good standing; penalties cannot be paid across municipal boundaries.
- Individual cards only: Family and group cards cannot activate unified card access.
- How to activate: Existing TPL cardholders log in to TPL "Personal Study", enable New Taipei (or Keelung) unified access, and then complete identity verification at an NTCL counter; alternatively, apply when issuing a new card.
TPL Convenience Store Borrowing and Returns
TPL offers paid convenience store delivery services: cardholders holding a TPL personal library card can apply online and deposit NT$200 security deposit to activate "Convenience Store Book Borrowing Service". When reserving items, select "A01 convenience store" (A01超商) as pickup library; items will be dispatched to 全家, 7-ELEVEN, or 萊爾富 stores across Taiwan's main island. Logistics fees are paid by readers: NT$50 for convenience store pickup and NT$45 for convenience store returns. A maximum of 7 volumes may be requested per dispatch; audiovisual materials and popular collections are excluded from convenience store delivery. NTCL reading service regulations do not include convenience store loan services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can books borrowed from Taipei libraries be returned to New Taipei libraries?
No. TPL FAQs clearly state that even with unified card access, cross-municipal returns are prohibited; TPL books must be returned to TPL locations, and NTCL books must be returned to NTCL branches.
How many times can I renew books at Taipei Public Library?
3 times, with each renewal extending the loan for 30 days starting from the day following renewal (14 days for audiovisual materials); renewals must be processed online via the website or APP, and counter or telephone renewals are not accepted. Popular collection items cannot be renewed. NTCL allows 2 renewals.
How much is the fine for overdue library books per day?
Both library systems assess NT$1 per overdue day; readers can also choose not to pay fines and wait out the suspension period instead. The maximum suspension cap is 90 days per card for TPL, and 60 days per volume for NTCL.
What happens if I do not pick up reserved books?
At TPL, accumulating 3 uncollected volumes within 6 months suspends reservation privileges for 90 days; at NTCL, accumulating 5 uncollected items within one year suspends reservation rights for 90 days.
Does it cost money to apply for a library card?
Initial card issuance at TPL is free; no charging regulation was found for initial issuance at NTCL. When replacing lost cards, using your own EasyCard or mobile card at TPL is free; NTCL charges an NT$100 processing fee for replacement.
Last updated: 2026-11-01
This article was compiled by SOSfix editors from public information for general reference only; for specific inquiries, contact Taipei Public Library (02-2755-2823) or New Taipei City Library branches.
Sources
- Taipei Public Library: Reading Regulations (amended May 12, 2026 / ROC 115, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): TPL borrowing limits, loan periods, renewals, reservation limits, uncollected reservation suspensions, overdue caps and penalties, ID requirements, 6-year validity, replacement fees, agent authorization.
- Taipei Public Library FAQs: Can books be renewed before due date? (updated 114-12-01, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): 3 renewals, online only, popular items non-renewable.
- Taipei Public Library FAQs: Reservation pickup deadlines (updated 115-01-05, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): 5-day retention, FastBook and lockers 3 days, holiday exclusion.
- Taipei Public Library FAQs: What is popular collection? (updated 112-11-08, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): identification criteria, 14-day loan, 7-book cap.
- Taipei Public Library: Offsetting overdue suspensions with reading points and online payment (updated 115-08-05, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): point and payment rules.
- Taipei Public Library FAQs: Inter-city reservation and return rules under unified card (updated 111-11-02, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): unified card scope, no cross-city returns or pickups, independent suspensions, activation process.
- Taipei Public Library FAQs: Fees for convenience store borrowing and returns (updated 111-11-02, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): NT$50 pickup, NT$45 return.
- Taipei Public Library FAQs: Convenience store borrowing deposit (updated 111-11-02, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): NT$200 security deposit.
- Taipei Public Library FAQs: Service locations for convenience store borrowing (updated 111-11-02, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): 全家, 7-ELEVEN, 萊爾富 stores, 7-volume cap, media exclusions.
- New Taipei City Library: Reading Service Regulations (amended February 22, 2024 / ROC 113, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): NTCL loan limits, loan periods, 2 renewals, 10 reservations and 7-day retention, uncollected suspensions, 60-day overdue cap and NT$1/day, 5-year validity, NT$100 replacement fee.
- New Taipei City Library: Usage regulations list (verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): inter-city service guidelines between New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan.
