Sioux City Residents

1. Full-Service Library Card:
Borrow materials and special collections, and use the Library’s digital resources. Available for anyone living inside the city limits of Sioux City.

• Sioux City resident who is 18+, or under age 18 with a parent/guardian’s signature.

• Apply for a card online! (Ages 18+ only)

• Or visit any Sioux City Public Library location to apply for a card. You can print and fill out the application before coming to the Library. Bring a valid photo ID. (If you do not have a photo ID or it does not include your current address, you may use a current utility or phone bill, vehicle registration, voter registration card, apartment lease, or official government document.)

2. Children’s Card
Borrow up to three youth print materials at a time. Available for anyone under the age of 18 living in Sioux City at the child’s or a parent’s request; the child must be present and able to write their first name (with accommodation if handicapped/disabled).

• Visit any Sioux City Public Library location to apply for a card. You can print and fill out the application before coming to the Library.

Non-Residents

1. Full-Service Card:
Borrow materials and special collections, and use the Library’s digital resources. Available for anyone living outside the Sioux City city limits by purchase. Current options are $10 for one month, $25 for one quarter, or $85 for one year. You can print and fill out the application before coming to the Library.

2. Open Access Card:
Borrow books, movies, and magazines. Available for individuals living in Iowa but outside Sioux City’s city limits if the library in their hometown participates in the Iowa Open Access Program. For a list of participating libraries, visit the State Library’s website.

• Visit any Sioux City Public Library location and bring a valid ID with your name and current address to apply. You can print and fill out the application before coming to the Library.

3. COOP Card:
Borrow books, movies, and magazines. Available for students and employees at Briar Cliff University, Morningside University, Western Iowa Tech Community College, Unity Point Health (St. Luke’s), Mercy Medical Center, Heelan High School, or Sioux City Community School District who live outside the City limits or on-campus.

• Visit any Sioux City Public Library location and bring your institution or school ID with a second form of identification containing your home or current address to apply for a card.

For details, please see the Circulation Policy or call the Circulation Desk at (712) 255-2933 ext. 2211.

Public Meeting Rooms
The Library offers free use of public meeting room space for meetings and programs that serve an educational, cultural, or civic purpose. Meetings and programs held in Library meeting rooms must be free, open and of potential interest to the general public. All reservations must be made at least seven days in advance.

The Aalfs Downtown Library houses:

The Gleeson Room, which has a number of amenities including a kitchenette, projector, sound system, and can seat up to 85 individuals. To request a reservation click here.

The Security National Bank Conference Room, which has tables and chairs for up to 12 people. To request a reservation click here.

The Morningside Branch Library houses:

The Garretson Room, which is suitable for larger presentations or small meetings, can seat up to 78 individuals, and includes a kitchenette. To request a reservation click here.

The Conference Room, which has a table and chairs for up to 8 people. To request a reservation click here.

Study Rooms and Spaces
The Aalfs Downtown Library offers four individual and small-group study rooms on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Morningside Branch Library offers the Security National Bank Study Room, which is a small-group study room that is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Both the Aalfs Downtown Library and the Morningside Branch Library have a wide variety of open areas with tables and chairs for reading or study. WiFi is available throughout both buildings.

The 2^nd floor of the Aalfs Downtown Library has 1-hour full-Internet computers and 2-hour project computers. Project computers are intended for job applications, research, and other projects and limit access to social networking, videos, and games. Several 1-hour Internet computers with limited Internet access are located in the Children’s area. The Morningside Branch Library has five 1-hour Internet computers available for public use.

You can login to Library computers twice daily with your Library barcode number. All Sioux City residents are encouraged to apply for a free Sioux City Public Library card. Library cards are not transferable; each patron must use their own Library card to access the computer. Staff will look up barcode numbers for patrons who have forgotten their Library cards if identification is provided; there is a $1.00 fee for this look-up service.

Visitors who are not eligible for a full-service Library card may apply for an Internet Access card or request a guest login, which costs $1.00 per session with a limit of two sessions per day. Public computers are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Read the Library’s Internet use policy.

Computer Software
Software available on Library computers includes Microsoft Office 2016 (on Downtown Internet and Youth Services computers), Microsoft Office 2013 (on Project and Morningside computers), and Adobe Reader. One computer at the Aalfs Downtown Library has a scanner and accessibility software: JAWS 15.0 (screen reader), MAGic 12.0 (screen magnification), and Open Book 9.0 (optical character recognition).

Computer Accessories
Computer files can be saved to a CD or USB flash drive. Patrons can purchase a 2 GB USB drive from the Library for $5.00, or a non-rewritable CD for $1.00. Library computers do not support floppy disks and do not have speakers. Patrons may bring their own headphones or purchase earbuds for $2.00.

WiFi Access
Wireless Internet access is available from the Aalfs Downtown Library and the Morningside Branch Library. At the Library, locate “library-guest” in the Wifi network listing on your laptop computer, tablet or phone.

Internet for All
Thanks to the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), the Sioux City Public Library has been gifted with 1,900 internet-providing devices for the 2023 calendar year. Sioux City Residents may check out these devices using their Sioux City Public Library Card. Visit our Internet for All page for more information.

Printing and Photocopies

Make an appointment with a librarian at the Aalfs Downtown Library for one-on-one help with your technology needs. Consultations can cover any of the following topics:

• Using Library eResources, including eBooks and journal databases
• Getting started with your eReader, laptop, tablet, or smartphone
• Searching the Internet
• Setting up an email or Facebook account
• Using Microsoft Word to type resumes or other documents

Call us at 712-255-2933 ext. 2221 or email us at questions@siouxcitylibrary.org to make an appointment. Consultations with Library Techies are designed to help familiarize individuals with common computer and Internet functions to foster digital literacy in our community.

Library Storytimes
Library Storytime is a unique place for young children and their caring adults to explore the world together. Curious young minds experience the magic that stories offer while developing the early literacy skills needed to be ready to read.

Perry Creek Branch Storytime – Tuesdays from 11 to 11:30 am

Morningside Branch Storytime – Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:00 am

Book Van
It’s a library delivered in a box! Library staff carefully select picture books, a children’s music CD, and a teacher’s curriculum resource for participating Sioux City preschool teachers to most effectively help the children they serve reach their early literacy goals. Preschool teachers may call the Library’s Youth Services Department at (712) 255-2933, ext. 2231 to inquire about Book Van delivery service.

Storytime at Preschools
Library staff visit preschool sites and share books with children through Outreach Storytimes. Programs feature puppets, fingerplays, songs, activities and stories incorporating early literacy practices.

Discover family connections and the stories of Sioux City’s people, places and events using the resources at the Aalfs Downtown Library. We encourage you to visit the Downtown Library and use the genealogy and local history collection onsite to make the most effective use of all resources. Library Research Staff will help you:
• devise and outline search strategies
• use catalogs, indexes, and research guides to identify pertinent Library resources
• locate and use items in the collection and various electronic databases on the Library website
Photocopies and printouts can be made for 25¢/page for black and white and 50¢/page for color.

Requests from Sioux City Newspapers
Research requests for obituaries or articles published in the Sioux City Journal can be made via email, phone, or in-person. For obituary requests we ask that you provide the first and last name of the individual and date of death. For article requests please provide the date when the article appeared in the Sioux City Journal as well as the name of the person or topic featured. Relevant documents found during the search can be scanned and emailed or photocopied and mailed to the requester for $5 per document. Click here to email your request.

Library Genealogy Resources Online
You can search the following genealogy databases with a full access Sioux City Public Library card:

Sioux City Journal (1864 – 1922)
Featuring over 230 Iowa newspapers, this digitized collection includes the Sioux City Journal from the years 1864 to 1922 with the option to view, print, save and share your search results.

HeritageQuest
Find genealogical data from the U.S. Federal Census, Revolutionary War records, Freedman’s Bank Records, the U.S. Serial Set, the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) Archive, and more.

Visit the Aalfs Downtown Library to access Ancestry Library Edition.

Test proctoring is provided as part of our mission to connect people and ideas to empower and enrich our community. The following guidelines help to ensure the integrity of the testing process.

• The Library can proctor written, emailed, or online exams. A private study room is provided for test taking.
• Proctoring is done by appointment only. A minimum of 7 days advance notice of desired test time is recommended for best results. Appointments can be made in person, by phone, or via email by contacting the Research Desk at 712-255-2933 ext. 2221 or proctor@siouxcitylibrary.org.
• Scheduled exams will be administered at the Aalfs Downtown Library located at 529 Pierce Street. Exams must be issued and completed between 9:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
• Students are responsible for arriving at their scheduled appointment time. Exams will not be rescheduled for students who fail to notify the proctor in advance that they cannot make their appointment.
• Students need to ensure that the examination and other required exam materials are sent to the proctor. All test requirements, exam instructions, and verification forms must be received from the issuing educational institution before any tests are taken.
• Tests can be received and/or returned through the mail, by e-mail or by fax. Students or the examining institutions must provide a return envelope and postage for mailings. The Library charges $3 for long distance faxes and 25¢ per page for photocopies and printouts.
• At the time of testing, students must provide photo identification.
• Students are responsible for supplying all necessary materials such as pens, pencils, calculator, paper, etc. to complete the test.
• Proctors will enforce any time limits that are placed on the exam, as well as other rules set forth in the exam materials. The use of cell phones or visiting with others during the testing period will not be allowed.
• The Library cannot provide direct in-room supervision of students during exams.
• For online exams, the Library will provide a study room with a computer that has Microsoft Office and Internet access. The Library cannot guarantee that technical problems will not occur when using the Library PCs or that we will be able to accommodate the download of specific test-taking software. Students are responsible for ensuring that the computing resources are adequate for their testing purposes prior to the day of the exam.
• Proctors will not enter their personal information (Social Security number, driver’s license, home phone number, home address, etc.) on the proctoring materials.
• The Library cannot assume responsibility for completed tests that are not received by the testing institution. Students must contact the institutions to determine if the completed tests were received. The Library will keep copies of scanned or faxed test materials for two weeks.

Please note: Western Iowa Tech Community College provides testing services with special accommodations at the Sioux City campus. For more information call 274-6443.