New Biodegradable Library Card

Today, more people are using the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), with an active membership of more than 350,000 library card holders and growing. SFPL issues approximately 60,000 new and replacement library cards per year to our community of readers. To reduce the environmental impact of production and waste associated with plastic library cards, SFPL is testing a new ecocard, which is made of sustainably harvested corn and is completely compostable.* Ask about the ecocard today!

This pilot project is intended to help the Library evaluate the durability and usability of the new card and the potential for replacing all plastic library cards in the future. To avoid adding more plastic materials into the waste stream, the free ecocard will only be offered to new library card applicants. It can be purchased as a replacement library card for a small fee.

We need your feedback! When you get your new ecocard, we ask that you provide us with your e-mail address so we may follow up.

Find out more information about obtaining an SFPL library card.

*Note: while the card is compostable we urge you to use it frequently — not dispose it in your compost bin.