ME Libraries vs TAL Card

The ME Libraries service is for patrons wishing to borrow from a public library within Alberta other than their home branch/system.

The TAL Card is for patrons wishing to borrow from an academic or special library within Alberta.

ME Libraries vs. TAL Card – summary brochure

ME Libraries

ME Libraries is the initiative which allows patrons to take their library card to any public library in Alberta that is part of the provincial network. Patrons planning on visiting a library and checking out a book in person can register to do so via ME Libraries. 

Patrons register via www.melibraries.ca, using their barcode and PIN. Once patrons are logged in, they can choose at which public libraries they would like to register. Once patrons have registered their card at another public library, they will be able to use that public library as any other local library patron. 

A list of participating libraries can be found on the ME Libraries website. 

For patrons coming in to your public library from other ME libraries, their account in Polaris will show MeLibrary Branch as their Registered branch and Reciprocal as the Patron code.

Important things to remember about ME Libraries:

• Patrons do have to have an email address in their account profile. Notifications from ME libraries will only be sent via email.
• Only patrons 18 or older are able to register at other ME libraries. ME libraries will block underage patrons based on either the birthdate or patron code. The system does not look at the statistical class to determine age. 
• When you check items out to a ME user, put a ME return flag in each item, in case the ME patron returns the items at their home library instead of at your library or another TRAC library. Please contact PLS if you need more ME Libraries flags.
• More information can be found on ME libraries wiki that has been created for additional resources. 
• For the full ME Libraries manual, click here.

If you have patrons visiting another library and would like to search their catalogue beforehand, here are links to library catalogues outside of TRAC.

• Calgary Public Library
• Chinook Arch Library System
• Edmonton Public Library
• Fort Saskatchewan Public Library
• Parkland Library System
• Red Deer Public Library
• St. Albert Public Library
• Strathcona County Library
• Shortgrass Library System
• Wood Buffalo Regional Library

TAL Card

A TAL Card enables Albertans to walk into over 300 public, post-secondary and government ​special ​libraries across the province, borrow material, and return it to any participating library. The TAL card is the only program that allows cross-sectoral borrowing (such as a member of a public library borrowing from an academic library, and vice versa).

It is free to register for a TAL Card, which you can request from library staff at your home library. TAL Card users have access to the same walk-in borrowing privileges as local library card holders. Borrowed materials can be returned at any TAL member library.

Important things to remember about the TAL Card:

• A separate TAL Card will still be needed to borrow from college and university libraries in-person.
• When you check items out to a TAL Card user, put a TAL return flag in each item, in case the TAL patron returns the items at their home library instead of at your library or another TRAC library. Please contact PLS if you need more TAL Card flags.
• More information can be found on The Alberta Library’s TAL Card page.
• For the full TAL Manual, click here.