Libraries and City Museum will be closed King's Birthday Public Holiday, Monday 8 June 2026 and will re-open Tuesday 9 June 2026.

Conditions of Membership

Home » Conditions of Membership

Library Membership Guidelines

Library membership is free to residents of the Shellharbour City Local Government area (LGA). New members can join online or at any of our libraries by presenting proof of name and current address.

Residents of NSW who are visiting or working in Shellharbour, may join up in person at any of our libraries and receive full membership benefits. Online membership that gives access to digital library resources only is limited to residents of Shellharbour LGA. This is due to the licensing agreements of online platforms that we provide.

Shellharbour City Libraries members agree to:

  • present their library card for all your transactions
  • be responsible for the material borrowed on their card
  • check their library account and notifications for up-to-date information relating to items on loan, renewals, reservations and overdue resources
  • return library materials to the library at the end of the loan period
  • pay fees incurred for damaged or non-returned items according to Council’s fees & charges schedule
  • notify the library as soon as possible of changes in membership details or loss of library card
  • abide by library rules and relevant legislation including the Library Act 1939, the Library Regulation 2010 and the Copyright Act 1968.

Parent or legal guardian of a library member agrees to be responsible for:

The library use of children under 16 in their care, on the understanding that the library does not censor, including:

  • selection of library items borrowed
  • care and return of library materials
  • computer use, including public PCs, internet and wi-fi

Members of Shellharbour City Libraries acknowledge that:

  • Our libraries are public spaces where photos or recordings may be taken for promotional purposes from time to time – particularly during events and programs. If a member specifically wishes that they or their children not be photographed, they need to advise staff at the time.
  • Library resources are loaned on the understanding that they are for private use only.
  • Membership details will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
  • Shellharbour City Council is not responsible for use of, damage, or injury to property, equipment or person arising from the use of any material or information from the library.
  • Conditions of Membership may be amended by Shellharbour City Libraries from time to time.
Secret Link

What are you looking for?

Narrow your search by selecting where to look:

Warrigal Care

Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Warrigal Care to deliver Bee Connected, an intergenerational program aimed at forming meaningful connections between young people and seniors in the community through songs, games, reading, and crafts. 

University of Wollongong

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with UOW on a range of Paint Shellharbour REaD initiatives. Paint Shellharbour REaD is part of the Paint the Town REaD network, dedicated to promoting early childhood literacy. 

The Man Walk

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with The Man Walk to deliver the Tall Tales program. This program aims to make connections with local, social, hobby and information organisations who appeal to male audiences and bring them into our library programs space. 

Smith Family

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Smith Family to promote early childhood literacy through the Paint Shellharbour REaD initiative. Paint Shellharbour REaD organises reading days and kids events throughout the year dedicated to fostering a love of reading. 

QBD

Shellharbour City Libraries have worked with QBD Shellharbour as the preferred bookseller at all of our Author Talk events. 

Good Things

The Good Things Foundation are a future-focused digital inclusion leaders, advocating, partnering, educating and innovating to ensure no one is left behind in the digital world. The Good Things Foundation have partnered with Shellharbour City Libraries to facilitate Digital Skills sessions from Sptember 2025.

Paint the Gong REaD

Shellharbour City Libraries collaborates with Paint the Gong REaD in conjunction with the Paint the Town REaD network. This partnership promotes early childhood literacy across the Illawarra through multiple reading events and activities. 

NSW Health

Shellharbour City Libraries has partnered with NSW Health to facilitate Independent Living Skills sessions aimed at teaching foster children health and wellbeing skills, in collaboration with the William Campbell Foundation.

Multicultural Communities Council Illawarra

The Multicultural Communities Council Illawarra attends Warilla library to utilise the 2528 community room. This is used for exercise and light physio sessions with senior community members.

Living Connected

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Living Connected to offer drop-in Tech Help sessions to our customers at Warilla, Albion Park and City Libraries. These short one-on-one sessions are designed to assist customers in their digital skills development. 

Legal Aid NSW

Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Legal Aid NSW to bring free community talks across our branches discussing a range of legal topics and how people can access help and resources as a part of the Libraries Law Week celebration.

Kiama Community College

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Kiama Community College to deliver Tech Savvy Seniors sessions at our libraries. Tech Savvy Seniors is a NSW Government and Telstra partnership coordinated by the State Library of NSW. The program aims to teach seniors digital skills and knowledge.

Junior Einsteins

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Junior Einsteins to deliver Bee Connected, an intergenerational program aimed at forming meaningful connections between young people and seniors in the community through songs, games, reading, and crafts. 

Judi Sandilands - Cincotta

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Judi Sandilands-Cincotta to bring Ollie and Shiko the therapy dogs to a range of children’s and youth programs. These programs aim to promote positive mental health and social connection.

The Sewing Collective

The Sewing Collective is a vibrant and inclusive community hub where sewists of all levels come together to create. The Sewing Collective facilitates several sewing programs at City Library every month.

HARS Aviation Museum

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with HARS to deliver the Tall Tales program. This program aims to make connections with local social, hobby and information organisations who appeal to male audiences and bring them into our library program space. 

Greenacres Disability Services

Shellharbour City Libraries organises Sensory Experiences with Greenacres Disability Services at Warilla Library.

Barrmarrany

Barrmarrany is an Aboriginal family-owned business based in the Illawarra region of the lands of the Dharawal people. They offer programs and workshops to various people and services seeking authentic and unique Indigenous experiences, including educational programs, cultural performances and authentic Indigenous experiences.

Ed U Play Illawarra

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Ed U Play to facilitate programs and activities that bring young people together. These programs support social and emotional wellbeing amongst youth. The libraries support the Girls Only Project which aims to provide young women with knowledge of and access to positive activities in their own communities. Ed U Play are funded by the Communities for Children Program.

Bunnings

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Bunnings to deliver free monthly Craft Workshops at City Library. In these sessions, experts from Bunnings teach our customers a range of crafting skills. These workshops include, Kokedama Balls, Painting Art Canvas and much more!

Afford

Afford provides disability services and community connection for people living with disability. Afford in partnership with Shellharbour City Libraries runs monthly craft sessions for disability groups, covering a range of craft themes.

Barnardos

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Barnardos to promote early childhood literacy through the Paint Shellharbour REaD initiative. Paint Shellharbour REaD organises reading days and kids events throughout the year dedicated to fostering a love of reading.

Aruma Disability Services

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Aruma Disability Services to deliver Library Links. Library Links is a program that aims to invite disability services groups into their local branches to utilise craft and puzzle kits as well as getting to know our collections. Aruma is the first group at the Warilla branch and comes monthly to utilise space, kits and collections with their joined organisation library card.

Warrigal Care

Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Warrigal Care to deliver Bee Connected, an intergenerational program aimed at forming meaningful connections between young people and seniors in the community through songs, games, reading and crafts. 

William Campbell Foundation

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with the William Campbell Foundation to deliver the Independent Living Skills Program. This program involves teaching foster children integral health and wellbeing skills and knowledge. Additionally, the City Library hosts WCF’s fortnightly Homework Club.

Sydney Writers Festival

Sydney Writers Festival

Every year, Shellharbour City Libraries partners with the Sydney Writers Festival to deliver author panel livestreams and local events as part of the festival’s Live and Local programming. 

Paint the town read

Paint the Town REaD

Shellharbour City Libraries leads Paint Shellharbour REaD, which is part of the Paint the Town REaD network. This initiative aims to promote early childhood literacy by connecting local early childhood education stakeholders and providers and collaborating with them to deliver reading events and activities. 

Little Zaks Bee connected

Little Zaks

Shellharbour City Libraries partnered with Little Zaks Academy to deliver Bee Connected, an intergenerational program aimed at forming meaningful connections between young people and seniors in the community through songs, games, reading and crafts. 

Frasers Property

Frasers

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Frasers Property Australia to deliver Toddler Tales, a weekly childhood reading program, at The Waterfront Shell Cove. The libraries have also partnered with Frasers Property Australia to deliver a term of Tech Savvy Seniors at Shell Cove.

Frasers Property

Frasers

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Frasers Property Australia to deliver Toddler Tales, a weekly childhood reading program, at The Waterfront Shell Cove. The libraries have also partnered with Frasers Property Australia to deliver a term of Tech Savvy Seniors at Shell Cove.

Paint Shellharbour REaD

Big Fat Smile

Shellharbour City Libraries partners with Big Fat Smile to deliver Transition to School programs to prepare pre-schoolers for their move into primary school. Big Fat Smile is also a part of the Paint Shellharbour REaD initiative, which organises events that promote early childhood literacy.