Library Card Makers & Systems

If you've been using an external card issuance system in your library, you know what a hassle it can be to issue temporary cards, then hope that permanent cards don't get lost in the mail. Issuing standard design library cards might be a solution, but a personalized library card ensures that only the library card holder can use the card; it also eliminates the need to show an additional piece of identification when checking out books. ID card makers are perfect for busy organizations like libraries, which often need to create several new library cards each day.

Selecting a Library Card Maker

The type of library card maker you choose will depend on the size and nature of your library. Some things to consider:

• Student library cards may just need library card functions incorporated into a student ID card
• Public libraries, or any university library that distributes cards to the general public, will likely prefer a library card maker to print cards specifically for library patrons that can print out new, personalized library cards in seconds
• In both cases, you will probably want to encode either a barcode (controlled through your software) or magnetic stripe (you'll need a magnetic stripe printer, magnetic stripe cards, and software) with the library cardholder's data

Once you know how you will use your library cards, you can look for a card printer that matches those needs - single-sided or dual-sided? Laminated to last longer (especially important if they are also student ID cards)? One-off printing to product cards one at a time on demand, or batch print new cards from a central hub like a district office?

Shop all library card makers by special feature:

• Single-sided library card makers
• Dual-sided card makers
• Laminating library card makers
• Reverse transfer library card makers
• Oversized library card makers
• Library card makers by manufacturer