Step · Leisure

Get a Bilbao municipal library card

The first lector/a card from any Red de Bibliotecas Municipales de Bilbao library is free and does not expire; you need it for lending but not to enter or study.

Why it matters

Borrowing books and using the Didakteka needs the card; reading rooms and study rooms do not.

When

You want to borrow books.

Last checked

16 Oct 2026

Cost: First card free, indefinite validity; renewal or replacement 1.25 EUR.

What you need

• Application form from any municipal library, completed.
• Photocopy of DNI or passport (first card).

Steps

1. Ask at any municipal library
   Pick up and fill in the application form, bring ID or passport photocopy; staff register you and issue the card.

Where

• Biblioteca Central de Bidebarrieta
  Calle Bidebarrieta 4, 48005 Bilbao
  94 415 09 15 / 94 415 69 30
  https://www.bilbao.eus/cs/Satellite?c=BIO_Servicio_FA&cid=3007491738&language=es&pagename=Bilbaonet/BIO_Servicio_FA/BIO_Servicio

Tips

• Per official bilbao.eus library pages ('Préstamo domiciliario para personas adultas' and 'Préstamo domiciliario menores de 14 años'), home-loan periods are: books 15 days, children’s books 15 days, CDs 7 days, videos/DVDs 7 days. A maximum of 3 books can be requested/reserved at once ('El máximo de libros que se puede solicitar es 3'). Loans can be renewed once (if not reserved by someone else), renewable online starting up to 5 days before the due date. Note: a separate, distinct inter-library loan service ('Préstamo entre bibliotecas de la red municipal de Bilbao') has its own longer period of 21 days for books and 7 days for CDs/DVDs — this is a different service from the standard home loan and should not be confused with it.
• Opening hours vary by individual branch; only one branch’s hours were confirmed — Biblioteca Municipal de Begoña (per euskadi.eus): Monday 14:30-20:30, Tuesday-Friday 9:00-20:30, Saturday 10:00-14:00 (summer hours differ, e.g. Monday 14:30-19:30). Hours for the remaining branches in the municipal network were not individually confirmed.

Official sources

• Obtención, renovación y sustitución del carné de lector/a
• 'Préstamo domiciliario menores de 14 años', and 'Préstamo entre bibliotecas de la red municipal de Bilbao' pages