As attempts to restrict or remove books in libraries continue to proliferate across the United States, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) has taken steps to bring attention to a crucial component of the freedom to read: how patrons get library cards. In 2023, BPL undertook a national research project to study the practice of cardholder registration in public libraries across the United States. Findings informed a draft policy framework containing recommendations for libraries committed to barrier-free, equitable cardholder signup.