Library Cards

Get a Library Card

Sign up online for a library card and get instant access to many of our online resources!

APPLY ONLINE

Please note regarding temporary online cards:

  • Within 90 days, visit any library location to show proof of Manatee residency, employment, or school enrollment to maintain continued access and pick up your physical card, which will be issued when you arrive.
  • Do not apply online if you already have a library card. If you cannot remember your PIN, reset it online (click on "Forgot your PIN?") OR visit any library location. 
  • For additional assistance, please email [email protected] or text us at 941-234-0394

residents

Resident library cards are FREE to people who reside 6 months or more, own property, go to school, and/or work in Manatee County.

Bring one of the following showing your Manatee County address to any location:

  • Florida Photo ID
  • Florida Driver’s license
  • Local School ID

OR use a form of photo ID and at least one item from the list below with Manatee County address:

  • Lease (term of 6 months or more)
  • Utility or cable bill
  • Bank statement
  • Pay stub
  • Voter registration or other Supervisor of Elections documentation
  • Tax document
  • Property Appraiser documentation
  • Vehicle registration
  • Military ID
  • Mortgage documentation
  • Consulate ID
  • Federal mail, such as IRS or Social Security

Applications for children 17 and younger require the signature of a parent/legal guardian. Parents may further restrict the types of materials their child may check out. 

Non-Residents

  • Non-residents may get a library card upon payment of a $25.00 annual fee.
  • A short-term Welcome card provides public computer access and limited borrowing privileges.
  • Presentation of photo ID and fee payment must be done in-person.

LIFETIME

  • Anyone making a one-time donation of $100 or more to the Manatee Library Foundation will receive a Lifetime library card.
  • Lifetime cards can be paid for in-person at any library location (cash or check only) or online on the Library Foundation website (credit card).
  • If you pay online, please bring your payment receipt to any library location. Your card will be issued in-person after completing a library card registration form.
  • Presentation of photo ID must be done in-person.

Reciprocal Borrowing

  • A free Manatee Library card account may be obtained by showing a valid library card from the following Florida counties: Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Okeechobee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota. 
  • While reciprocal borrowers are entitled to check out books, DVDs, and other physical items from Manatee Library, there is limited access to electronic resources. 
  • All materials must be returned to Manatee Library locations.

All-Access Pass

Currently enrolled Manatee County K-12 public school students have automatic access to many public library resources (restrictions apply) with their Student ID number.  

PIN

If you have forgotten your PIN:

  • visit any of the Manatee Library locations with photo ID and library staff can reset it for you. Library staff can only reset PINs in person. 
  • reset your PIN online from the library's catalog by clicking Log In in upper right corner, then the I forgot my PIN link. Please note: you must have an email address associated with your account to receive reset instructions by email. 

LOAN PERIODS

Attraction passes: 1 day
DVDs: 1 week
New books: 2 weeks
Most books, audiobooks, and music CDs: 3 weeks
Library of Things items (tools, telescopes, musical instruments, etc): 3 weeks
STEM/Early Literacy kits, Playaways, and Launchpads: 3 weeks
Book Club in a Bag: 4 weeks

Digital items from Libby/OverDrive or Hoopla: varying due dates, automatically expire.


RENEWALS AND RETURNS

  • Most Manatee Library materials are enabled with Auto-Renewal, which means that items checked out to a patron will automatically be renewed up to 3 times except some special items such as museum passes, items requested by another patron, for accounts blocked by fees, interlibrary loans, and digital items.

  • Materials may be borrowed from one Manatee Library location and returned to any other.

  • All locations have indoor and outdoor book return. Lakewood Ranch Library is the only location with a drive-thru return. 

  • Specialty items (such as telescopes, hotspots, literacy kits/games, and tools) must be returned directly to the circulation desk. 

  • Please return items such as cake pans in clean condition.

FEES

  • If damaged or lost, fees for repair or replacement of library materials will be assessed.
  • Some specialty items, such as telescopes, carry higher replacement and damage fees than books.
  • Borrowing privileges will be suspended for any account that has more than $30.00 in fees or if the account holder has been trespassed from Manatee Library facilities.
  • Non-resident library card: $25.00 per year
  • Processing fee for lost materials: $3.00 per item
  • Reference-by-mail: $2.00 (in county)/$5.00 (out of county) includes first 20 pages, then 25¢ per page thereafter
  • Replacement of lost card: free
  • Printing fee from public computers, per one-sided page: 10 cents B&W; 50 cents color
  • Copy fee from public copiers, per one-sided page:10 cents B&W; 50 cents color
  • Faxing, local and long distance: free
  • CD-RW: $1.00 (incl tax)
  • Headphones: $5.00 (incl tax)
  • USB Flash drive: $5.00 (incl tax)

The Manatee County Public Library Circulation Policy was reviewed and approved by the Library Advisory Board at its October 18, 2023 meeting; adopted in open session with a quorum present and voting the 14th day of November, 2023 and the 9th day of January, 2024 by the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MANATEE COUNTY, FLORIDA