Library Policies

Image Library Policies

Loan Periods

  • All “regular” books, CDs, audio cassettes and periodicals circulate for 3 weeks* from the day they are checked out.
  • “New” books circulate for 2 weeks.
  • “Entertainment” DVDs and videos circulate for 1 week. Non-fiction DVDs and videos circulate for 3 weeks.
  • Materials may be renewed once (in person, by phone, or via our website), as long as there are no reserves placed on them, or they are not overdue.
  • Materials may be borrowed from one Manatee County public library and returned to any other.

       * If the due date falls on a holiday, materials are due the next business day.


Library Cards

Library cards are free to people who reside, go to school, and/or work in Manatee County. You may fill out a registration form, and bring it, along with one of the following showing your Manatee County address to the Central Library or any of the branches:  (Formulario En Español)

  • Driver's License or Florida resident I.D.
  • Voter's registration card
  • Property deed or tax receipt
  • Vehicle registration
  • Lease showing rental of residence for more than six months
  • Declaration of domicile
  • Homestead exemption
  • W-2 form
  • Current letter on letterhead from employer

Parents/Guardians of children 12 and younger should accompany them as the application requires their signature. Proper I.D. is required for everyone age 13 and up; if unavailable, the Library will mail a card for address verification. Non-residents may get a Manatee County library card upon payment of a $20.00 annual fee. A one-time $100.00 donation to the Library Foundation, Inc. includes a lifetime library card. When applying for a card, applicants may also register to vote.

 

Fines and Fees

Fines:

  • All items (except new reader/literacy materials): 25¢ per item per day; maximum fine is the replacement cost of EACH item that is overdue.

  • To encourage the use of new reader/literacy materials, no fines will be charged on these items; however, if damaged or lost, fees for repair or replacement will be assessed.

  • Borrowing privileges will be suspended for any account that is not paid in full. 

  • Borrowing privileges will be suspended for any account that has unreturned overdue items. 

  • The library will notify (via U.S. Mail), patrons whose accounts are past due for more than 30 days.

  • Patron accounts that are past due for more than 60 days AND have an unpaid balance in excess of $24.99 are handled by a collection agency.

Fees:

  • Non-resident library card: $20.00 per year (2nd card, $1.00)
  • Processing fee for lost materials: $3.00 per item
  • Reference-by-mail: $2.00/$5.00 (in/out of county residents) includes first 5 pages, then 25¢ per page thereafter
  • Replacement charge for lost card: $1.00