It is best to book a session, even if only an hour is needed.
No, you can only book and use one Archive Lab station at a time.
Yes, daycares, schools, assisted living facilities, places of worship, associations, businesses, or other organizations in Manatee County may be eligible for an Organization Library Card, which are only issued by Library Outreach staff.
- Access to borrow all print books, magazines, puzzles, paperback materials, movies, CDs, Library of Things, Kits, and Playaways at all Manatee Library branches
- One year of Library access to be renewed annually by designated contact. May not be used for personal use.
- The organization is financially responsible for all materials checked out on the card.
- Organizations may also request a rotating mini-library collection for their site.
How to register:
- an Organization library card requires an individual to register as a designated contact.
- The designee must complete an Organization Library Card Application, show their photo ID, and provide their business card, badge, letterhead, or other official documentation which indicates their association with the organization, and the organization's contact information.
- Contact Library Outreach staff at library.outreach@mymanatee.org.
Yes, Manatee Library provides access to public WiFi and public computers equipped with Microsoft Office and internet.
For more information: Library Computers and WiFiYes! To access your Manatee Library card account, visit the Library Catalog, and click on Log In in the upper right corner. After logging in with your library card number and PIN, you will be able to see your current checkouts and holds under My Bookshelf, as well as saved searches and reading history (keeping a reading history is optional and can be selected under My Bookshelf>Profile).
For additional assistance, contact Ask a Librarian.
It is highly recommended to book the Archive Lab in advance. Walk-ins are welcome to learn about the space, however be advised that equipment may already be in use when you arrive.
Users may book 2 sessions per week, including back-to-back sessions if available. Please do not use different email addresses to book more than 2 sessions per week; bookings beyond 2 per week for one user (even with multiple email addresses used) will be mediated.
Manatee Library offers two services for accessing eBooks and eAudiobooks: Hoopla and OverDrive/Libby.
View our guide for more information on how to use these apps and more: eBooks & More
These services require a library card and PIN number and some require you to set up an account specifically for the service.
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, excluding:
- special items such as museum passes and interlibrary loans
- items requested by another patron
- items on accounts blocked by fees
- digital items
If eligible, library materials may be manually renewed from your library card account:
- Visit the Library Catalog, click Log In in the upper right corner
- You will be prompted to log in with your library card number and PIN
- After logging in, click on your name in upper right corner, then Checkouts
- You will now see a list of your checked out items, with a Renew button
Otherwise, you may call any Manatee Library location or email us or send a text message to (941) 234-0394 to request a renewal of library materials.
Manatee Library cards are free for those who reside, own property, work, and/or attend school in Manatee County.
Applications for anyone under 18 require the signature of a parent/legal guardian. Parents/legal guardians may further restrict the types of materials their child may check out.
Manatee Library has numerous options for obtaining a library card, find out more: Apply for a Library Card
To suggest new library materials, fill out the Library's Purchase Suggestion form.
For older books, please request via Interlibrary Loan instead.
Please check the library catalog for the item, before making a purchase suggestion or Interlibrary Loan request. If you need assistance locating an item, please email us or text us at 941-234-0394.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a special service provided to Manatee Library resident cardholders to obtain materials not available in our library system. It can take a few weeks to receive an item. Patrons must have a resident Manatee Library card with no outstanding fees.
For more information and instructions: Interlibrary Loan
You may also email the Library for assistance.
Please see these pages for more information on how to reserve a Manatee Library Meeting Room or Study Room:
Yes! Manatee Library offers materials to permanently or temporarily homebound patrons through two service options:
- Books by Mail, where limited materials are mailed to the patron's home address by USPS and can be returned by mail.
- Homebound Delivery, where limited materials are delivered to the patron's home by library staff in-person.
For more information and to register, please see the Books by Mail or Delivery page.
To reset your Manatee Library card PIN:
- visit the Library Catalog, click on Log In in the upper right corner, then click I forgot my PIN (you must have an email address associated with your account to receive reset instructions by email)
- visit any of the Manatee Library locations with photo ID and library staff can reset it for you.
Library fees will be assessed for the following services or items:
- Meeting room use for businesses, organizations, and individuals that are not 501c3
- Repair or replacement of library materials that are damaged or lost
- Some specialty items, such as telescopes and tools, carry higher replacement and damage fees than books
- Processing fee for lost materials: $3.00 per item
- Non-resident library card: $25.00 per year
- Obituaries mailed: $2.00 (in county)/$5.00 (out of county) includes first 20 pages, then 25ยข per page thereafter
- Printing fee from public computers, per one-sided page: 10 cents B&W; 50 cents color
- Copying from public copiers, per one-sided page: 10 cents B&W; 50 cents color
- CD-RW: $1.00
- Headphones: $5.00
- USB Flash drive: $5.00
Library fees are not assessed for the following services or items:
- Materials returned late (though fees will be assessed for lost or damaged items)
- Meeting room use for local 501c3 organizations with proof of eligibility
- Replacement library card
- Faxing (local and long-distance); scanning; computer use
- Archive Lab, Makerspaces, Recording Studio, or Study Rooms
- Museum and attraction passes
- Events, classes, and programs
For more detailed information regarding Manatee Library fees, including item replacement costs: Library Circulation Policy
Manatee Library locations are open:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday at Lakewood Ranch Library: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday at all other locations: CLOSED
Little Discovery Center is open:
Monday - Friday, by appointment only: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Holiday, emergency, and other library closures are regularly posted. Sign up for the library eNewsletter to receive information about expected closures.
| 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: | varying due dates, automatically expire |
| Interlibrary Loan from other library systems: | set by lending library |
Materials may be borrowed from any Manatee Library location and returned to any other, with few exceptions. All Library locations have indoor and outdoor book return. Lakewood Ranch Library is the only location with a drive-thru return/pick-up window.
Library of Things items (such as telescopes, hotspots, literacy kits/games, and tools) must be returned directly to the circulation desk.
Items borrowed from other library systems via reciprocal borrowing (for example, Sarasota or Pinellas) must be returned to a location in that library system, not to Manatee Library.