Library Cards

Text Us: 941-234-0394

Get a Library Card

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

APPLY ONLINE: Temporary library card registration form

Please note:

  • Within 90 days, you will be required to visit any library location in-person/curbside to show proof of Manatee residency, employment, or school enrollment to get continued access and pick up your physical card, which will be issued when you arrive. See list below of what you may bring.
  • Do not fill out the form above if you already have a library card. If you cannot remember your PIN, go to this page and click on Forgot your PIN? link.
  • If you are having trouble, email [email protected] or text us at 941-234-0394

Library card information

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 (16 and up)

OR use another form of photo ID and at least one item from the list below:

  • Utility bill
  • Voter registration
  • Tax document
  • Property Appraiser document
  • Vehicle registration
  • Lease (must be at least 6 months + 1 day)
  • Military ID
  • Mortgage
  • Pay stub with a local address
  • Consulate ID with a Manatee address
  • Supervisor of Elections address
  • Federal mail, such as IRS or Social Security
  • Letter from shelter on their stationery

Applications for children 15 and younger require the signature of a parent/legal guardian. Proper ID is required for everyone age 16 and up. When necessary, the library will mail a card for address verification.

Non-Residents

Non-residents may get a library card upon payment of a $25.00 annual fee. Anyone making a one-time donation of $100 or more to the Library Foundation will receive a Lifetime library card. Presentation of photo ID and fee payment must be done in-person/curbside.

Reciprocal Borrowing

A free library card can be obtained by showing a valid card from a library in the following counties: Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Okeechobee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota. While reciprocal borrowers are entitled to check out books, CDs, DVDs from Manatee Library, there is no access to electronic resources or specialty items like telescopes. All materials must be returned to Manatee Library locations.

All-Access Pass

Enrolled K-12 public school students have automatic access to public library resources with their Student ID number.  See the All-Access Pass page to learn more about how students may use this library card account.

PIN

Your PIN is a four digit number that you would have chosen when you registered for a library card. If you have forgotten your PIN you will need to come into any of the Manatee County libraries with picture identification and we can reset it for you. If you have an email address associated with your account, you can also reset your PIN online from the library account log in page  by clicking the "Forgot your PIN?" link.

LOAN PERIODS

Entertainment DVDs: 1 week
Museum passes: up to 1 week
New books: 2 weeks
Telescopes and fishing poles: 2 weeks
Most books, audiobooks, music CDs, and periodicals: 3 weeks
Cake pans, binoculars, musical instruments: 3 weeks
Non-fiction DVDs: 3 weeks
STEM/Early Literacy kits, Playaways and Launchpads: 3 weeks
Book Club in a Bag: 4 weeks

Digital content from OverDrive or Hoopla have varying due dates. Digital content items automatically expire.


RENEWALS AND RETURNS

  • Manatee Libraries’ system is enabled with Auto-Renewal, which means that all 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 County Public Library location and returned to any other.

  • Please return specialty items, such as telescopes, directly to the circulation desk. 

  • Please return items such as cake pans and fishing poles 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 and require a signed agreement form upon checkout.
  • Borrowing privileges will be suspended for any account that is not paid down to $5.00. Borrowing privileges will also be suspended for any account that has unreturned overdue items.
  • The library will notify per patron’s preference (U.S. mail, email, or text) any accounts that are past due.
  • Non-resident library card: $25.00 per year
  • Processing fee for lost materials: $3.00 per item
  • Reference-by-mail: $2.00/$5.00 (in/out of county residents) includes first 20 pages, then 25¢ per page thereafter
  • Replacement charge for lost card: none
  • Printing fee from public computers: 10 cents per page, B&W only
  • Copy fee from public copiers: 10 cents per page for B&W; 50 cents per page for color; double-sided copies will be charged for each side
  • Faxing, local and long distance: free
  • CD-RW: $1.07 (incl tax)
  • Headphones: $5.00 (incl tax)
  • 8 MB Flash Drive: $8.56 (incl tax)