Q. What is Books by Mail?

Books by Mail is a convenient, free service providing Sarasota County Library materials through the U.S. Postal Service to people who are unable to access the library collection due to temporary or long-term physical or visual disability. (Funding is provided through the Library of Congress's National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.) Any Sarasota County resident who cannot visit one of the 10 library locations due to a physical or visual disability can apply for the Books by Mail service by calling Info Central at 941-861-1110.

The Books by Mail service sends materials through the mail in zippered bags to registered users. When the materials are returned, the borrower removes the address label from the pocket on the bag. The label is then re-inserted to display the library address and sealed with a provided plastic zip tie. 

Available materials include regular and large print books, audiobooks, music CDs, Playaways, and films/television shows/documentaries on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Patrons can select items themselves or have Books by Mail library staff select items for them based upon their prerecorded preferences. Borrowers may request library materials by phone (941-861-1110), by placing written requests as notes in return bags, or through our online catalog.

Books by Mail patrons can have up to 8 items checked out at a time. Loan periods are 8 weeks. Items borrowed through Books by Mail can be renewed up to 5 times as long as there are no other holds on the items. Items can be renewed by phone or online through our online catalog. Books by Mail patrons can also use the library's FLIN SHAREit interlibrary loan program.

Sarasota County Libraries also offers online reading resources, such as through CloudLibrary (ebooks and downloadable audiobooks), Hoopla (eBooks/audiobooks, streaming music and movies), PressReader (newspapers) and Flipster (magazines). Explore these options by clicking the links, or feel free to ask us for more information.

For more information on renewing checked out items and step-by-step instructions for renewing online, please view our FAQ page, "How can I renew my library materials?". 

For more information or to apply for Books by Mail, please contact Info Central at 941-861-1110.