Checking Out Items
To check out an item, bring your library card to the front desk where a staff member will check out your items, or you may use any of the Self-check stations available. If you do not have your library card with you, you may use a photo ID as proof of your identity, and a staff member will be able to check out the items for you. You may also access your digital barcode through the Find Yourself app on mobile devices.
Borrowing Periods
The tables below list all of the checkout limits for both physical and digital items. All of these limits are per library card account.
Physical Items
| Item Type | Loan Period | Renewals* | Checkout Limits** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Books | 3 weeks | 5 times | Up to 100 books |
| New Books*** | 2 weeks | 5 times | Up to 100 books |
| DVDs/Blu-Rays | 2 weeks | 5 times | 20 per card |
| Music CDs | 3 weeks | 5 times | 20 per card |
| Playaways & Audiobooks on CD | 4 weeks | 5 times | Up to 100 audiobooks |
| Book Club Bags | 8 weeks | None | N/A |
| Magazines | 2 weeks | 5 times |
10 per card |
| Mobile Hotspots | 2 weeks | 5 times | 1 per card |
* Items can be renewed up to the amount of time listed in each table as long as there are no active holds on them.
** Limit of items of a type that can be checked out at a time on a single library card.
*** "New Books" are any that have been published within the last 6 months.
As of July 1st, 2022, up to 20 items may be placed on hold at a time per card. As of September 24, 2019 Sarasota County Libraries no longer charge overdue fines on materials. We only charge for damaged or lost items. For more information on this, and for the most up-to-date borrowing information, check out our Library Policies webpage.
Digital Items
CloudLibrary check outs are based on availability of digital copies in their collection, requiring holds to be placed if items are not available. Hoopla has unlimited access to materials, regardless of how many "copies" are checked out at a time, and can be checked out again so long as your account has not reached its limit for the month.
Flipster and PressReader items do not require checkout and do not have loan periods; they are accessible whenever.
| Ebook Service | Loan Period(s) | Renewals | Checkout Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
CloudLibrary |
21 days | Varies | 20 at a time |
| Hoopla | 7/14/21 days | Varies | 10 per month* |
| Flipster | None | None | None |
| PressReader | None | None | None |
*Total checkouts for Hoopla refresh at the beginning of each calendar month.
You may place up to 20 items on hold in CloudLibrary. Hoopla does not have holds.
Renewals
Effective March 1, 2018, Sarasota County Library limits renewals on all applicable items, including mobile hotspots, to 5 renewals. Items may not be renewed if on reserve for another borrower.
Materials may be renewed in person, by calling (941) 861-1110, or online on the catalog. You must have your library card number to renew. For instructions on how to renew your library materials online, view the FAQ page, "How can I renew my library materials?".