Ask a Librarian!*

Want personal assistance? Did our FAQs not answer your questions? Contact us:

Email: library.salinas.gov

Phone: Mon - Fri
(831) 758-7311, or
(831) 758-7302

Phone: Tues - Sat
(831) 758-7345, or
(831) 758-7302

¡Hablamos Español!

*Please include your 14-digit library card number for fastest service

Using the Library

Photo Credit: Jay Dunn

Get Your First Free Library Card

This page is for those who have never had a card with the Salinas Public Library. The only eligibility for having a personal library card is to be a CA resident. Libraries are for everyone from ages 0-100+!

All library cards require visiting a branch in-person unless otherwise stated.

Have a card with us previously but it's old, lost, or expired? Forgot your PIN? Need a replacement? Click HERE for solutions to restore an old library card's access.

Which Library Card Type is Right for Me?

Adult (ages 18+):

Valid form of government photo ID (name, photo, and address) ie. driver's license
Address on ID out-of date? Also bring a piece of mail with your updated address, ie. utility bill, phone bill, rental agreement, bank statement, etc
- a CA business or PO box listed on ID is acceptable
Fill out the green library card application in-person, and share your above items for verification
Yes, your first library card is FREE, but replacement cards do have a $2 fee

Youth (ages 0-17):

Child AND parent/guardian must be present
Parent/guardian must provide everything a full access Adult card would need (see above)
- Parent/guardian already have an Adult card? Perfect! We can quickly add a Youth card with just their name and birthdate
Cardholder will be the child and they may sign their name on the card too, but Adult must also sign the card agrees they are responsible for the child's account

Limited Access/Student (ages 13+):

Available to adults and to teens 13-17yrs old without a parent co-sign
Must provide photo ID (student ID valid), but no address requirement
Limited Access: All online resources, but only TWO maximum physical checkouts and no access to technology or library of things checkouts

Additional Access Types:

Digital Access (TEMP)
- Must be a CA resident planning on visiting one of our SPL branches in-person within the next 90-days
- Provides advance access to digital resources, but is non-renewable
Homebound Access
- Must be a local City of Salinas resident that is unable to visit the library in person on a permanent or temporary basis.
  - Uploading photo ID to verify City of Salinas residency is required.
If you are eligible and would like to apply for one of these access cards, please click HERE for more information.

Borrows, Renewals, and Holds

This webpage only applies to the library’s physical collection. For information on borrowing e-content, please click HERE.

Borrows

Item Limits: None, or as many as you can read and enjoy within the loan period
21 days, except:
- 7-days, no renewals: All new items (ie. DVDs, Blu-rays, videogames, and magazines too) and most Library of Things items
- 30-days, no renewals: Mobile hotspots and laptops
- 42-days: Book Club Express Bags

Renewals and Auto-Renewals

Items cannot have any pending holds from other patrons
- Two time maximum renewals per item
- New due dates are calculated from date of renewal, not the original due date
Auto-renewals: for your convenience, auto-renewals are set-up by default for each eligible item’s due date
- Not eligible: all NEW items and items with holds

Holds

Make sure you are logged in to your account on our catalog first, click HERE to login
- Click HERE if you need help accessing your account
Search for titles and if they are already checked out, click 'Hold'
- Confirm your hold and it will show you your priority in line
Holds fulfilled will only be held for 7-days
For more information about holds and your library account, click HERE

Returns, Library Fees and Payment

Returns

The majority of books and media can be returned 24/7 at our bookdrops outside each location. Please note: Items may take 1-2 business days before they are checked in. It is recommended to return time-sensitive items in-person.

Bookdrops & Their 24/7 Access Locations
- John Steinbeck Library: 2 total bookdrops, (1) bookdrop off the Lincoln parking lot and (1) bookdrop down Church St
- Cesar Chavez Library: 1 bookdrop at the back of the facility near the back parking lot spaces
- El Gabilan Library: 1 automated bookdrop at the front doors (automatically checks in items)
Cannot Be Returned at the Bookdrops (must be returned in-person during business hours)
- Technology, Library of Things items, etc
Recommended In-Person Returns
- Missing/lost items. Click HERE to learn more about how to waive your replacement and processing fees when you return the items.
- Videogames/other expensive items.

During open business hours, items can be returned directly to staff at any service desk.

Library Fees

Standard

September is National Library Card SIgn-Up Month, and that means we're celebrating with replacement library cards FREE of charge all month!

Overdue Fees Pre-2022
- Salinas Public Library has eliminated overdue materials fees, and so any remaining overdues fees will be waived
Public Printing (only single-sided available) (copies, microfilm, and scan, an
- Cardholders receive a daily free printing allowance of $0.50 per day!
- $0.10 per black and white page
- $0.25 per color page
Scan-to-email/Faxing
- FREE
Service Desks
- First Library Card: FREE
- Replacement Library Card: $2 (but free in September)
- Earbuds: $1

Items Never Returned

It's September, and that means our Read Away Fines program is back! Click HERE to learn more about how to 'read away' your fines for FREE!

Needs Replacement/Lost Items Fees*: Cost to replace lost library materials at the purchasing cost from our library vendors
- Patrons may source an equivalent replacement for a lost item upon approval from LCS director or designee
- *Any item overdue for 30 days will charge to the account the full value of the item
- Any set item returned with missing parts (only 4 of 5 discs) will be considered an incomplete set and will be charged the full replacement amount until the missing part is also returned and reunited with the set
Processing Fees: $5 per item greater than 6 months overdue that a librarian decides will be going back onto the shelf
Damaged Fees: $5 per item with minimal damage
- Severe damage would result in the full need replacement fee instead

Missing Charger Replacements

Charging Cords: $5
USB plugs/cubes: $5
Laptop Chargers: $10

Meeting Rooms (FY 2025-2026)

Application Fee (once per fiscal year): $40.50 per fiscal year
Hourly Rates
- Nonprofits and registered neighborhood Associations: No hourly fees
- Local or State Government: $73.50 per hour
- Private and/or Commercial Usage: $104.50 per hour
Additional Fees
- After Hours Additional Rate: $27.75 per hour + tiered hourly rate
- Cleaning Deposit: $200 per event
  - Required for all private and commercial uses involving food and decorations

Payment Options for Library Fees

Salinas Public Library offers multiple options for resolving library fines and fees on cardholder's account. Partial payments are also accepted.

In-person Payment: Cash or check are accepted at service desks and some self-checkout kiosks
- Credit Card Payments (some self-check kiosks): Select the option to Pay Fines, scan your library card and enter your PIN. Enter the amount that you want to pay, insert your credit or debit card, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the transaction.
Online Payment: Debit and credit are accepted at our secure online payment portal, click HERE to access.
- Instructions: Login with your library card number and PIN. Select 'Pay from Card,' choose your payment amount (partial is accepted), and then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the transaction.
- Our payment portal is secure, backed by Verifone that offers multiple layers of security technology to protect payment data.

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