Available to all, library cards help you access the world
Are you a new, or part-time resident of Bonner County? Maybe you’re renting while waiting for your new house to be built. Are you worried that this might bar you from accessing the local library? Worry no longer, it won’t.
Our goal at the library is to expand accessibility for everyone, and while we might have some rules in place to protect the collections and keep them from wandering too far from home, our primary function is to place entertainment and learning in your hands for you to enjoy.
Have you avoided the library because you’re just renting? Come on in with your photo ID and a piece of mail from your rental, and we’ll get you a resident library card in about five minutes. Your rent still goes toward property taxes that help support the library district, so even if that’s not your forever home, you’re a Bonner County resident as far as we’re concerned.
Maybe you don’t get mail at your rental. That’s fine. If you have a post office box in the county, we can get you a library card.
What about if you don’t live here, or don’t even rent here - is it still possible to get a library card? Yes it is. If you’re just visiting our beautiful corner of the world and would like to check out a book or some movies to enjoy with your family for a couple of days, you can bring in your library card from your home library along with your photo ID, and we can give you a universal account. This means you can check out any physical item found in any of our three branches for the same duration as a resident. The only caveat is that you won’t be able to access our digital library without paying a non-resident fee of $10 a month.
Non-resident fees help us pay for the subscriptions in the digital library, and while it might not be of much interest to you if you’re just visiting, it’s great if you live in a neighboring county or state and would like a little more selection than what your home library offers.
Does this seem confusing or overwhelming? Don’t worry, just come in and chat with any member of the library staff and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and help bring clarity and enlightenment to your life.
Brenden Bobby can be reached at the East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar St., Sandpoint, by phone at 208-263-6930, or email at brenden@ebonnerlibrary.org.