Charlotte County Library System
Reciprocal Borrowing
SERVICES
Reciprocal borrowing agreements are in place among neighboring counties to allow patrons to check out materials free of charge from any participating library.
POLICIES
Sarasota County Agreement
Charlotte County residents may receive a free Sarasota County library card by presenting their Charlotte County library card and one form of identification with their current address on it at their closest Sarasota library location. Sarasota reciprocal cards will expire each year and will be renewed as long as the reciprocal agreement is in effect. Charlotte County residents with a reciprocal Sarasota County library card may not submit requests for interlibrary loan through the Sarasota County Library System. Materials borrowed from a Sarasota County library must be returned to a Sarasota County library. Sarasota reciprocal borrowers must abide by the same policies and procedures regarding overdue fines and replacement fees as resident Sarasota County borrowers.
SWFLN Agreement
If you are in "good standing" with the participating libraries, you may apply for a card at the participating library location. If your local library is a participating site, simply visit them and ask for a SWFLN sticker to be affixed to your library card. These stickers are valid for the calendar year. Next, present your library card with the SWFLN sticker at any participating library and you'll be eligible to receive a borrowing card for that library.
Returning Materials
Materials must be returned to the library system from which they are borrowed. There is no established courier service for reciprocal borrowing. If materials are returned to another library system, they will be sent to the owning library; however, the patron is responsible for any overdue charges due to transit time.
Loss of Materials and Fines
Lost materials, fees, and fines are the responsibility of the patron. The library owning the materials involved will take normal methods of retrieving materials and collecting money.
Nonresident Borrowers
Reciprocal borrowing agreements do not extend to nonresident card holders.
SWFLN – South West Florida Library Network
SWFLN is a non-profit 501(c)3 multi-type library cooperative serving Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Monroe Counties. Libraries of all types are SWFLN members - public libraries (including one tribal library system), academic, school and special libraries. Below is a list of the nearby participating libraries; for a full list of member libraries check the SWFLN website. Charlotte County Public Schools
Collier County Public Library
DeSoto County Library
Edison State College
Florida Gulf Coast University
Hendry County Library Cooperative
Lee County Library System
Sanibel Public Library
