Library Card & Borrowing FAQs

Residents of Amesbury: Anyone who is a resident of Amesbury can get a library card. Apply online for an eCard or visit the library in person for a physical card. 

Bring proof of address (driver's license with your current address (not written on the back), OR government-issued ID (such as a passport or a driver's license) PLUS one of the following: official mail (bill, bank statement, mortgage or lease agreement), magazine subscription, or car registration; we cannot accept packages as proof of residency). 

Children aged 0 to 13 need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who will need to show their proof of Amesbury residence. Children aged 14 to 18 may sign up for a card without a parent or guardian and may use an Amesbury school ID as their photo ID/proof of residency. The card will require renewal every three years and may be renewed for another three years as long as the cardholder continues to reside in Amesbury.

Residents of Other Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) Communities

You will get more online resources if you sign up for a library card in the city/town where you reside. However, you can sign up for a general MVLC library card at Amesbury if you prefer, though it will provide less access to online resources. All of our neighboring MA cities and towns as well as many of the communities in northern Essex County and eastern Middlesex County are part of MVLC. View the full list of MVLC communities.

Residents of Non-MVLC Libraries in Massachusetts

Bring your card from your home library from anywhere in MA and proof of address to the circulation desk, and we will register your hometown card in our network. Or, with proof of address, we can register you for an MVLC card.

Amesbury Business / Property Owners

Out-of-state residents who own a business or property in Amesbury can get a library card. Business owners need to bring a tax bill with their photo ID to apply for a card. Property owners need to bring proof of ownership with their photo ID to apply for a card. The card will require renewal every year and can be renewed as long as the cardholder can continue to verify their ownership of an Amesbury business or property.

Amesbury High School (AHS) Students Living in South Hampton

Students of Amesbury High School who live in South Hampton, NH can get an Amesbury library card. They need to bring their AHS student ID or an alternate photo ID and their AHS report card. This card will be valid through June 30 of their expected year of graduation.

Amesbury Teachers

Amesbury Public School teachers living in any community can get an Amesbury library card to have access to the same resources as their students. They need to bring a photo ID and proof of employment in Amesbury schools (badge or pay stub). The card will require renewal every year, with proof of continued employment in the schools.

City of Amesbury Employees

Any City of Amesbury employee who resides out of state can get an Amesbury library card. (Employees residing in MA must get a card from the city/town where they live and may use that card in Amesbury.) Bring your photo ID and proof of employment with the City of Amesbury. The card will require renewal every year, with proof of continued employment by the City.

Institutions

Nursing homes, businesses, daycare centers, nonprofits, and private schools located in Amesbury may get an institutional card. A representative of the institution needs to email to Circulation or bring to the Circulation Desk a signed letter on the institution's letterhead listing who can use the card. The card then remains at the library for use by the authorized personnel. The card will require renewal every year.

See our Borrowing Terms page.

All eligible items checked out in Amesbury, regardless of the owning library or where your card was issued, will be automatically renewed for you three days prior to their due dates. You do not need to sign up for this service, it is automatically applied to all checkouts occurring at Amesbury Public Library.

If the item doesn't automatically renew, it might be because:

• There is a waiting list.
• The item has reached its renewal limit.
• Your account is blocked due to overdue items and/or bills owed.
• The item belongs to a collection that does not allow auto-renewals (such as nonrenewable "Hot Titles," digital content, and items lent by libraries outside Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC), such as Commonwealth Catalog items).
• The item was checked out at a library that isn't participating in automatic renewals.

If you have opted in to receive email or text message notifications, you will receive a courtesy renewal notice three days before the item's due date. The notice will provide the new due dates for each item and the number of renewals used. You will also be notified of any items that weren't renewed and the reason(s) they were not eligible for auto-renewal. To ensure you receive these notices, please check that your contact information is current in your account. Speak with a library staff member if you have any questions about how to update your contact information.

We strongly encourage having your physical library card or its digital version in the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) Mobile app in order to check out. Alternatively, you may use your photo ID to check out materials. Children unaccompanied by someone able to show identification on their behalf may confirm the details of their address and/or birthday in lieu of an ID. This ensures that items are being checked out to the correct account.

If you lose your library card and/or think it is stolen, please let us know as soon as possible. You can get a new card by showing your photo ID and paying a $1 card replacement fee.

We request that you use only your library card when checking out materials. The one exception is if you are picking up holds on behalf of someone else. In this case, we ask that you have the card of the person whose items you are picking up.

If you have lost your card, you can replace it for $1 or show photo ID to check out or to obtain your card number in order to load a digital version of your card into the free Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) Mobile app.  Children unaccompanied by someone able to show identification on their behalf may confirm the details of their address and/or birthday in lieu of an ID. This ensures that items are being checked out to the correct account.

We do not give out card numbers over the phone.  We can send your card number to the email address that you have on file with us (if applicable), we can mail the card number to the mailing address you have on file with us, or you can visit the library with photo ID to obtain your card number on the spot. This ensures the security of your account.

Amesbury Public Library is fine-free, meaning you will not accrue overdue fines. Simply return the overdue item to the library (inside or in our 24/7 book drop in the parking lot). Items that are more than seven weeks overdue are assumed lost and a bill for their replacement cost is applied to the borrower's account. Returning the item in good condition will clear this bill.

If you lose an item or it becomes damaged while checked out to you, you will be liable for its replacement cost. Some, but not all, libraries accept replacement copies in lieu of payment. Please contact the Circulation Desk for information about how to resolve bills for specific lost or damaged items.

You can return most library items at any Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) library. Common exceptions include Library of Things items, puzzles and games, Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat) or other ILL books, vinyl records, kids' big books, and anything that is labeled "Return Only to Amesbury Public Library."

We offer a 24/7 book drop located near the bottom of the library's ramp, facing the parking lot behind the library. Please do not use the book drop to return Library of Things Items, Vinyl Records, or anything that does not fit in the slot. DVDs, CDs, and Magazines are okay to return in the book drop. Items labeled "Do Not Return in Book Drop" must be returned at the library's Circulation Desk during open hours.

Unlike checkouts, which must be done by the cardholder, anyone can drop off library returns on your behalf. To return items inside the library, place them in the slot on the right-hand side of the Circulation Desk.

Your library card is valid at all Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) libraries.