How do you get a library card when your address is a PMB

[holstein13]

I'm a full-time RVer. My physical address is a private mail box in Green Cove Springs, FL but I've never been there in my life.

The problem is that I'd like to have a library card to enable me to download books using Overdrive. I want do download popular recent books, not free books available all over the web. Public libraries are the best avenue to get popular recent books.

Does anyone know if there are any public libraries that offer membership for a fee? Usually they are funded by local tax revenue.

I am only interested in public libraries where I can apply remotely for e-book access only. I've already looked into Amazon Prime book lending.

As a last resort, I'm passing within 1 hour of Jacksonville, FL in a couple of months and may have make a stop in my "hometown" to get a library card.

[GoPackGo]

allen8106 wrote:
I Kansas you can get "Kansas" library card that give you electronic access to any electronic media in any library in Kansas and I think it's free. Not sure if this is available in other states.

This should be the blueprint for all states IMHO.

Florida - Are you listening ?????

[DianneOK]

;):)Speaking as the librarian at our local city library.....

Anyone can get a card here. City residents are given a card at no charge. Non residents are charged a very small fee..... $15/individual, $25/family per year. Donations are most welcome, volunteers needed

[allen8106]

I Kansas you can get "Kansas" library card that give you electronic access to any electronic media in any library in Kansas and I think it's free. Not sure if this is available in other states.

[holstein13]

GoPackGo wrote:
One of my co-workers who actually lived in Orange County was also a high volume e-book reader so we compared notes about the county libraries. Orange County won - by a LOT. They have approximately 50 zillion e-books that can be downloaded using Overdrive. AND you do not have to be a resident to have an Orange County library card. Non Orange County residents can pay a fee of $125/year. So that's what I did. You can sign up on line and pay your bill online. They mail a library card to your postal address; after you get it you must activate it, then you can start downloading e-books to your heart's content. All for about $10/month - I am in heaven. The best part is that I can renew on-line, meaning I don't have to show up in person.

Great suggestion. Thank you.

[GoPackGo]

I think I have a great solution for you.

I full time and am also a resident of Green Cove Springs through St Brendan's Isle mail forwarding service. I also read e-books at the rate of at least one book/week generally downloading 2-3 at a time. I read a lot so I don't want to buy books as I would go broke.

Before going full time my home was in Volusia County, Florida so I used my Volusia library card till it expired this past August. Then I took a look at the Clay county library site. When I looked, it appeared that they did not offer ebooks, but that they had a reciprocity agreement with an adjacent county's library system that allowed Clay County's residents to download e-books. I was already tired of libraries with small e-book collections so I went to Plan B.

While living in Volusia County I worked in Orlando (Orange County). One of my co-workers who actually lived in Orange County was also a high volume e-book reader so we compared notes about the county libraries. Orange County won - by a LOT. They have approximately 50 zillion e-books that can be downloaded using Overdrive. AND you do not have to be a resident to have an Orange County library card. Non Orange County residents can pay a fee of $125/year. So that's what I did. You can sign up on line and pay your bill online. They mail a library card to your postal address; after you get it you must activate it, then you can start downloading e-books to your heart's content. All for about $10/month - I am in heaven. The best part is that I can renew on-line, meaning I don't have to show up in person.

IMHO this is the way the e-book world should work. And someday I would love to see all state e-book libraries are linked together.

Here's the e-book portion of their site - http://www.ocls.info/downloadables/ebooks.asp?from=hp

OCLS = Orange County Library System

Note that you want a 'Fee' card. After opening the link, click on 'Sign Up For A Card'. Then click on 'card Types' in the blue box at the top right. Then scroll down and click on 'Fee Cards' and fill out the form.

I also talked to them a few times before I signed up just to make sure I understood the process - 407-835-7323 They actually seemed happy to have me sign up.

Anyway, Good luck and you can PM me if you have any questions. Tim

[prstlk]

Some but not all libraries will offer access for a nominal fee. We are at present in alpine tx and the library here offers access at no charge. There is a lot going on here with a pipeline project so I think the local offer is pretty cool. If your local library does not offer this, approach a board member, chances are they might see the logic in out of area cards. Their support from the local tax base is likely under $5.00 per year per household so $10.00 for card might intrique them.
I love libraries

[mgirardo]

Every town we've ever lived in has offered non-residents a Library Card for a fee. The town I grew up in, (Turnersville, NJ) (and visit from time to time) charges $30/year for non-resident Library Cards. The town we currently live in, Brunswick, GA charges $12.50/six months or $25/year.

-Michael

[Old-Biscuit]

darsben wrote:
I have no problem if a contribution is made to the library.

Well, how magnanimous of you!

[Snowman9000]

holstein13 wrote:

Snowman9000 wrote:
My wife has an account with the Philadelphia Free Library. http://www.freelibrary.org/index.htm They charge a $50 annual fee for out of state residents, but have a LOT of ebooks.

I just did a quick search of a couple of popular books on that site and noticed they were available as physical books only. Not sure that would work for me. I need something with an extensive e-book selection of popular books.

Great suggestion, though. Maybe they will improve in this area.

Their website is confusing. I bet you never clicked into the ebook section. Click the pink Digital Media button.

[Horsedoc]

darsben wrote:
So let me get this straight.
You want to receive a government benefit that you do not really qualify for.
You want it funded by a government entity that you have NEVER payed taxes too.

SEEMS like freeloading to me.

Make sure you never overnite at a WalMart, rest area, truck stop or the dozens of other areas RVers use.
By the way, take a chill pill and go camping - sounds like you are wrapped a bit tight

[pasusan]

holstein13 wrote:

Snowman9000 wrote:
My wife has an account with the Philadelphia Free Library. http://www.freelibrary.org/index.htm They charge a $50 annual fee for out of state residents, but have a LOT of ebooks.

I just did a quick search of a couple of popular books on that site and noticed they were available as physical books only. Not sure that would work for me. I need something with an extensive e-book selection of popular books.

Great suggestion, though. Maybe they will improve in this area.

They have the best selection of ebooks that I've found. When looking for a newly published book I do have to wait a while before it shows up, and then get on the waiting list.

Also - once you have a valid card from your FL library you might be able to check ebooks out of the Open Library. Those books are usually older, hard to find ones that have been scanned for the Internet Archive.

Good luck. 🙂

[darsben]

I have no problem if a contribution is made to the library.

[accsys]

Below is a screen capture of the intersection of US17 (Orange Ave) and FL16 (Ferris Street). You will notice that the Green Cove Springs library is just west of that intersection between Ferris St and Bay Street. If you have your RV with you, you will most likely need to park in the small strip center on the east side of US 17 anchored by the Family Dollar. It's a short walk from there to the library.

[Naio]

What I did:

1. Have some mail sent to me at a local address. I used a friend's house, but an RV park might work.

2. Bring that piece of mail in for proof of residency, explain that I just moved to town. The librarian didn't ask me for anything else.

3. If you are worried about freeloading, make a donation to the Friends of the library you are getting the card at. (I m paying taxes, long story.)