Library Cards
Stillwater Public Library is city-owned and operated. We are an associate library of the Washington County Library system and cooperatively share a library catalog, materials, and other services.
Anyone who lives in or pays property taxes in Stillwater or Washington County is eligible for a free library card. Your library card is accepted at Stillwater Public Library, Bayport Public Library, and Washington County Library branches. The card allows patrons to borrow circulating materials and access digital resources (for free).
Get a library card by following either of these steps:
- Fill out this registration form. A library staff member will contact you within 24 hours to complete the registration process.
(The form redirects you to Washington County. Stillwater collaborates on this registration process.) - Visit the library in person and speak with a staff person. Proof of address, such as a driver’s license or a piece of mail, will speed up the registration process.
For information about library cards for nonresidents or institutions, please see our Fee Schedule.
Loan Periods and Renewals
| Item Type | Loan Period | Automatic Renewal (for items with no waiting list) |
| Books, audiobooks and CDs, telescopes | 3 weeks | 3 renewals of 3 weeks |
| DVDs, video games, and magazines | 1 week | 3 renewals of 1 week |
| eBooks and eAudiobooks | 3 weeks | Doesn’t automatically renew. Renew items at melsa.overdrive.com starting 3 days before the due date. |
| Law Library Items | 1 or 2 weeks | For the original loan period, up to 3 times |
| Items borrowed from beyond Washington County | 3 weeks | No renewals are allowed on ILL items |
| Stillwater laptops | 1 week | No renewals |
| Stillwater hotspots, Stillwater DVD players and drives, Washington County Chromebooks and hotspots | 1 month | 3 renewals of 1 month |
Returning
Return items 24/7 just outside the exit gate of the parking ramp, located below the library on 3rd Street. Coming into the library from 4th Street? A return box is in the entrance and accessible during the library’s open hours.
Doorstep Delivery
Stillwater Public Library delivers books and other materials free of charge to City of Stillwater residents who are unable to visit the library. Contact the Circulation Department at 651-275-4338 for more information. Washington County residents outside of Stillwater city limits should contact Washington County Library.
Library Lockers
For patrons preferring the convenience of a pickup option for materials, a library locker may be scheduled. The lockers are located just inside the double door entry from the library’s parking ramp. Materials will be placed in the lockers at the beginning of your appointment date and may be picked up from lockers during library hours. Holds remain in the locker for one day only. Learn more.
Fees
All materials are loaned for free to Minnesota residents. The library does not charge overdue fees, but there are costs for damaged or lost items, as listed in the Fee Schedule. You can pay fees online with a credit or debit card or in-person with cash or a check at a Washington County Library location.