STAFF DAY: On Friday, September 4, all Monterey County Free Libraries locations will be closed due to an all staff training.

LABOR DAY OBSERVED: On Saturday, September 5, all Monterey County Free Libraries locations, including Seaside, will be closed in honor of Labor Day. The Administrative Office and Seaside Branch will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of the holiday. Normal hours resume on Tuesday, September 8.

BIG SUR: Monterey County Sheriff has issued evacuation warnings for areas of Big Sur due to the Timber Fire. The Big Sur Branch Library will be closed until further notice.

Online services are available 24/7.

County of Monterey
Monterey County Free Libraries

Request Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that allows cardholders to borrow books, microfilms and other materials not available at our library, from other libraries in the United States. This service is free, however, if the lending institution charges a fee, the fee will be passed onto the borrower. Items may take a number of weeks to arrive and may have a shorter lending period.  

To request an Interlibrary Loan

  • Please speak to staff to request an ILL and staff will determine whether they will be able to borrow the item for you or not
  • Patrons may request up to 4 total ILLs per month
  • Any physical item or article photocopies may be requested - no digital formats may be requested
  • Items that the library owns will not be requested via ILL
  • Titles must be published at least one year prior to request

Zip Book Amazon Service has ended as of April 23, 2026

Zip Books are an alternative to ILL. Under the Zip Books program, the library will order the item from Amazon and have it shipped directly to the patron’s home. Books will arrive with a gift receipt which must be returned to the library with the book. Appropriate items will be added to the library collection when returned. Zip Books should be returned in person to the front desk within three weeks of delivery.

eBooks/eAudiobooks through Zip Books has ended as of August 4, 2026

  • eBooks and eAudiobooks can be requested for purchase through the State Library's Zip Book program
  • eBooks and eAudiobooks requested here will appear in the Palace Project app (NOTE: items cannot be purchased on other platforms, e.g. Overdrive)
  • Note, this project is managed by Califa

To participate in the Zip Books Survey click here. This survey is for people who have obtained library items through Zip Books.