How Do I?
Get A Library Card
Welcome to the Manassas Park City Library! We can’t wait to meet you. You can register online for a temporary card to access electronic materials. Bring your identification to the library in order to get your library card.
A borrower must present identification with their current home/employment address verifying that they reside in Manassas Park or one of the reciprocal jurisdictions to obtain a library card to borrow materials. A parent or legal guardian must present his/her photo identification and proof of current address for cards issued to children under the age of 18. A card will only be issued if the child is present.
Every resident of Manassas Park is eligible for a free Library card account regardless of age. Those who own property, own a business, work, or attend school in Manassas Park are also eligible.
Residents of jurisdictions in the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) are eligible for reciprocal accounts.
Non-Residents are eligible for a library card for an annual fee (outlined in the Fine and Fee Schedule [Addendum E]). Residents of reciprocal areas outlined in Section 8.1 are not required to pay a non-resident fee. Some online resources as well as Interlibrary Loan (ILL) may not be available to non-resident borrowers.
Reciprocal jurisdictions are as follows:
| Virginia | Maryland | District of Columbia |
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Search the Catalog
Check out Items
Borrow
The Manassas Park City Library offers a wide variety of items for checkout. 30 items can be checked out on each library card at one time. Listed below are limits for individual item types.
| Item Type | Maximum Limit | Loan Period | Renewals | Maximum Holds by Item Type |
| Books | 30 | 3 Weeks | 3 | 15 |
| DVDs | 30 | 3 Weeks | 3 | 15 |
| STEAM Kits | 1 | 3 Weeks | 0 | 15 |
| SPARK Kits | 1 | 3 Weeks | 0 | 15 |
| LaunchPads | 30 | 3 Weeks | 3 | 15 |
| Hotspots | 1 | 1 Week | 0 | 15 |
| Electronic Materials | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Renew
If an item does not have a hold on it, it will be automatically renewed up to 3 times. Items can be renewed three times. You can log on to your account at anytime to review the due date.
Reserve
Any circulating library materials may be placed on hold. When the item requested is available, you will be notified, and the material will be held for 7 days. Patrons may place up to 15 holds per account.
Check out a S.P.A.R.K.℠ or S.T.E.A.M. Kit
S.P.A.R.K.℠ Kits encourage: Skills, Playing, Achievement, Reading, and Knowledge
S.T.E.A.M. Kits teach: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math
Kits can be checked out for up to 3 weeks by taking the kit’s checkout card to the desk. Kits can also be placed on hold online and can be picked up at the library. Please keep in mind, kits must be returned to a desk inside the library, not the bookdrop. You can check out one S.P.A.R.K.℠ kit and one S.T.E.A.M. kit per family. Kits cannot be renewed and are be checked between each use.
You can explore all our kits here!
Check out a Hotspot
Hotspots can be checked out for 7 Days by requesting a hotspot at the 1st floor desk. Hotspots can also be placed on hold online and are picked up at the library. Please keep in mind, hotspots must be returned to a desk inside the library, not the bookdrop. You can check out one hotspot per family. Hotspots cannot be renewed and the data is turned off if it is not returned by the due date. Please call the library for more information.
Place a hold on a hotspot here!
Use a Laptop or Computer
We are pleased to offer in-Library laptop checkout service to patrons. Patrons will be able to access the library’s wireless network, information resources, library printer, the Internet and other provided software with a library laptop. The laptops must be used in the Library. All patrons must follow the Internet and Public Computer Use Policy when using a computer in the library.
Who can check out a laptop?
Laptop computers may only be checked out by a patron with a library card. The library card must be in good standing with no fines, no outstanding lost library materials, and no other blocks on the card.
Can I use a laptop if I’m not yet 18?
Patrons below the age of 18 and above the age of 12 must have a parent or guardian complete the Laptop Policy Form in the presence of Library Staff. The patron will then be listed in the system as Laptop Eligible. A copy of the policy can be found on our Laptop Checkout Policy page. Parents will be required to check out laptops for children under the age of 13 and must remain with them throughout the use.
What if I’m not 13 and my parent can’t remain with me?
2 desktop computers are available in the childrens section for any patrons 0-18. Minors who do not have their own library card can request a computer pass at the 2nd floor desk.
Can I take the laptop home?
No, laptop computers check out for in-library use only.
How long can I use the laptop?
Laptops are available on a first come, first served basis for 60 minutes at a time, which can be extended if no one is waiting.
Can I use a Laptop if I don’t have a library card?
No, laptop computers can only be used with a library card. There is an express 15 minute computer on the 1st floor that can be used by guests.
What else is available for checkout?
A limited number of laptop power cords and mice are available for checkout at each desk. No earphones, external keyboards, external hard drives, or any other devices will be provided. Patrons may use any personal device that uses a USB connection, including a keyboard, mouse and USB flash drives.
How can I connect to the internet?
Internet access is available on all library laptops. The Internet is filtered.
The Library offers free, wireless Internet access that can be connect to from a personal device. The internet name is: CMP-Public.
Print at the Library
There are two options for printing at the library:
- Print from a MPCL Laptop or Computer
- Print from your own device. You will need your library card and pin or will need to create a guest printing account on our Mobile Printing site
Printing Costs:
- $0.20 per page for Black and White
- $0.50 per page for Color
Request a 3D Print
We accept requests to print 3D prints for $0.10 per gram, including the weight of support, rafts, and fillers.
For more information or to submit a file see our 3D Printing Page.
Join Beanstack Reading Challenges
You can join beanstack online or through the beanstack app. Just search for Manasssas Park City Library, then login or join with your email address! If you use Beanstack with another library, you will need to still create an account on our Beanstack, you can use the same email to sign up.
Suggest a Purchase
Manassas Park City Library welcomes suggestions for new items to be added to the collection. Set budgetary constraints and guidelines limit our ability to purchase all suggested items.
Academic-level, professional titles, or textbooks are not part of our general collection, therefore they will not be considered for purchase suggestions.
Request an InterLibrary Loan (ILL)
- There is a $5.00 processing and postage fee for each ILL request filled.
- Patrons are limited to 5 active requests at a time. A separate form must be completed for each item requested.
- Some items may not be requested through ILL:
- Items owned by Manassas Park City Library
- Newly published materials (materials less than one year old)
- Audio-visual material
- Textbooks
- Books copyrighted or dated prior to 1920
- Entire issues of periodicals
- Rare books or non-book materials
- E-books or e-documents/articles
- Restricted Material
- Requests typically take 2 to 6 weeks to be filled but are dependent on the loaning library, availability, and shipping speeds. When your item is available, you will receive an email.
- The loan period for ILL items is determined by the lending library. Items may be renewed at the discretion of the lending library. Requests for renewal must be submitted at least 5 days before the item’s due date.
- All ILL items must be returned to the circulation desk.
- For more information, please visit our Interlibrary Loan Policy Page
Donate
We accept donations of new, or like new, materials to be reviewed for possible addition to the collection on certain weekends. For more information about book/DVD donations – including any upcoming donation weekends – please visit our Donation Page.
If you are interested in donating programming materials, please contact the library to discuss details.
Gifts of physical items, including books and other material donations, are accepted with the understanding that ownership passes to the Library.
We also accepts financial gifts to enhance library services in the community. For more information, please see the Gifts Policy.
Volunteer
Volunteers are an invaluable community resource and we welcome the support! Volunteers provide support to staff by performing duties or tasks without wages or benefits. They do not take the place of staff but provide supplemental or specialized services.
Volunteers are accepted when their skills and abilities match specific needs of the library. The Library does not guarantee that all volunteer applications will be accepted. Applications are kept on file for 6 months in the event of future needs. Volunteers must be 12 or older. All accepted volunteers 14+ must pass a background check performed by the City of Manassas Park.
What can volunteers do?
- Shelve books
- Maintain Collection (Shelf Reading)
- Assist with library programs
- Process donations
- Assist with computer classes or technology questions
- Locate ‘missing’ items
- And More!
Current Needs?
- Spanish Translator
- Storytime Assistant
- Specialty Program Assistance including, but not limited to:
- 3D Printing
- Coding
- IT Technology
- Program Photographer
Work at the Library
There are currently no open positions. Please consider signing up to volunteer and don’t forget to check back.
S.P.A.R.K℠
Skills, Play, Achieve, Read, Know’
Learn more here!