Frequently Asked Library Questions

The Menlo Park Library and Belle Haven Library are open for the following hours:

• Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays: Noon-8 p.m.
• Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Holidays: closed

2026 closures:

• Thursday, January 1, 2026 (New Year's Day)
• Monday, January 19 (MLK Day) 
• Monday, February 16 (Presidents Day)
• Friday, March 27 (Staff Training)
• Saturday, April 4 (Spring Festival)
• Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day)
• Friday-Saturday, July 3-4 (Independence Day)
• Monday, September 7 (Labor Day)
• Saturday, October 24 (Halloween parade)
• Wednesday, November 11 (Veterans Day)
• Thursday-Friday, November 26-27 (Thanksgiving)
• Thursday-Friday, December 24-25 (Christmas)

Other closures will be listed as dates become known.

A library card is not required to use the library space or browse the collections, but a card is required in order to take books and other materials home, or access certain kinds of electronic resources and databases.

Menlo Park Library is part of the Peninsula Library System, which issues cards to any resident of California. If you are not a permanent resident of California, but are staying in the area for an extended period (e.g. for a work or study program), then we may be able to issue a temporary library card.

To apply for a library card, fill out this form and you will receive a temporary barcode number with limited functions.

Bring your temporary barcode number along with your photo ID and proof of your current residence address (P.O. box not acceptable) to the library front desk to receive a card.

Acceptable forms of government issued photo ID include: driver's license; passport; state ID card

Proof of residence should include the card applicant's name on documentation such as: a utility bill; lease or rental agreement; piece of postmarked mail; state ID or driver's license 

There is no minimum age limit, but a parent or guardian must be present and provide proof of address for patrons under age 16.

To renew your library card in person at a library location, bring your card or photo ID to a service desk and verify that your account information (e.g. address, phone number) is correct and up to date.

You may be able to renew your card by phone (650-330-2520) or email (mplref@menlopark.gov) if you can verify that all of your account information is correct and up to date. If any information is incorrect or must be updated, we ask that you come in person with your photo ID to make changes to your account.

If you need to make changes to your account and are unable to visit in person, call or email the library and accommodations may be made on a case by case basis at a supervisor's discretion.

Menlo Park Library cards are set to expire every three years.

By default, your PIN is the last 4 digits of the phone number you used to sign up for a library card. You can reset your PIN through the Forgot your PIN? page on the Bibliocommons catalog website.

Library staff are not authorized to provide childcare or primary supervision. Parents and caregivers are responsible for the safety, welfare, and behavior of their children in the library.

• Children under age 6 should never be left unattended in the library.  
• Children ages 6-10 should have a responsible caregiver age 14+ with them or nearby in the library.
• Children ages 11+ may visit the library unsupervised for reasonable lengths of time, but should always have the means to contact their grown-up.

Please see the Library Use Guidelines(PDF, 787KB) for our full policy regarding unattended children and youth.

Belle Haven Library has one small Tutor Room available for reservation here.

Menlo Park Library does not have private spaces. Please see these other area resources:

San Mateo County Libraries

• Rooms available at multiple branches - Atherton is the nearest to MPL
• Reserve online with your PLS library card

Redwood City Libraries

• Rooms available at Downtown Library and Redwood Shores Branch
• No reservations required (1st come, 1st served)

Palo Alto Libraries

• Rooms available at multiple branches - Downtown and Rinconada are nearest MPL
• Reserve online

The Friends of the Library accept donations of gently used books, media, games, and puzzles at the back door on 800 Alma St. from 12-3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

We currently cannot accept donations at the Belle Haven Library.

Visit the Friends of the Menlo Park Library website for more donation guidelines.

Please be advised that donations should not be made with the expectation that they will be added to the library's collections. Your donations are what allow us to provide free library programs and events for the community to enjoy.

Menlo Park Library has gone fine free as of summer 2021! 

This means that there will be no accrual of late fees on items owned by Menlo Park Library. Items requested from other library systems via interlibrary loan and checked out at Menlo Park may still be subject to late fees according to the owning library's policies.

Lost or damaged items may incur replacement fees totaling the cost of the item plus a $5 processing fee.

If you are looking for a specific item and cannot find it in our library catalog or in the LINK+ catalog, use this form to request it.

Our collection development librarians will evaluate all requests in accordance with the Collection Development Policy(PDF, 267KB).

1. On your laptop or mobile device, locate the Wi-Fi network ("Menlo Park Library" at Menlo Park Library or "Menlo Guest-Net" at Belle Haven Library) and connect

2. Open a web browser to view and accept the library's wireless usage policy. If the policy page does not load, point your browser to http://1.1.1.1

3. Once you click "Accept" you will be redirected to the library's website, and can access the Internet.

The Menlo Park and Belle Haven libraries offer Windows laptops from a self-service kiosk for 3-hour in-library use by adults with a library card.

The Menlo Park and Belle Haven libraries offer Chromebooks for 7-day checkout to adult residents of Menlo Park with a library card.

Desktop computers with temporary guest pass access are not available.

The libraries do not offer printing or copying services except “in cases of extraordinary need.” See our Document Reproduction Policy for more information.

General tip for electronic borrowing:

For best results, we advise users to browse, borrow, and hold electronic items directly from individual ebook apps, and not on the Bibliocommons catalog. Ebooks are provided by third party companies and are held in separate databases from the physical materials catalog. Holds placed on electronic items via Bibliocommons may not be successful.

Common Libby issues:

If Libby requests you to verify your account but doesn't recognize your library barcode, your card may be expired or your account may have been created using a phone number rather than a library card. Please visit the library with your device so staff can investigate the issue.

Similarly, if you receive notice that a hold is ready to borrow, but is not available in your Libby dashboard, you may have duplicate accounts due to logging in with a phone number. Please visit the library with your device and staff will investigate.

Common access issues:

Due to vendor licensing agreements, some of our e-library services are available only to residents of Menlo Park whose library cards begin with 29044. If you are not a resident of Menlo Park or your card begins with another number, you may be able to access those resources from your "home library" system instead. This may apply to services such as:

• Hoopla
• Kanopy
• CloudLibrary
• Comics Plus

If your question is not answered here or you are still having trouble with one or more ebook platforms, please visit us at the library with your device for further troubleshooting. 

Discover & Go access is linked to your "home library" system and library card type, which in turn is determined by your residence address.

• Menlo Park residents who have a card beginning with 29044 can access museum passes through the Menlo Park login link at https://menloparklibrary.discoverandgo.net.
• Residents of unincorporated Menlo Park who have a card beginning with 29041 must login through the San Mateo County Libraries login page at https://smcl.discoverandgo.net.
• Residents of other cities or counties should go to the main Discover & Go page at https://discoverandgo.org and choose their home library system. 

If you are still having trouble logging in, contact us at 650-330-2520 or mplref@menlopark.gov for further troubleshooting.

Most library programming is free and open to the public and does not require registration.

Certain events may require registration ahead of time, for example:

• Events that take place on Zoom
• Events that are expected to reach space capacity limits
• After hours events that are restricted to adults aged 18+

The Library never charges money to attend our events.

Visit the Event Calendar at menlopark.gov/programs to find a full listing of library events including registration info if it applies.

Registration for other programming and classes hosted by the Library and Community Services department may be found in the online Activity Guide.

For general feedback and suggestions about library programming, please use the online Library and Community Services Feedback form or drop a note in the suggestion box onsite at the libraries.

We love to host school groups for private tours and visit your classrooms and school assemblies! Please use the Library Visits page to reach out about scheduling a potential visit. Our staff capacity is limited, so please plan visit dates far in advance.

Flyers can be submitted to library staff for review. If approved, the material will be posted to the community bulletin board and/or in the front lobby. Posting the material does not indicate library sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation with posted events.

In general, our guidelines require that advertised events must be open to the public and free of cost.

The Library and Community Services display policy(PDF, 115KB) prohibits posting of the following materials:

• Partisan political messages, petitions and/or similar items (during local, state, and federal elections, nonpartisan informational material may be displayed)
• Religious messages, displays, and/or expressions of religious doctrine or belief
• Services or products for sale or rent
• Solicitations for membership, except for City-sponsored membership activities
• Solicitations for fundraising, except for Library and Community Services-sponsored fundraising activities
• Material that violates any City policy, procedure, or rule; or that violates local, state, and/or federal law

If your literature does not meet the criteria for posting on library premises, you may be able to post on the public kiosk outside the library at 800 Alma St.

Informal gatherings are welcome to meet in library spaces, provided the meetup is not advertised as being sponsored by or affiliated with the Menlo Park Library.

Paid classes or workshops, tabling activities, and solicitations (for membership, fundraising, or any other contributions such as signatures, votes, donations, etc.) are not permitted to operate on library premises except as part of City-sponsored activities.

Individuals and organizations wishing to partner with Menlo Park Library on community projects or other outreach endeavors may contact mplref@menlopark.gov with an outline or proposal.