The Dare County Library's collection features approximately 80,000 items for children, teens and adults, including:

• Books (fiction and nonfiction)
• Magazines
• DVDs (feature film, documentary and children’s)
• Books on CD
• Large-print books
• eBooks and eAudioBooksfor adults, teens and children
• Digital magazines

Dare County Library patrons also have access to 130,000 additional items owned by the other libraries within the East Albemarle Regional Library System. Items can be sent from any library location to the one where it is most convenient for you to visit. This is a free service. Our frequent courier service allows for timely delivery of requested materials from one library to another.

Most items can be borrowed for a three-week loan period and can be renewed either in person, over the phone or via the internet through the “My Account” feature on our catalog website. 

Borrowed materials can be returned 24/7 at book returns located in front of each of the three Dare Count Library locations. Additional book returns are located at Southern Shores Town Hall, Nags Head Town Hall, in Rodanthe between the EMS station and Hotline, and at the Fessenden Center in Buxton.

The library offers NC LIVE, an internet-based set of reference databases and indices, including full-text magazine and newspaper articles, plus Learning Express online academic and career practice tests, and Heritage Quest for genealogy research. As a registered borrower of the Dare County Library, you qualify for access to NC LIVE from the library or home or work computer. Access to NC LIVE databases is available with your 14 digit Dare County Library card number.

Click here for instructions on how to access NC LIVE through the Dare County Library.

Other locally available databases include Ancestry.com-Library Edition and the Tumblebook Library, a database of animated picture books for children. Ask any Dare County librarian for information about these databases. 

Each Dare County Library location offers free internet access on computers that feature the Windows 10 operating system, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Avast! Antivirus, Adobe Reader, and Microsoft Office 2010 (including Word 2010, Excel 2010 and PowerPoint 2010).

Please Note: Computers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a 30-minute time limit for computer use when others are waiting.

• Printing from our computers (black and white only) costs 15 cents per page printed.

• Free Wi-Fi at all three Dare County Library branches (Kill Devil Hills, Manteo and Hatteras). You can access the Wi-Fi from our parking lots after hours. Look for the 'East Albemarle regional' network.
• Computers for children are available at each branch with educational programs and animated books.

Copiers and fax service are available at all three Dare County Library locations. Copies cost 15 cents and up per copy, depending on paper size. You can send your documents to us to print and we will have them available for pick-up.

Email your documents to KDHLibrary@gmail.com, ManteoLibrary@gmail.com, or HatterasLibrary@gmail.com. 

The public can receive or send faxes from each location; fax prices: $2.50 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page. 

Dare County Libraries take cash or check; we do not accept credit or debit cards. 

Staff members are available to offer reference and research assistance at all three Dare County Library locations.

The Dare County Library seeks to serve the educational and literacy needs of the community by offering free programs to Dare County residents and property owners ages 18 and older. Programs may be any topic, from birding to beekeeping, crafting to writing, history to photography. Check our Programs for Adults page for an updated schedule.

Dare County Children's Librarians Donna Roark and Tammy Batschelet work year-round to serve the needs of Dare County children with educational programs, enlightening story times and engaging activities, including a comprehensive Summer Reading Program. Find out more about our Children's Services.

K-12 Dare County students may sign up for an online library card to access all of the Dare County Library's e-resources. These include a variety of databases, such as World Book Online; e-books from NC Kids; as well as local history through the Dare Digital Heritage Collection.