Library cards on the East End are set library by library, and several follow school district lines. Each has its own proof list. For a renter the useful difference is how soon a lease counts. Hampton Bays issues a card the same day to a new resident with a lease or landlord letter and a photo ID, and Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton asks for six full months of residency. Put it on the move checklist; a card also opens digital resources and, for remote workers, a place to work if the internet fails. If you are choosing a town, see year-round rentals by town.
| Library | Who can get a card | What a renter shows |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers Memorial Library, Southampton | Residents who live or own property in the Southampton and Tuckahoe school districts for a minimum of six full months | A driver’s license, state ID, passport or employee ID; see the library for address proof |
| East Hampton Library | Ask the library | Its page lists a current utility bill showing your street address; if you rent a room and lack the usual proofs, it asks you to call ahead |
| John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, 201 Main Street, (631) 725-0049 | All residents of the Sag Harbor school district, free; seasonal cards for summer visitors | A photo ID with proof of a local street address |
| Montauk Library | Property owners and year-round residents of the Montauk school district, and immediate family at the same address | Any one of: deed, tax bill, lease, utility bill, driver’s license with a Montauk address, auto registration or voter registration card |
| Hampton Bays Public Library | New residents of the community | One item from a list that includes a lease or letter from a landlord, plus a photo ID; a temporary card, valid 30 days, can be requested online |
| Westhampton Free Library | Residents of the Westhampton Beach school district; those in Remsenburg-Speonk, Eastport-South Manor, East Moriches and East Quogue may select it | Year-round renters: a driver’s license or car registration with a local address, a year-round lease, a signed landlord letter on letterhead stating you are a year-round tenant, or a military ID. Partial-year renters: a current lease and a signed letter |
| Shelter Island Public Library | Residents with proof of a local address, renters with proof of lease, and their children aged 3 and over; guest and short-term cards exist | Proof of address or lease |
| Amagansett Free Library, 215 Main Street, (631) 267-3810 | Ask the library | Ask the library |
Why renters should check
Westhampton and Shelter Island write renters into their rules, Hampton Bays and Montauk list a lease among accepted proofs, and East Hampton addresses renting a room. The one outlier is Rogers’ six-month requirement, which means a winter lease that starts in September reaches the threshold in March. If you plan to stay only the season, ask whether the library issues a short-term or guest card. The John Jermain Library and the Shelter Island Public Library both describe guest or seasonal cards.
Libraries and schools
Library districts follow the school districts, so the map of school districts is a guide to which library serves a hamlet. East Quogue residents, for example, may select Westhampton Free Library, according to that library.
Questions people ask
Can a winter renter get a Rogers Memorial Library card?
Rogers says cards go to residents who live or own property within the Southampton and Tuckahoe school districts and have done so for a minimum of six full months, so a September-to-May renter qualifies from March.
Which library takes a lease as proof right away?
Hampton Bays accepts a lease or a landlord letter plus photo ID and issues the card the same day. Montauk and Westhampton also list a lease among accepted proofs.
Sources
- Rogers Memorial Library, Get a library card
- East Hampton Library, Get a card
- John Jermain Memorial Library, Get a Library Card
- Montauk Library, Library Cards
- Hampton Bays Public Library, How do I get a library card?
- Westhampton Free Library, Library Cards
- Shelter Island Public Library, Services
- Amagansett Free Library
Checked October 2026. Rules, fees and hours change; confirm with the office or operator before you act.