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FAQs

A Lawton Public Library card is necessary to borrow library materials. Individuals may apply for a card at either the Main Library, the Branch, or in the library catalog.

If you live or work in Comanche County, your card is free. 

Comanche County residents can get a card by providing proof of identity with a government issued photo ID and proof of residency. A current driver's license will suffice for both proof of identity and residency. 

Other acceptable ways to prove residency include current (within the last 30 days): 

  • mortgage payment coupon, rent receipt, or lease agreement 
  • utility bill received by mail or electronically
  • bank statement 
  • payroll check with printed address 
  • printed check 
  • letter received by mail 

Don't forget to renew your library card! Your library card needs to be renewed once a year. A valid library card is required for access to electronic databases such as OverDrive and Hoopla. 

University Student Cards
Students enrolled in higher education who are not eligible for regular cards but are living on campus in Comanche County may be issued a library card for the length of the enrollment. Students must supply a current class schedule. 

Oklahoma Library Card
A resident of Oklahoma outside of Comanche County desiring to use the Lawton Public Library resources on a continuing basis must pay a fee of $28.75 annually. Ages: 18+ Renewed Yearly. 

Non-Resident Card
A non-Oklahoma resident desiring to use the Lawton Public Library resources on a continuing basis must pay a non-resident fee of $115.00 annually or $28.75 per quarter. Ages: 18+ Renewed Quarterly or Yearly. 

Welcome Card
An individual who can verify their name with valid photo identification may have full access to computers and online resources and may borrow 1 physical item at a time. Ages: 16+ Renewed Quarterly. 

You must be at least four years old to obtain a library card. If you are under 18-years old, your parent or legal guardian must sign your application and have no outstanding fees on his or her own account.

The first time you get a library card, you can checkout 5 items. After that, you can checkout up to 40 items total. Some materials like DVDs (only 10 at a time) have differing limits.

If an item is checked out, you can log into the library catalog, find the item, and then click the Reserve This Item button. 

If a book published in the last 3 years is not in the library, you can request for it to be added it to the library. Log into the library catalog, and then click on the My Account button, then the Reserves/Request tab

If an item is not in either library, you can request an interlibrary loan. https://www.lawtonok.gov/services/interlibrary-loan

https://www.lawtonok.gov/departments/library/e-resources

Ebook and eaudiobooks are available through Hoopla and OverDrive. 

Absolutely!

  • Call 580.581.3450 option 2 or 3 for the Reference Desk.
  • Email libraryhelp@lawtonok.gov
  • Text 580.825.5404 (if you have a library account)

Genealogy Requests

The Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society will do “lookups” in most indexed material in the Family History Room of the Lawton Public Library and offer suggestions for further research when appropriate.  Census lookups are not done.  Neither the Lawton Public Library nor SWOGS does actual research.


When requesting a lookup please provide names, dates, and places as much as possible and be specific in what you are looking for.

The lookup fee is $5.00 per lookup payable in advance.   Please include an SASE.

Mail request, with fee to:   SWOGS / P.O. Box 148 / Lawton, OK 73502

For newspaper lookups including obituaries: please supply the date the article ran or the date of the event (i.e., death date for an obituary).  A search will then be conducted up to seven days after the provided date.

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Faxes: See our sending a receiving faxes page for more information. 

Call 580.581.3450 option 2 or 3 for more details. 

 

No.

Yes. See our Mobile Printing page for options and instructions. 

Yes, and the service costs $5 a session. Generally, notaries are here between 9 am and 5 pm.  Call 580.581.3450 option 2 or 3 to make sure that notaries are present. 

Cash or check. We also have an ATM in the lobby.

The computer lab does have a debit/credit card reader, but it only processes payments for computer lab printing. 

The Friends of the Lawton Public Library welcome donations for our book sale. Due to space limitations, we request only the following:

  • Fiction books with a publication date of 1990 or newer
  • Non-fiction books with current information
  • Popular DVDs & CDs only
  • Please contact us before donating rare books published before 1930

Items Not Accepted

  • Magazines
  • VHS, cassette tapes, records
  • Travel Guides
  • Textbooks
  • Reader’s Digest condensed books
  • Older fiction books (pre-1990)

Book Pickups

Unfortunately, due to volunteer limitations, we cannot pick up books in peoples’ houses.  Thank you for your understanding.

Volunteers

Are you interested in helping with the book sale? Contact the Friends at 581-3450 ext. 9  for more details.

Covered drinks only please. Eating is only allowed in the lobby. 

Yes. Call 580.581.3450 option 5 for more details.

Go to https://lawton.biblionix.com/catalog/ and log into your account. 

The Lawton Public Library does not offer to act as exam proctors. Cameron University Testing Center does offer this service for a small fee. The Elgin Public Library also offers proctoring.