Zip Books is back and requests reopen on Friday, January 2, 2026.
Zip Books is a grant funded program by the California State Library. If the library does not own a title you want, eligible books (print or audio) are delivered to you directly from Amazon at no cost. After you are finished, you return the book to the library.
Before submitting a request, please review the eligibility guidelines below.
Requests are limited to 3 per customer per month for this grant year.
Read About Zip Books Before Placing Requests:
- None! However, this service is for books the library does not own and there are some parameters:
- You must have a library card in good standing with the Ventura County Library.
- Limit 3 requests per month.
- Titles must be available through Amazon Prime.
- Print books must be priced under $50.
- Audiobooks and foreign language books may be priced up to $75.
- New releases published within the last six months are not eligible. Please use Suggest a Purchase for these requests.
- Prepublication orders are not eligible. Please use Suggest a Purchase for these requests.
- Textbooks and workbooks meant to be written in are not eligible.
- Fill out the form below after checking the library catalog and Amazon to confirm the title meets the criteria above.
- Enjoy your book!
- After three weeks, please return the book to your library branch and hand it to the staff.
- Put the Amazon receipt in the book, or put a note inside the book, so we know it was a Zip Book.
If the book meets our Collection Development Criteria, it will be added to the collection for others to enjoy.
New in 2025/2026:
You can also request eBooks and eAudiobooks through the State Library’s Zip Books for eBooks and eAudiobooks program. Learn more here: https://califa.org/zipbooks
- Zip Books for eBooks and eAudiobooks does not affect Ventura County Library’s print Zip Books funding. The eBooks and eAudiobooks funding is separate and managed by Califa.
- All California public library patrons are able to participate in the Zip Books eBooks and eAudiobooks service.
- You do not need to be a Palace library participant. Patrons can download the Palace app and read their requested title there.
- For more information, see https://califa.org/zipbooks
Contact Zipbooks@ventura.org