Public libraries have borrowed e-books to sponsors for more than 20 years, but many have expanded their electronic offerings with audiobooks, magazines, comics, videos and other digital services, even before the pandemic helped move collections online. If you’re curious about what your local library can loan from its digital shelves but never managed to sign up for a free library card, or connect your existing card to an account, here’s how to get started.
Find your library
If you’re not sure where to find the nearest library, search online or enter your city name in the library finder website or “Find Libraries and Archives” page on USA.gov. Once you find a library, check their website for information on how to register for a library card and the ability to borrow e-books and other materials. Links to “Digital Collections” or “Online Resources” or even “Get a Library Card” on the library’s home page will help you get started.
Libraries have different requirements for a card. Some may allow you to register completely online; others may want proof of your address from uploaded documents, phone numbers or geolocation data; and some libraries prefer that you register in person for a library card at the nearest branch.
If you don’t have a branch nearby, some city libraries allow anyone who lives in the state to register for a card, so check residency requirements. He Brooklyn Public Library, the new york public library and the Queens Public Library The systems allow people who live, work, pay property taxes or attend school in New York state to obtain a card. There are state libraries beyond New York, such as the Philadelphia Free Librarywhich is open to Pennsylvania residents, and the Houston Public Librarythat serves the majority of Texans.
Once you complete the registration process for a library card, you will get a username or number, as well as a PIN or password to log in to the library site.
Get the app
Most libraries manage their electronic materials through applications such as libby, simplyE and cloudLibrary. Some use apps like Press reader, rampage either Pavilion for loan of magazines and digital videos; Look for instructions on the library’s site about the items it offers for checkout and the applications you need to borrow. Once you’ve installed the app, log in with your library username and password and start searching for things to check out. If you already have a library card, use your card number to log in to the app.
As with borrowing physical items, you may have to wait if other people have already borrowed all copies of a certain book or audiobook. Loan periods will vary. You typically use borrowed materials in the library’s designated app, but you may also see an option to Send a borrowed book to your Amazon Kindle.
Some applications allow you add multiple libraries or multiple library cards to increase your borrowing options. In addition to e-book lending tools, some institutions also have their own custom apps for reserving physical copies of books and DVDs, browsing research collections, and posting announcements of library events.
Explore beyond books
Apps make it easy to explore a library’s core collection from a mobile device, but you can often delve deeper into holdings from the organization’s full website; a larger screen can help here. Offerings will vary by library and not everything may be digitized, but you may find maps, genealogical tools, research databases, digitized photographs, high school yearbooks, and archived newspapers.
In some cases, you can save and print items from the digital gallery. However, you may need to visit the physical library to use certain resources, such as subscription genealogy services.
Many institutions also offer a Library of things for local cardholders to borrow, such as technology equipment, board games, tools, and kitchen utensils. Check your library’s website for a list of services.
Libraries nationwide
You can also search for digitized articles from various national libraries. He Digital Collections Page about him Library of Congress The site is a good place to start looking for historical photographs and other content.
He Internet Archive houses millions of digital videos, audio recordings, images, books and old software programs, and LibriVox hosts public domain audiobooks.
He Digital Public Library of Americaa platform that brings together free libraries and archives from around the country in one place, has a searchable database of more than 49 million texts, images, audio recordings and videos on its site.
While exploring collections online may not be as exciting for those who prefer to experience the library in person, digital libraries have their advantages, including the ability to remain open 24 hours a day for people who simply don’t want to stop exploring.
