Non-Resident Library Cards

[tubemonkey]

Non-Resident Library Cards

ANNOUNCEMENT -- 12 Jul 2024

Fbone now has editorial control of this thread. See this post for details.

tm

Libraries that offer non-resident access to their collections (for a fee) are a valuable resource for those who belong to smaller libraries or libraries with insufficient books in their favorite genres. Essentially, these libraries function as a subscription service similar to Kindle Unlimited, Audible, Scribd, etc.

While the emphasis of this thread is to discuss out-of-state/country non-resident library cards, feel free to discuss anything related to libraries in general, such as borrowing strategies and downloading issues.

If you run across libraries that aren't listed here, please post them. I'll then add them to the lists below and flesh out pertinent links and other key details.

Index

• Non-Resident Library Cards --> details
  
• OverDrive Collection Sizes --> details
  
• Recent News Articles --> details

Vendors

• Boundless (formerly Axis 360) -- cloudLibrary -- EBSCO -- Freading
  
• Hoopla -- OverDrive -- TumbleBook Library

Library Associations

• American Library Assoc -- Library Journal -- Public Library Assoc

.

[tubemonkey]

Non-Resident Library Cards -- updated 26 October 2024

• listing of libraries that offer out-of-state/country non-resident library cards

A ~ D

• Spoiler:

  • Brooklyn Public (NY) --- Free Card --- Digital -- OverDrive
    
  • Broward County (FL) --- $50/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Buhl (ID) ----------------- $35/year --- Digital -- Overdrive
    
  • Cannon Beach (OR) ----- $10/year --- Digital -- Overdrive
    
  • Carnegie Library (PA) -- $30/2 yr ---- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Chapel Hill Pub (NC) ---- $65/year --- Digital -- OverDrive
    
  • Char Mecklen (NC) ------ $45/year --- Digital -- OverDrive
    
  • Cincinnati (OH) ---------- $90/year --- Digital -- Overdrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Columbia (SC) ----------- $65/year --- Digital -- Overdrive ---Hoopla
    
  • Dayton (OH) ------------- $25/year --- Digital -- Overdrive
    
  • Detroit Public (MI) ------ $100/yr ---- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
    
    
  • Brooklyn -- restricted to ages 13~21 -- press release -- details -- details
    
  • Broward -- must register in-person
    
  • Carnegie -- must register in-person

  Hoopla is only listed for libraries that carry Hoopla books. Other libraries might also use Hoopla, but only for other digital media like videos, music, comics, etc.

E ~ L

• Spoiler:

  • Eugene (OR) ------------- $132/yr ---- Digital -- Overdrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Enoch Pratt Lib (MD) --- $50/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
    
  • Fairfax County (VA) ---- $27/year --- Digital -- OverDrive
    
  • Hennepin Cty (MN) ----- $60/year --- digital checkouts NOT allowed
    
  • Hood River Cty (OR) ---- $80/year --- Digital -- OverDrive
    
  • Houston Public (TX) ---- $40/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- more
    
  • Lake County (IN) ------- $55/year --- Digital -- Overdrive -- Hoopla
    
  • Little Rock (AR) --------- $54/year --- Digital -- Overdrive -- Hoopla
    
  • Los Angeles Pub (CA) -- $50/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
    
    
  • Hennepin -- must register in-person -- digital checkouts NOT allowed
    
  • Los Angeles -- must register in-person

  Hoopla is only listed for libraries that carry Hoopla books. Other libraries might also use Hoopla, but only for other digital media like videos, music, comics, etc.

M ~ P

• Spoiler:

  • Maricopa County (AZ) -- $50/year --- Digital -- Overdrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Metropolitan Lib (OK) -- $70/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
    
  • Miami-Dade Lib (FL) ---- $65/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
    
  • Monroe County (NY) ---- $25/year --- Digital -- OverDrive
    
  • Montgomery (MD) ------ $10/year ---- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Multnomah Cty (OR) --- $180/yr ----- Digital -- Overdrive
    
  • New Orleans (LA) ------ $50/year ---- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Omaha (NE) ------------- $75/year ---- Digital -- Overdrive
    
  • Orange County (FL) ---- $125/yr ----- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
    
  • Metropolitan -- restricted to Oklahoma state residents
    
  • Montgomery -- must register in-person
    
  • Multnomah -- must register in-person

  
  
  

  Hoopla is only listed for libraries that carry Hoopla books. Other libraries might also use Hoopla, but only for other digital media like videos, music, comics, etc.

Q ~ S

• Spoiler:

  • Queens Public (NY) ----- $50/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- more
    
  • Salt Lake City (UT) ------ $80/year --- Digital -- OverDrive
    
  • St Charles Lib (MO) ----- $80/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • St Louis Cty (MO) ------- $50/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • St Louis Public (MO) ---- $60/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Stark Library (OH) ------ $50/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
    
    
  • St Louis Cty -- restricted to Missouri/Illinois residents
    

  Hoopla is only listed for libraries that carry Hoopla books. Other libraries might also use Hoopla, but only for other digital media like videos, music, comics, etc.

T ~ Z

• Spoiler:

  • Tallahassee (FL) --------- $30/year ---- Digital -- Overdrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Toledo Lucas (OH) ------ $75/year ---- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
    
  • Virginia Beach (VA) ----- $35/year ---- Digital -- Overdrive -- Hoopla
    
  • Washington Cty (OR) --- $140/yr ----- Digital -- OverDrive
    
  • Westchester (NY) ------- $75/year ---- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
    
  • Williamson Cty (TN) ---- $25/6 mo --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
    
  • Washington -- must register in-person
    
  • Williamson -- electronic resources not included

  Hoopla is only listed for libraries that carry Hoopla books. Other libraries might also use Hoopla, but only for other digital media like videos, music, comics, etc.

Pending

• Nampa ID, Irving TX, Wake County NC
  

Library Systems

• Spoiler:

  These libraries are part of larger library systems. See the above list for info.
  
  

  • Carnegie Library (PA) --- Allegheny County Library Association
    
  • Chapel Hill Pub (NC) ----- North Carolina Digital Library
    
  • Hennepin Cty (MN) ------ Metropolitan Library Service Agency
    
  • Enoch Pratt Lib (MD) ---- Maryland's Digital eLibrary Consortium
    
  • Hood River Cty (OR) ----- Oregon Dig Lib Consortium = Library2Go
    
  • Stark Library (OH) ------- The Ohio Digital Library
    
  • Williamson Cty (TN) ----- Tennessee READS

Former Non-Res Lib Cards

• Spoiler:

  • Brooklyn Public (NY) --- out-of-state cards dc'd (15 July 2022) --> details
    
  • Free Library Phil (PA) -- out-of-state cards dc'd (01 Nov 2019)
    
  • Metropolian (OK) -- out of state cards dc'd (01 July 2024)

.

[tubemonkey]

OverDrive Collection Sizes -- updated 23 July 2024


Largest Libraries -- updated 23 July 2024

• Spoiler:

  This is a listing of the largest OverDrive libraries; they have collections of at least 170,000 ePub books. Five of these libraries offer non-resident cards, but four of them have severe restrictions.
  
  OverDrive Library --------- Fee ------- epub --- kindle ---- mp3
  
  

  1. Los Angeles Pub (CA) --- $50/year ---- 417,615 --- 377,383 --- 138,267
     
  2. Pueblo (CO) -------------------------------- 409,111 --- 180,571 --- 164,260
     
  3. Sno-Isle Library (WA) -------------------- 267,055 --- 254,662 --- 148,144
     
  4. NLB Singapore (SG) ----------------------- 280,906 ------------------- 63,522
     
  5. Live-brary.com (NY) ---------------------- 229,289 --- 218,169 ---- 95,018
     
  6. Cleveland Public (OH) -------------------- 222,735 --- 194,485 ---- 84,885
     
  7. Hennepin Cty (MN) ------ $60/year ---- 187,917 --- 180,836 ---- 67,166
     
  8. Toronto Public (ON) ---------------------- 198,118 ------------------- 59,585
     
  9. King County Lib (WA) -------------------- 200,550 --- 195,916 ----- 84,884
     
  10. Brooklyn Public (NY) ---- Free Card --- 210,891 --- 178,020 ----- 82,939
      
  11. New York Public (NY) -------------------- 181,695 --- 154,144 ----- 76,470
      
  12. Metropolitan Lib (OK) --- $70/year --- 172,025 --- 164,034 ----- 88,459
      
  13. Stark Library (OH) ------- $50/year --- 182,035 --- 174,667 ----- 65,847

  
  Restrictions
  
  

  • Los Angeles -- must register in-person
    
  • Hennepin -- must register in-person -- digital checkouts NOT allowed
    
  • Brooklyn -- restricted to ages 13~21
    
  • Metropolitan -- restricted to Oklahoma state residents
    

over 100K ebooks

• Spoiler:

  • OverDrive Library --- Fee ------ epub ---- kindle --- mp3
    
    
  • Los Angeles Pub (CA) --- $50/year --- 417,615 --- 377,383 --- 138,267
    
  • Brooklyn Public (NY) ---- Free Card --- 210,891 --- 178,020 ---- 82,939
    
  • Hennepin Cty (MN) ------ $60/year --- 187,917 --- 180,836 ---- 67,166
    
  • Stark Library (OH) ------- $50/year --- 182,035 --- 174,667 ---- 65,847
    
  • Metropolitan Lib (OK) --- $70/year --- 172,025 --- 164,034 ---- 88,459
    
  • Multnomah Cty (OR) ---- $180/yr ----- 159,101 --- 144,009 ---- 72,661
    
  • Cincinnati (OH) ---------- $90/year ---- 158,772 --- 153,254 ---- 68,396
    
  • Orange County (FL) ----- $125/yr ----- 124,202 --- 107,594 ---- 38,360
    
  • Washington Cty (OR) --- $140/yr ----- 113,264 --- 123,822 ---- 56,875
    
  • Maricopa County (AZ) --- $50/year --- 102,200 ---- 93,110 ----- 46,010
    
  • Carnegie Library (PA) --- $30/2 yr ---- 100,834 ---- 96,707 ---- 32,060
    
    
  • Los Angeles -- must register in-person
    
  • Hennepin -- must register in-person -- digital checkouts NOT allowed
    
  • Brooklyn -- restricted to ages 13~21
    
  • Multnomah -- must register in-person
    
  • Metropolitan -- restricted to Oklahoma state residents
    
  • Washington -- must register in-person
    
  • Carnegie -- must register in-person
    

50K ~ 99K ebooks

• Spoiler:

  • OverDrive Library --- Fee ------ epub -- kindle --- mp3
    
    
  • St Louis County (MO) --- $50/year --- 90,431 --- 88,203 --- 22,257
    
  • Dayton (OH) ------------- $25/year ---- 87,196 --- 90,990 --- 56,330
    
  • Toledo Lucas (OH) ------ $75/year ---- 76,829 --- 73,936 --- 40,699
    
  • Williamson Cty (TN) ---- $25/6 mo --- 76,559 --- 67,622 --- 32,949
    
  • Houston Public (TX) ---- $40/year --- 75,376 --- 76,656 ---- 52,674
    
  • Chapel Hill Pub (NC) ---- $65/year --- 68,142 --- 60,818 --- 28,105
    
  • Lake County (IN) -------- $55/year --- 66,049 --- 64,243 --- 28,397
    
  • Little Rock (AR) ---------- $54/year --- 65,377 --- 61,304 --- 29,153
    
  • Columbia (SC) ----------- $65/year --- 64,175 --- 60,099 --- 25,536
    
  • Queens Public (NY) ----- $50/year --- 62,899 --- 66,282 --- 17,302
    
  • Broward County (FL) --- $50/year ---- 59,955 --- 52,108 --- 25,142
    
  • Westchester (NY) ------- $75/year ---- 58,433 --- 56,128 --- 17,991
    
  • Miami-Dade Lib (FL) ---- $65/year --- 57,470 --- 54,023 ---- 30,676
    
  • New Orleans (LA) ------- $50/year --- 54,936 --- 53,472 ---- 80,178
    
    
  • Broward -- must register in-person
    
  • St Louis Cty -- restricted to Missouri/Illinois residents
    
  • Williamson -- electronic resources not included
    

40K ~ 49K ebooks

• Spoiler:

  • OverDrive Library ---- Fee ----- epub -- kindle --- mp3
    
    
  • Salt Lake City (UT) ------ $80/year --- 46,123 --- 40,774 --- 28,768
    
  • St Charles Lib (MO) ----- $80/year --- 44,807 --- 44,851 --- 18,571
    
  • C Mecklenburg (NC) ---- $45/year --- 42,664 --- 44,275 --- 12,968
    
  • Monroe County (NY) ---- $25/year --- 40,567 --- 37,128 --- 14,769
    
  • Cannon Beach (OR) ----- $10/year --- 40,269 --- 36,707 --- 23,421
    
  • Hood River Cty (OR) ---- $80/year --- 40,269 --- 36,707 --- 23,421
    
  • Eugene (OR) ------------- $132/yr ----- 40,269 --- 36,707 --- 23,421
    
    

10K ~ 39K ebooks

• Spoiler:

  • OverDrive Library --- Fee ----- epub --- kindle --- mp3
    
    
  • St Louis Public (MO) ---- $60/year --- 38,947 --- 35,862 --- 11,540
    
  • Montgomery (MD) ------ $10/year ---- 36,870 --- 40,624 --- 21,181
    
  • Fairfax County (VA) ----- $27/year --- 36,841 --- 38,831 --- 25,287
    
  • Omaha (NE) -------------- $75/year --- 35,953 --- 34,995 --- 20,196
    
  • Virginia Beach (VA) ----- $35/year --- 26,687 --- 23,372 --- 11,187
    
  • Enoch Pratt Lib (MD) --- $50/year --- 24,098 --- 22,366 ---- 12,608
    
  • Tallahassee (FL) -------- $30/year ---- 23,079 --- 19,925 --- 15,113
    
  • Buhl (ID) ----------------- $35/year ---- 11,977 ---- 9,446 ----- 7,733
    
  • Detroit Public (MI) ------ $100/yr ---- 10,933 --- 10,698 ----- 5,771
    
    
  • Montgomery -- must register in-person

.

[issybird]

Thanks, tm, for pulling this all together.

[spacepope]

Wow, this is an amazing thread! Thanks for aggregating.

I haven’t had Stark Library for long but it works fine in my Libby and the 20 checkouts / 30 holds limit is extremely generous. I keep tapping out my local library cards that only have 10 holds per card.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by spacepope

Wow, this is an amazing thread! Thanks for aggregating.

I haven’t had Stark Library for long but it works fine in my Libby and the 20 checkouts / 30 holds limit is extremely generous. I keep tapping out my local library cards that only have 10 holds per card.

I'm looking around the Stark Library, and it looks like they are using bibliocommons.com rather than Overdrive.

I don't usually use libraries, so I could be wrong about this--maybe bibliocommons is actually tied to Overdrive, somehow? If it's not, though, it may be worth mentioning for those who have a Kobo reader and were hoping to access books borrowed from there on their Kobos without downloading and loading through ADE.

Shari

[Dazrin]

It looks like you can add the Washington County (Oregon) Cooperative Library Services system to this list. They have an option for $140 to get access to the e-library and physical books.

Library site: https://www.wccls.org/
Info on Card Types: https://www.wccls.org/types-library-cards
Overdrive: https://wccls.overdrive.com/

82,391 epubs
85,748 kindle
36,245 mp3s

I also checked Seattle, WA and King County, WA. You can get cards for either of these if you live within the state (with a few exceptions). I don't see a general out-of-area option for them though.

There is also the Oregon Digital Library Consortium that MANY Oregon libraries are part of. There are probably several libraries that offer access to non-resident members, I only looked at a couple till I found one, there may be others at lower prices.

Hood River Library - $80/year
Library: https://hoodriverlibrary.org/
Get a card: https://hoodriverlibrary.org/get-a-library-card/
Overdrive: https://library2go.overdrive.com/

35,811 epub
32,151 kindle
17,695 mp3s

[Deskisamess]

Ohio's Stark Library is switching from Overdrive to the Libby app in 2023. I find this library to be awesome when I've compared it to others. 20 loans, 30 Holds, 21 day loans, and 152,258 Kindle format books.

No idea what bibliocommons is.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

Ohio's Stark Library is switching from Overdrive to the Libby app in 2023. I find this library to be awesome when I've compared it to others. 20 loans, 30 Holds, 21 day loans, and 152,258 Kindle format books.

No idea what bibliocommons is.

https://starklibrary.bibliocommons.com/search?

Shari

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

It looks like you can add the Washington County (Oregon) Cooperative Library Services system to this list. They have an option for $140 to get access to the e-library and physical books.

Library site: https://www.wccls.org/
Info on Card Types: https://www.wccls.org/types-library-cards
Overdrive: https://wccls.overdrive.com/

82,391 epubs
85,748 kindle
36,245 mp3s

I also checked Seattle, WA and King County, WA. You can get cards for either of these if you live within the state (with a few exceptions). I don't see a general out-of-area option for them though.

There is also the Oregon Digital Library Consortium that MANY Oregon libraries are part of. There are probably several libraries that offer access to non-resident members, I only looked at a couple till I found one, there may be others at lower prices.

Hood River Library - $80/year
Library: https://hoodriverlibrary.org/
Get a card: https://hoodriverlibrary.org/get-a-library-card/
Overdrive: https://library2go.overdrive.com/

35,811 epub
32,151 kindle
17,695 mp3s

Thanks for the detail on these libraries. It made my job so much easier. I really appreciate it

As to Seattle and King County, we're primarily looking at reciprocal borrowing. Though Seattle does offer a non-res card for $85, but only for those living within the state.

BTW, Seattle and King County are 2 of the 6 libraries I belong to.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by issybird

Thanks, tm, for pulling this all together.

Originally Posted by spacepope

Wow, this is an amazing thread! Thanks for aggregating.

You're quite welcome

[tubemonkey]

While the emphasis of this thread is to discuss non-resident library cards, feel free to discuss anything related to libraries in general, such as borrowing strategies and downloading issues.

Before getting a non-res card, check to see if your library has reciprocal borrowing agreements with neighboring libraries. These agreements allow you to get free cards form other libraries and they might have better collections than your library.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Thanks for the detail on these libraries. It made my job so much easier. I really appreciate it

As to Seattle and King County, we're primarily looking at reciprocal borrowing. Though Seattle does offer a non-res card for $85, but only for those living within the state.

BTW, Seattle and King County are 2 of the 6 libraries I belong to.

You're welcome.

Multnomah County does have Hoopla available too.

For Hood River, I would move that to one of the Library Systems in the 2nd post. It is part of the Oregon Digital Library Consortium (Library 2 Go) and doesn't have its own digital library. There are a lot of libraries in this system: https://library2go.overdrive.com/support/members

I was supposed to be in Seattle all this week for work and my family was going to come with me to avoid the heat. Unfortunately it fell through at the last minute on Monday. We have had temperatures in the low 100s and upper 90s all week down here in Portland. YUCK! It's supposed to be this way through Sunday.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Multnomah County does have Hoopla available too.

It listed "streaming movies, music, comics, TV and more" with no mention of books, so I didn't include it. Quite a few libraries have Hoopla, but only for video, music, and comics. It appears books are too expensive. Three of my libraries have Hoopla, but not for books.

For Hood River, I would move that to one of the Library Systems in the 2nd post. It is part of the Oregon Digital Library Consortium (Library 2 Go) and doesn't have its own digital library. There are a lot of libraries in this system: https://library2go.overdrive.com/support/members

Already done. So far, six of these libraries get their OverDrive content through consortiums. I'll double check the list later to be sure I didn't miss any.

I was supposed to be in Seattle all this week for work and my family was going to come with me to avoid the heat. Unfortunately it fell through at the last minute on Monday. We have had temperatures in the low 100s and upper 90s all week down here in Portland. YUCK! It's supposed to be this way through Sunday.

That's not for me. That's way too hot. We've been about 10 degrees cooler than you, so good luck. If it gets too bad, head for the mountains.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It listed "streaming movies, music, comics, TV and more" with no mention of books, so I didn't include it. Quite a few libraries have Hoopla, but only for video, music, and comics. It appears books are too expensive. Three of my libraries have Hoopla, but not for books.
....
That's not for me. That's way too hot. We've been about 10 degrees cooler than you, so good luck. If it gets too bad, head for the mountains.

Ok, I didn't realize that for Hoopla. Not something I've really looked into.

Yes, yes it is. Fortunately, we have AC. Unfortunately, it doesn't keep up at these temps but it's something. That's 100% why the family was going to come with me on my trip.