Thank you! Bonus tip: once you send a library book to your kindle, it'll stay on your kindle even after your loan has ended as long as you stay on airplane mode. That means you can take longer than 3 weeks to finish the book if you need, and it also means you can "return" the book on libby as soon as you get it and let the next person access it. It's a nice pay it forward, especially if it's a new/ sought after book. You'll of course lose the book as soon as you turn off airplane mode to receive a new book so this takes some strategizing but it helps if your luck is like mine and 4 of your holds are ready at the same time.
I've not tried that but I've found that I have a grace period on my ereader, as long as I don't close out of the book or turn off the reader. It comes in handy when you know you only have a bit more to read. May have to try out your method, too!
Can you give the basic steps that include putting the kindle into airplane mode to extend the period of time for reading/listening to an ebook/audiobook but still “return” it within the 21 days to allow the next person in line to read/listen? Is it this?: 1. In Libby/Hoopla/other app on phone (or computer?) do the Borrow. 2. Then, on the Kindle, right after the ebook/audiobook shows up, place kindle in Airplane Mode? 3. Immediately (to be a Good Samaritan) or within the time period requested, on Libby/Hoopla/other app, Return the borrowed item. 4. On your Kindle, when done reading/listening to all your borrowed items, turn Airplane Mode back ON.
@@alyse8667 Yes. Once you "Borrow" on the Libby phone app/website, send it to your Kindle under the "Read With.." options, then open the book on your Kindle to make sure it's downloaded successfully and turn on Airplane mode on the Kindle. Then you can either "Return early" on the Libby phone app/ website, or just let the loan expire in the usual 14 or 21 days your library gives you. At that point it will appear on Libby that you have returned the book but it will stay available on your Kindle until you turn off Airplane mode. I have no idea how this affects whatever metrics libraries track of how their books are read, but I know the offline copy you keep reading doesn't prevent others on the waiting list from reading it, whether you return it early or let the usual loan period run out. Hopefully that made sense. It's the same process you would use to read any Libby loan on your Kindle. Just be sure to stay on Airplane mode and then any changes to your loan can't be reconized or updated until it connects to WiFi again.
Important - if you will keep your kindle offline too long, it will start losing battery faster. In my case the battery was losing 60 percent daily. I was about buying new kindle but then I turn wifi on and battery came back to normal.
You don't even understand how much you helped me. I am a farm worker with a tight budget. My work season will start pretty soon. So, I'm gonna commute around several counties...so, I'm gonna get me all these library cards!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews do you have to buy a Kindle for this to work? Because, I have a MacBook, iPad and iPhone already. Don't want to spend another penny on anything else. And thanks for the great video. I haven't used Libby in years now, because it was impossible to navigate on my local libraries. I got fed up and stopped even trying. And I wasn't just not just me, anyone I had talked to at the time, was as frustrated as I was. Hopefully, they got their acts together since.
@@nightskylights4501 I've been using Libby for years and have never experienced any problems with it at all. I absolutely love Libby! I love Hoopla's selection but have always had audio problems with them, no matter what device I use. Hopefully that will improve soon! Kindle is available as an app that can be downloaded to any device you want. You do not need to buy a Kindle device to use Kindle.
Hands down one of the most useful YT vids on Kindle/eReader use I have found to date. Thank you for this. Also note, that the Library Extension is available for Edge and Firefox too. Really glad I know about it, thanks to you, Matt! As a fellow CA resident, and thanks to your excellent advice, I will be doing a library quest this weekend driving through the LA/San Diego area and stopping at one library for each major library system and collecting cards from each to put into Libby and Library Extension. Already have three but should be at double digits after this quest!
Happy to have helped! Just make sure you look up those library systems to make sure they have libby. A huge majority do, but you don't want to waste your time going out of your way for one that doesn't have it.
Possibly one of the most helpful videos I've ever seen on You tube or anywhere else. Should be required watching for students in English classes all over the country!
I'm from a Michigan Library and A TON of Michigan Library collectives are partnered through Libby. You can use your home library card to log into about 10 other catalogs (around 100 or so Libraries). They recently updated it where it'll show all your saved libraries and if that book is available in any of them, regardless of which one you're searching. It doesn't actively tell you this, so ask your Librarian about it! (Or you can ask me, I dont mind)
@@tateseely Not sure how other Libraries in other states work, but a lot (if not all) of Michigan Libraries are part of a collective. So you have collectives like The Library Network, Mid-Michigan Library League, Suburban Library Cooperative, etc. The Libraries themselves work independently but other libraries in the collective allow for checking out things from other libraries in the collective with your home library card (there's other benefits too, but that's the main one). However on Libby all the collectives themselves are partnered. So everyone has their own Libby collection but we're all sharing them with each other, essentially making one GIANT Libby catalog across the state. Sorry it's kind of hard to explain without having images to show you, but essentially, your card gives you access to a ton more Libraries then just your home one. Digitally, you essentially have access to at least half the libraries in the state simply with one library card.
I’ve told people about this all the time. You can also get the app on your phone and use your car’s blue tooth to listen to a book while you drive as well. People insist they have to own the book. At this point I’ve given so many books to my library….I need the space at home.
Texas residents can use the Houston library's online catalog for free as long as you have a state ID. There is also the Texshare card which is a pass issued by your home library that let's you bypass the nonresident fees of participating in-state libraries. Also, do not forget about inter library loans for physical media - for a small fee your home library will organize borrowing the item from another library, potentially from across the country or even farther away. We currently only charge $3.75 at the library where I work.
Harris County, Northeast Texas Digital Consortium, Zula Bryant Wylie library, and I saw another post that said Broward public library in Florida, so I got that one, too.
If you’re not in Texas it’s also useable for $40 dollars for non-resident. Queens public library also has non-resident cards for $45. Orange County Public library in California also has E-cards with no ID proof required if someone wanted to do the u thinkable and use a random nearby address to register, and they have magazines too!
Matt. Thank you. I am an audiobook junkie. I drive and walk often and using Audible has always been my primary resource. I have both a local and county library near me. I visited both and got my cards. I am now the proud user for both Hoopla and Libby. I was also surprised that both offered several other streaming resources like Kanopy. Going to install the library extension for Chrome next. This is awesome!
For all the Canadians out there we can use Overdrive/Libby through Kobo, was one of the reasons I went Kobo instead of Kindle when choosing an ereader last year. It's worked very well so far!
Thanks for the tips matt. I use libby for audiobooks in Canada. I wasn't aware that kindle couldn't connect to the system when I bought it. I'll definitely look into kobo in the near future - It wouldn't take long to gain my money back.
This was highly informative - thanks for the tips! My local library has meager digital offerings - especially on audio - but I'll have to try some of these tricks. Thanks!
I’m grateful I live in the DMV area. Two huge and two medium sized library systems, plus Library of Congress benefits. Glad you were able to share a system that lets people use it even if it costs a little.
Thanks Matt for bringing Hoolpa to my attention. It's going to be nice to be able to bypass my library's wait times in Libby if need be. I usually like to have hard copies of my books but I'm an incredibly slow reader and using Libby to listen to audiobooks on my commute greatly helps my reading speed. But there are times where there is a wait time for the audiobook and my reading speed returns to it's old sluggish self.
I live in AZ, and I have a paid card in the Orange County Library System. I got it right before Covid hit in 2020. I also have access to two other state systems, because I own property there, and pay property taxes. So with my AZ card, I can look for books in 4 different library systems. This saved my sanity during Covid-time. Not to mention saving a lot of money.
I've heard of the reciprocal agreements between library systems before. Unfortunately, where I live we have to pay a fee to use the neighboring systems. It used to be 40 dollars for each one. I'm not sure if it still costs the same, because I haven't checked in years. 40 dollars isn't that much considering how much money I could save on books, but so far Hoopla and my local library have been good enough for me, so I haven't needed to pay to use another system. I get 3 borrows a month on Hoopla. It seems to vary with each library system. I know someone who gets 8 and another person who gets 10. I love the library system add on. It makes it so much more convenient to see where the books are available.
Well done covering this, Matt. Like you, I go through a ton of audiobooks a year this way. I don't have quite as many library cards as you, but I have definitely saved hundreds if not thousands using my library (or more accurately libraries). Thanks for pointing out that chrome extension. I didn't know about it and it should save me a lot of time! A couple of other things I'd like to add having used Libby and Hoopla over the years. I have heard that the send to kindle feature doesn't quite work the same when you're not in the US, but I could be wrong. Most libraries welcome requests from their patrons and they generally have a budget set aside for purchasing digital titles every quarter or so. So don't forget to request titles! Out of the dozen titles I've requested I've only had one or two rejected because of budget restraints. Remember audiobooks cost them a lot more so if it's a lesser known title requesting the ebook might workout better. You do generally have to wait longer this way (especially if someone else jumps on checking it out before you get to it). A tip for ebook readers who don't read super fast, if you put your kindle into airplane mode after getting a library book, you can keep reading the book forever until you turn off airplane mode even if you return the book on Libby or your loan expires. This came in super handy when I was reading Deadhouse Gates, since it took me like 5 weeks to read instead of the given 3. Final thought, I really wish Hoopla had the kindle/e-reader integration that Libby has since they also carry lots of ebooks and graphic novels, but it's really only useful if you read on an iPad since you have to use the hoopla app.
Thanks for the tip about getting library cards from other cities in one's own state. I checked NM and found that Santa Fe libraries, at least, will issue cards to anyone with a library card from another city in NM. This is really useful. Albuquerque Public Libraries also lend music online in addition to books and audio books, which is something I hadn't expected. Perhaps this facility was expanded during the Pandemic.
This is one of the times I wished I lived in the States so many good hacks and thank you for including the hack of buying a library card for international persons.
I just found your video! THANK YOU! I don't want to spend the money for an AUDIBLE account, but trying to find audio books of modern titles anywhere else has been difficult.
This is great, thanks Matt! My home library didn't offer the ability to check out audiobooks on Hoopla, but the library one county to the north does, and so I was able to switch the library associated with my Hoopla account and voila! Access to Hoopla audiobooks. I can hardly wait to start visiting other nearby libraries and seeing how else I can increase my access. Thanks again for this!
I’m new to all this. I downloaded CloudLibrary and have saved a number of titles for the future, I haven’t listen to any yet. It has more offerings than my local library/Libby.
I don't comment much when I watch TH-cam, but I have to with yours. That was amazing! Very comprehensive, you've answered every question I didn't know I had.
wow this is great! I'm still primarily a physical reader (I just can't give up the paper), I'll still keep this in mind if I'm ever in need of an ebook or audiobook. thanks Matt!
I thought I would have a hard time making the switch, but I fooled myself! I sometimes miss the physical books but mostly love the convenience of a reader. I NEVER lose my place (which was an issue), a thousand books take up the size of a very thin paperbook, and it's easy to take with you.
My local library is not partnered with Hoopla, but the town over is. Do I just called the library of the town over to see if they do reciprocity to get a card from them?
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Thank you, Matt. I was able to get a temp card online and they said I can come in for a perm card. So I was able to get into Hoopla and I was surprised that none of my searches for even popular fantasy books showed up. Is the book availability based on the specific library or is the same availability list throughout the country?
Hoopla is great even has movies and TV shows. I'm lucky that my local library is connected with 30 others and has a interloan library all this saves 100s of dollars
Thank you. I’m in Del Norte County. The local library doesn’t do ebooks. I was unaware that I could get a card in Humboldt the next time I go down there. And, I’m making a rare trip to San Francisco this month. That will be another card…
And there are a TON of libraries in between those spots if you want to just make a quick stop! I would suggest Santa Rosa as you will be going right through there.
Thanks Matt. Really appreciate it. I have spent a lot of $$$ on audiobooks & ebooks. Just signed up to Libby, hopefully this will cut down on my spending👍🏼
Great video. My library uses Cloud Library for audiobooks and ebooks. It may be a Canadian option. I think i have access to hoopla as well but i never looking that far into it.
The library extension is a game changer. My library unfortunately only allows you to check out a book for two weeks. If I can't read the book in that amount of time I just put my Kindle on Airplane mode and the book will stay on my Kindle until I go on-line.
Kindle is $12 a month so not free. I use it but it really isn't cost effective enough because I don't seem to get through those as quickly, probably because it doesn't have that expiration that a library book has. Library - yeah - but there are issues with that, like availability and, the library doesn't seem to carry too many "older" books as ebooks. Sad. My library also doesn't boot you out if you miss the deadline to check out a hold, inserting you in when you reinstate the hold. And love the feature where we can "control" when to check out a book. I also use Hoopla extensively - has a pretty good selection - but you're limited on the number, as well as time deadlines. BTW, I recently logged back into my library after a "vacation" and it gave me an option to automatically have the books sent to my Kindle - I didn't even have to go into Amazon to do it!
Matt, thank you! This was so informative. I’ve been so frustrated with my library’s digital offerings. This will be a complete game changer for me. I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge with the rest of us!
i added the extension and don't get any results when searching for a book. i don't see anything in the extension settings that doesn't give full permissions.
THANK YOU! You saved me so much money 🤣 I'm an orange county resident and we get the library card for free i had no idea this was a thing. What are the odds? i found the video by going on your channel trying to find some fantasy recommendations and see this video as your most popular. Got my dad a card too, and he loves it, he is listening to The Count of Monte Cristo right now 😂 he was so happy too when i told him.
Does anyone know of any American libraries that grant free digital library card passes without being a resident? I really appreciate Matts advice about the Florida library for a year pass but I'm lucky if I can even read 5 books a year, comic books are more easily digestable. Somewhere I read that the NY library gives free passes, can anyone confirm this?
Great video. So glad I stumbled across your page! Two (hopefully) easy questions 1-how do you add a second library in Libby? Can it be from the app? 2-I tried doing a “deep search” for A.G. Riddle books, the Atlantis gene specifically, but there is nothing available. I can’t imagine that is super niche. Am I missing something? Again, thanks so much, great stuff
1. Yes you can do it from the app. On the app, press the three horizontal lines on the bottom middle, then click "add library". 2. I don't see Atlantis Gene on any of my libraries, but the audiobook is on hoopla for free. And it's a "dramatized" audiobook which means there are multiple audio narrators, which is really cool.
Do you need the Chrome extension if you have Libby? I have loaded three cards and every time I search for a book, it shows the status at my library, but if I click on the library card beside the book, it shows the status in all the libraries I have cards loaded.
I d/l hoopla but it doesn’t have an audio book category. Some stuff comes up under “music” but searches for titles I know my library has yielded no results. Am I missing something?
@ yes and it shows my library under the logo at the top but the only categories are movies music television and BingePasses. I’ve double checked in App Store for a different version and messed around with everything in the app and can’t figure it out.
I have 2 library cards for 2 counties in NC, along with the NC digital library. I set these cards up with 2 different email addresses. This is for using Hoopla. In NC we get 6 loans a month from Hoopla. With the 2 library cards I set up 2 logins so I can get 12 (or 18 if I use my wife's). Hoopla is the better piece of software becasue you can stream or download. Libby is streaming only, but you can enter all your library cards an see everything that is available in all of them.. I dislike that Libby uses only 15sec jump buttons and a scroll wheel that for me (large, calloused, fingers) is hard to use. I wish they still had chapter buttons or a chapter access drop down.
Quick question! You said that when you travel you make it a point to get library cards but you never mentioned how much you pay for them. I live in WA State, and library cards are not free.
Interesting, in California they are free. On a quick google search, it says that in many WA libraries you can simply show your local library card and you can get the other ones free.
Has anyone ever done this with a library in an area where they travel to occasionally for work? I work out of state for a company based in the Detroit area, and I noticed a lot of libraries have the verbiage of being cards for people who live OR work nearby
A lot of Libraries do offer "Business" cards as long as you can show proof of employment in the area. There may be some limitations on cards, but usually you have access to Libby.
This is very helpful, thanks! 🙂 Question: for those of us who don’t live in the US, does buying the library card from Orange County mean we’re also eligible to use hoopla as well, or is there another way?
Great Video thanks for this. I was keen to give it a try. However if you have an Amazon Kindle it’s no use in the UK. US only I am afraid. UK library ebook files cannot be opened via Libby app on a kindle device. You are restricted to your computer browser or phone and some other less popular e readers. Such a shame. Looks like it’s back to the Kindle store again😢
I used to be able to download audiobooks onto my phone for use offline. Since overdrive is gone i can't do this. Is the airplane mode hack the only way to replicate this?
How long did it take to receive the Orange County library card in the mail? I signed up and they said they would send a card but I haven't paid yet? Do you pay once you activate your card? Loving the content - your channel is really getting me back into reading!
Sadly, while I can pay for the Orange County card, the site tells me that sending books to your Kindle is only available INSIDE the US. 😢 We DID have an excellent library system in the UK but 10 years of our last Tory government has totally decimated it. We can get audio books, however, which are great on Libby. Having extra titles available in Orange County is well worth the subscription fee compared to purchasing audible books.
I have a question: I used to use the Overdrive app and have about a dozen ebooks saved on it. But then they discontinued that app so everyone would change to Libby. But none of my ebooks transferred to Libby. Does anybody know how the heck I can transfer my ebooks to Libby so that I can just delete the Overdrive app?
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh $30/2yrs fee for out-of-state library card. You apply online. I had to use online chat to learn how to pay the fee after receiving my temp 30 day card via email.
The audiobook I’m listening to on libby frequently mentions the accompanying pdf. How do I access this in Libby? The book is Why We Get Sick by Dr Ben Bickman.
Thank you! Bonus tip: once you send a library book to your kindle, it'll stay on your kindle even after your loan has ended as long as you stay on airplane mode. That means you can take longer than 3 weeks to finish the book if you need, and it also means you can "return" the book on libby as soon as you get it and let the next person access it. It's a nice pay it forward, especially if it's a new/ sought after book. You'll of course lose the book as soon as you turn off airplane mode to receive a new book so this takes some strategizing but it helps if your luck is like mine and 4 of your holds are ready at the same time.
Wow super helpful! I’m a slow reader and sometimes feel rushed with bigger books
I've not tried that but I've found that I have a grace period on my ereader, as long as I don't close out of the book or turn off the reader. It comes in handy when you know you only have a bit more to read. May have to try out your method, too!
Can you give the basic steps that include putting the kindle into airplane mode to extend the period of time for reading/listening to an ebook/audiobook but still “return” it within the 21 days to allow the next person in line to read/listen? Is it this?:
1. In Libby/Hoopla/other app on phone (or computer?) do the Borrow.
2. Then, on the Kindle, right after the ebook/audiobook shows up, place kindle in Airplane Mode?
3. Immediately (to be a Good Samaritan) or within the time period requested, on Libby/Hoopla/other app, Return the borrowed item.
4. On your Kindle, when done reading/listening to all your borrowed items, turn Airplane Mode back ON.
@@alyse8667 Yes. Once you "Borrow" on the Libby phone app/website, send it to your Kindle under the "Read With.." options, then open the book on your Kindle to make sure it's downloaded successfully and turn on Airplane mode on the Kindle. Then you can either "Return early" on the Libby phone app/ website, or just let the loan expire in the usual 14 or 21 days your library gives you. At that point it will appear on Libby that you have returned the book but it will stay available on your Kindle until you turn off Airplane mode.
I have no idea how this affects whatever metrics libraries track of how their books are read, but I know the offline copy you keep reading doesn't prevent others on the waiting list from reading it, whether you return it early or let the usual loan period run out.
Hopefully that made sense. It's the same process you would use to read any Libby loan on your Kindle. Just be sure to stay on Airplane mode and then any changes to your loan can't be reconized or updated until it connects to WiFi again.
Important - if you will keep your kindle offline too long, it will start losing battery faster. In my case the battery was losing 60 percent daily. I was about buying new kindle but then I turn wifi on and battery came back to normal.
You don't even understand how much you helped me. I am a farm worker with a tight budget. My work season will start pretty soon. So, I'm gonna commute around several counties...so, I'm gonna get me all these library cards!
Awesome, good luck!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews do you have to buy a Kindle for this to work? Because, I have a MacBook, iPad and iPhone already. Don't want to spend another penny on anything else. And thanks for the great video. I haven't used Libby in years now, because it was impossible to navigate on my local libraries. I got fed up and stopped even trying. And I wasn't just not just me, anyone I had talked to at the time, was as frustrated as I was. Hopefully, they got their acts together since.
@@nightskylights4501 I've been using Libby for years and have never experienced any problems with it at all. I absolutely love Libby! I love Hoopla's selection but have always had audio problems with them, no matter what device I use. Hopefully that will improve soon!
Kindle is available as an app that can be downloaded to any device you want. You do not need to buy a Kindle device to use Kindle.
@@nightskylights4501 kindle app or other software on those devices should work just as well
Hands down one of the most useful YT vids on Kindle/eReader use I have found to date. Thank you for this.
Also note, that the Library Extension is available for Edge and Firefox too. Really glad I know about it, thanks to you, Matt!
As a fellow CA resident, and thanks to your excellent advice, I will be doing a library quest this weekend driving through the LA/San Diego area and stopping at one library for each major library system and collecting cards from each to put into Libby and Library Extension. Already have three but should be at double digits after this quest!
Happy to have helped! Just make sure you look up those library systems to make sure they have libby. A huge majority do, but you don't want to waste your time going out of your way for one that doesn't have it.
Possibly one of the most helpful videos I've ever seen on You tube or anywhere else. Should be required watching for students in English classes all over the country!
I'm from a Michigan Library and A TON of Michigan Library collectives are partnered through Libby. You can use your home library card to log into about 10 other catalogs (around 100 or so Libraries). They recently updated it where it'll show all your saved libraries and if that book is available in any of them, regardless of which one you're searching. It doesn't actively tell you this, so ask your Librarian about it! (Or you can ask me, I dont mind)
Waaait what? Is this just for people who live in Michigan? What are the libraries called?
@@tateseely Not sure how other Libraries in other states work, but a lot (if not all) of Michigan Libraries are part of a collective. So you have collectives like The Library Network, Mid-Michigan Library League, Suburban Library Cooperative, etc. The Libraries themselves work independently but other libraries in the collective allow for checking out things from other libraries in the collective with your home library card (there's other benefits too, but that's the main one). However on Libby all the collectives themselves are partnered. So everyone has their own Libby collection but we're all sharing them with each other, essentially making one GIANT Libby catalog across the state.
Sorry it's kind of hard to explain without having images to show you, but essentially, your card gives you access to a ton more Libraries then just your home one. Digitally, you essentially have access to at least half the libraries in the state simply with one library card.
I’ve told people about this all the time. You can also get the app on your phone and use your car’s blue tooth to listen to a book while you drive as well. People insist they have to own the book. At this point I’ve given so many books to my library….I need the space at home.
Texas residents can use the Houston library's online catalog for free as long as you have a state ID. There is also the Texshare card which is a pass issued by your home library that let's you bypass the nonresident fees of participating in-state libraries.
Also, do not forget about inter library loans for physical media - for a small fee your home library will organize borrowing the item from another library, potentially from across the country or even farther away. We currently only charge $3.75 at the library where I work.
There's a few other free ones in Texas, too.
@@sheilabarton440 Which ones are those?
Harris County, Northeast Texas Digital Consortium, Zula Bryant Wylie library, and I saw another post that said Broward public library in Florida, so I got that one, too.
You are a saint. Thank you!
If you’re not in Texas it’s also useable for $40 dollars for non-resident. Queens public library also has non-resident cards for $45. Orange County Public library in California also has E-cards with no ID proof required if someone wanted to do the u thinkable and use a random nearby address to register, and they have magazines too!
I love Libby! I currently have cards with seven library systems. It's great to see other people geeking out about multiple library cards!
Can I get one?
@@rishabhtripathi6380 A library card? Where do you live?
Matt. Thank you. I am an audiobook junkie. I drive and walk often and using Audible has always been my primary resource. I have both a local and county library near me. I visited both and got my cards. I am now the proud user for both Hoopla and Libby. I was also surprised that both offered several other streaming resources like Kanopy. Going to install the library extension for Chrome next. This is awesome!
For all the Canadians out there we can use Overdrive/Libby through Kobo, was one of the reasons I went Kobo instead of Kindle when choosing an ereader last year. It's worked very well so far!
Thanks for the tips matt. I use libby for audiobooks in Canada. I wasn't aware that kindle couldn't connect to the system when I bought it. I'll definitely look into kobo in the near future - It wouldn't take long to gain my money back.
Which model of Kobo did you get. Does it support audiobooks? Also, have a browser and a memory SD cars to upload pdf and epubs?
I have a Los Angeles public library card and it has so many books on libby and hoopla! I feel like that's a flex
Same!! LA's good to us. Have eCards for both LAPL & LA County Public Library 👍🏼 Surprising how many books are only avail on one or the other in Libby.
I have a Brooklyn Public Library one. 193,000 items on Libby.
This was highly informative - thanks for the tips! My local library has meager digital offerings - especially on audio - but I'll have to try some of these tricks. Thanks!
No problem!
I’m grateful I live in the DMV area. Two huge and two medium sized library systems, plus Library of Congress benefits. Glad you were able to share a system that lets people use it even if it costs a little.
I've been using Hoopla for two years now. Absolutely love it. I have been reading sooo many old school mystery novels, and a good bit of SF.
Been using Libby for years, yet this video just upgraded my experience big time! Thank you for the great tips!
Thanks Matt for bringing Hoolpa to my attention. It's going to be nice to be able to bypass my library's wait times in Libby if need be. I usually like to have hard copies of my books but I'm an incredibly slow reader and using Libby to listen to audiobooks on my commute greatly helps my reading speed. But there are times where there is a wait time for the audiobook and my reading speed returns to it's old sluggish self.
I live in AZ, and I have a paid card in the Orange County Library System. I got it right before Covid hit in 2020. I also have access to two other state systems, because I own property there, and pay property taxes. So with my AZ card, I can look for books in 4 different library systems. This saved my sanity during Covid-time. Not to mention saving a lot of money.
I've heard of the reciprocal agreements between library systems before. Unfortunately, where I live we have to pay a fee to use the neighboring systems. It used to be 40 dollars for each one. I'm not sure if it still costs the same, because I haven't checked in years. 40 dollars isn't that much considering how much money I could save on books, but so far Hoopla and my local library have been good enough for me, so I haven't needed to pay to use another system. I get 3 borrows a month on Hoopla. It seems to vary with each library system. I know someone who gets 8 and another person who gets 10. I love the library system add on. It makes it so much more convenient to see where the books are available.
Good to know about the different Hoopla limits!
Libby is my favourite app ever! This is a great video!
We have Libby here in Australia, looking forward to using the audio books
Thanks for bringing the library chrome extension to my attention. Use my local libraries all the time but did not know about that. Much easier!!
Well done covering this, Matt. Like you, I go through a ton of audiobooks a year this way. I don't have quite as many library cards as you, but I have definitely saved hundreds if not thousands using my library (or more accurately libraries). Thanks for pointing out that chrome extension. I didn't know about it and it should save me a lot of time!
A couple of other things I'd like to add having used Libby and Hoopla over the years.
I have heard that the send to kindle feature doesn't quite work the same when you're not in the US, but I could be wrong.
Most libraries welcome requests from their patrons and they generally have a budget set aside for purchasing digital titles every quarter or so. So don't forget to request titles! Out of the dozen titles I've requested I've only had one or two rejected because of budget restraints. Remember audiobooks cost them a lot more so if it's a lesser known title requesting the ebook might workout better. You do generally have to wait longer this way (especially if someone else jumps on checking it out before you get to it).
A tip for ebook readers who don't read super fast, if you put your kindle into airplane mode after getting a library book, you can keep reading the book forever until you turn off airplane mode even if you return the book on Libby or your loan expires. This came in super handy when I was reading Deadhouse Gates, since it took me like 5 weeks to read instead of the given 3.
Final thought, I really wish Hoopla had the kindle/e-reader integration that Libby has since they also carry lots of ebooks and graphic novels, but it's really only useful if you read on an iPad since you have to use the hoopla app.
These are awesome tips. Thank you. I live outside of the US, so the tip to purchase a library card is golden.
Thank you! I’m only interested in audio as I’m vision impaired.
Thanks for the tip about getting library cards from other cities in one's own state. I checked NM and found that Santa Fe libraries, at least, will issue cards to anyone with a library card from another city in NM. This is really useful. Albuquerque Public Libraries also lend music online in addition to books and audio books, which is something I hadn't expected. Perhaps this facility was expanded during the Pandemic.
This is one of the times I wished I lived in the States so many good hacks and thank you for including the hack of buying a library card for international persons.
Wow! I have Libby but never considered joining multiple libraries. I’m in the UK and don’t know if it’s possible but worth a shot. Thank you!
I just found your video! THANK YOU! I don't want to spend the money for an AUDIBLE account, but trying to find audio books of modern titles anywhere else has been difficult.
Thanks. This is the video that convinced me to take advantage of these services. Looks seamless.
This video is immensely helpful - especially coming from someone who is no longer in the USA and misses his local library! 🙋🏽♂️
This is great, thanks Matt! My home library didn't offer the ability to check out audiobooks on Hoopla, but the library one county to the north does, and so I was able to switch the library associated with my Hoopla account and voila! Access to Hoopla audiobooks. I can hardly wait to start visiting other nearby libraries and seeing how else I can increase my access. Thanks again for this!
YAY! Love hearing it!
I’m new to all this. I downloaded CloudLibrary and have saved a number of titles for the future, I haven’t listen to any yet. It has more offerings than my local library/Libby.
"Some of these are my wife's books...Don't judge me!" Love that. Matt you are the best.
No those hentai books are totally my wife’s I swear!
That extension is amazing! I didn't even know of the other websites my library has that has more options instead of just libby.
I don't comment much when I watch TH-cam, but I have to with yours. That was amazing! Very comprehensive, you've answered every question I didn't know I had.
That's so kind of you. Thank you!
wow this is great! I'm still primarily a physical reader (I just can't give up the paper), I'll still keep this in mind if I'm ever in need of an ebook or audiobook. thanks Matt!
I thought I would have a hard time making the switch, but I fooled myself! I sometimes miss the physical books but mostly love the convenience of a reader. I NEVER lose my place (which was an issue), a thousand books take up the size of a very thin paperbook, and it's easy to take with you.
Saint Matt, patron of non American readers 🙏
LOL
My local library is not partnered with Hoopla, but the town over is. Do I just called the library of the town over to see if they do reciprocity to get a card from them?
Yup! Exactly.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Thank you!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Thank you, Matt. I was able to get a temp card online and they said I can come in for a perm card. So I was able to get into Hoopla and I was surprised that none of my searches for even popular fantasy books showed up. Is the book availability based on the specific library or is the same availability list throughout the country?
Hoopla is great even has movies and TV shows. I'm lucky that my local library is connected with 30 others and has a interloan library all this saves 100s of dollars
Thank you. I’m in Del Norte County. The local library doesn’t do ebooks. I was unaware that I could get a card in Humboldt the next time I go down there. And, I’m making a rare trip to San Francisco this month. That will be another card…
And there are a TON of libraries in between those spots if you want to just make a quick stop! I would suggest Santa Rosa as you will be going right through there.
Thanks Matt. Really appreciate it. I have spent a lot of $$$ on audiobooks & ebooks. Just signed up to Libby, hopefully this will cut down on my spending👍🏼
Awesome, good luck!
Great video. My library uses Cloud Library for audiobooks and ebooks. It may be a Canadian option.
I think i have access to hoopla as well but i never looking that far into it.
For canadians kobo way better than kindle, it connects with libby/overdrive and supports audiobook as well
The library extension is a game changer. My library unfortunately only allows you to check out a book for two weeks. If I can't read the book in that amount of time I just put my Kindle on Airplane mode and the book will stay on my Kindle until I go on-line.
Haha I love that you clarified "totally legally!" haha 😂
I use hoopla with mine and my 18 month old sons cards for double the books
You mad genius!
I love Libby! But these other tips were incredible! These will save me a ton of time and $$$!!! Thank you Matt!
How do you use multiple library accounts on hoopla?
Thanks for sharing this info. I use Libby but didn’t know about the other options.
Echoing what others have said - Libby and Kobo have been amazing for me and the hobby of reading fantasy.
Kindle is $12 a month so not free. I use it but it really isn't cost effective enough because I don't seem to get through those as quickly, probably because it doesn't have that expiration that a library book has.
Library - yeah - but there are issues with that, like availability and, the library doesn't seem to carry too many "older" books as ebooks. Sad. My library also doesn't boot you out if you miss the deadline to check out a hold, inserting you in when you reinstate the hold. And love the feature where we can "control" when to check out a book. I also use Hoopla extensively - has a pretty good selection - but you're limited on the number, as well as time deadlines.
BTW, I recently logged back into my library after a "vacation" and it gave me an option to automatically have the books sent to my Kindle - I didn't even have to go into Amazon to do it!
Matt, thank you! This was so informative. I’ve been so frustrated with my library’s digital offerings. This will be a complete game changer for me. I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge with the rest of us!
i added the extension and don't get any results when searching for a book. i don't see anything in the extension settings that doesn't give full permissions.
Most helpful booktuber video ever! Thank you!
THANK YOU! You saved me so much money 🤣 I'm an orange county resident and we get the library card for free i had no idea this was a thing. What are the odds? i found the video by going on your channel trying to find some fantasy recommendations and see this video as your most popular. Got my dad a card too, and he loves it, he is listening to The Count of Monte Cristo right now 😂 he was so happy too when i told him.
Yay! I love hearing that!
Does anyone know of any American libraries that grant free digital library card passes without being a resident? I really appreciate Matts advice about the Florida library for a year pass but I'm lucky if I can even read 5 books a year, comic books are more easily digestable. Somewhere I read that the NY library gives free passes, can anyone confirm this?
Really useful and valuable video, the channel is doing great things!
The closest library branch to me is actually in the next county, about five minutes away. I’m going to ask about the reciprocal thingy.
Great video. So glad I stumbled across your page!
Two (hopefully) easy questions
1-how do you add a second library in Libby? Can it be from the app?
2-I tried doing a “deep search” for A.G. Riddle books, the Atlantis gene specifically, but there is nothing available. I can’t imagine that is super niche. Am I missing something?
Again, thanks so much, great stuff
1. Yes you can do it from the app. On the app, press the three horizontal lines on the bottom middle, then click "add library".
2. I don't see Atlantis Gene on any of my libraries, but the audiobook is on hoopla for free. And it's a "dramatized" audiobook which means there are multiple audio narrators, which is really cool.
Do you need the Chrome extension if you have Libby? I have loaded three cards and every time I search for a book, it shows the status at my library, but if I click on the library card beside the book, it shows the status in all the libraries I have cards loaded.
Libby for the magazines selection alone makes it a very valuable resource! And my library is not available on Hoopla so I can't use this option.
This is such a timely video! Thank you so much for this information!
Of course. Good luck!
I d/l hoopla but it doesn’t have an audio book category. Some stuff comes up under “music” but searches for titles I know my library has yielded no results. Am I missing something?
Did you attach it to a library?
@ yes and it shows my library under the logo at the top but the only categories are movies music television and BingePasses. I’ve double checked in App Store for a different version and messed around with everything in the app and can’t figure it out.
I have 2 library cards for 2 counties in NC, along with the NC digital library. I set these cards up with 2 different email addresses. This is for using Hoopla. In NC we get 6 loans a month from Hoopla. With the 2 library cards I set up 2 logins so I can get 12 (or 18 if I use my wife's). Hoopla is the better piece of software becasue you can stream or download. Libby is streaming only, but you can enter all your library cards an see everything that is available in all of them.. I dislike that Libby uses only 15sec jump buttons and a scroll wheel that for me (large, calloused, fingers) is hard to use. I wish they still had chapter buttons or a chapter access drop down.
4 checkouts on hoopla?! Wow, I feel blessed. I have 2 libraries with 20 hoopla checkouts a month each.
Thank you matt!! This will help my budgeting and overall stress so much!!
Quick question! You said that when you travel you make it a point to get library cards but you never mentioned how much you pay for them. I live in WA State, and library cards are not free.
Interesting, in California they are free. On a quick google search, it says that in many WA libraries you can simply show your local library card and you can get the other ones free.
the library extension is a game changer honestly
Has anyone ever done this with a library in an area where they travel to occasionally for work?
I work out of state for a company based in the Detroit area, and I noticed a lot of libraries have the verbiage of being cards for people who live OR work nearby
A lot of Libraries do offer "Business" cards as long as you can show proof of employment in the area. There may be some limitations on cards, but usually you have access to Libby.
Wow. I live in a country where Kindle Unlimited isn't an option, you helped me so so much!
This is very helpful, thanks! 🙂 Question: for those of us who don’t live in the US, does buying the library card from Orange County mean we’re also eligible to use hoopla as well, or is there another way?
I believe it does, but if I were you before spending the money, I would call or e-mail the library and ask the question.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews great, thanks! 🙂 Happy reading
This is fantastic information, and worth so much for us bookworms. Thank you!
Great Video thanks for this. I was keen to give it a try. However if you have an Amazon Kindle it’s no use in the UK. US only I am afraid.
UK library ebook files cannot be opened via Libby app on a kindle device. You are restricted to your computer browser or phone and some other less popular e readers. Such a shame. Looks like it’s back to the Kindle store again😢
This is awesome to know! Thanks so much for sharing.
I used to be able to download audiobooks onto my phone for use offline. Since overdrive is gone i can't do this. Is the airplane mode hack the only way to replicate this?
I just applied orange county library free resident account using a local address, and I’m outside the US. Is it illegal?😢
Very informative! Thank you. 📖😌📚
You are most welcome!
OMG , this video is amazing. Thank you so much. You are the best
Great top eBooks here! Immersive Translate, a web plugin, is perfect for translating these reads into different languages.
So helpful thank you so much! I actually live in Florida so does that mean I won’t need to pay for the library card on Orange County library system?
Call them to find out! :)
That was very informative. Many thanks.
You are most welcome!
How about use on IBooks?
Desperate to find Nightingale Wood audiobook, any tips
Re-the orange county library system - if it's open internationally, why there's only US states at the selection? :(
I just applied “resident card account” using a local address, and it’s free.
I don’t know if it’s illegal..😅
How long did it take to receive the Orange County library card in the mail? I signed up and they said they would send a card but I haven't paid yet? Do you pay once you activate your card? Loving the content - your channel is really getting me back into reading!
Honestly not sure. Call them and talk to a librarian, they will know the answer right away!
Sadly, while I can pay for the Orange County card, the site tells me that sending books to your Kindle is only available INSIDE the US. 😢 We DID have an excellent library system in the UK but 10 years of our last Tory government has totally decimated it. We can get audio books, however, which are great on Libby. Having extra titles available in Orange County is well worth the subscription fee compared to purchasing audible books.
ooh nooo! Really?! It doesn't make sense.. how did you do then? I thought I had finally found a way to have access to more audiobooks 🥲
I have a question: I used to use the Overdrive app and have about a dozen ebooks saved on it. But then they discontinued that app so everyone would change to Libby. But none of my ebooks transferred to Libby. Does anybody know how the heck I can transfer my ebooks to Libby so that I can just delete the Overdrive app?
when you use your desktop, what's the URL?
But hoopla doesn’t send to kindle…. Or am I missing something
No, hoopla is just good for audiobooks to listen to on your phone
you have to put a hold on a Ebook and potentially wait a few weeks?
So awesome. Best news I've heard all year.
Hey Matt, is there any way I could check the catalog of a library before purchasing the card online?
Yup. Just Google search libby + library name.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Thank you!
excellent, thanks . new subscriber form Dominican Republic.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh $30/2yrs fee for out-of-state library card. You apply online. I had to use online chat to learn how to pay the fee after receiving my temp 30 day card via email.
I have Alexa read my digital books. Is there a way to have Alexa read Hoopla books anymore?
Wow, what a wealth of information. Thank you very much for sharing.
Fantastic info! LOVE the Library Extension tip!❤
A two in one video! How to get free audiobooks AND how to lose a sponsor lol jk! 😂
My guess is if they watched this they might drop me. But the odds of them watching this are about .0001%.
The audiobook I’m listening to on libby frequently mentions the accompanying pdf. How do I access this in Libby? The book is Why We Get Sick by Dr Ben Bickman.
Bro just convert the pdf in Epub format and send it to kindle and its the same as any kindle book
Hm, wanted to sign up.for the library, but it cant open the site somehow. Anybody else with that problem?
I was a bit shy of reading The Witcher in my late 20's also, glad to know I am not alone