TLDR
- Get a Library Card (Los Angeles click here)
- Get an Overdrive/Libby Account & Sign In
- Start borrowing and reserving eBooks, Audiobooks, and more.
Get a Library Card
In Los Angeles, where I got my library card, you can fill out the application online, and pick up your card pretty much whenever. I suspect you can do the same at many libraries across the nation, but not all. When I checked out the Des Moines Public Library, it turns out you need to print out an application and bring it in. It’s easy, you can do it!
- Find your Library’s Website (Los Angeles, click here and you can get an ecard)
- Fill out an online or paper application
- Go to your library with your driver’s license, and take your library card.
If you’ve got some resistance to doing this because you think it’s going to take too long, I’ve got news for you, libraries are not super busy places. I’ve gotten a library card for myself, and with a couple of people, and it’s never taken more than 3 minutes.
If you’re not sure where your local library is, I’d check out the Digital Public Library of America’s find your local library page.
Get a Libby Account
Login to Libby / Overdrive online or on your phone. Use your card number (on the back of your card) and your pin, in Los Angeles, your pin is last four digits of your phone number.
Ok, so now you have access to your library’s digital library. Browse through the books. You’ll be able to search for ebooks and audiobooks, that you can have sent to your your Kindle or phone. For any title you’re interested in, you’ll have a few options:
- Borrow and you can send it to your Kindle for 21 days, or audiobooks to your phone for 21 days.
- Place a hold will auto download the book when it’s available.
- Bookmark Basically save it for later. I use this when I reach my max downloads or holds so I know what to go get next.
There is a limit to holds and borrowed books. So, be conscious of things that have a high priority to read, and start with borrowing/holding those.
Online Courses
Many libraries, especially in larger cities will give you free access to online courses, like those from LinkedIn Learning. Again, these are FREE. LinkedIn Learning starts at $19.99 a month. You can use it for free with a library card.
To get to it, check out your library’s website, and see if there’s a “digital content” or “digital resources” section. Often the link is a little buried, but you can find it with some poking around. Your library will provide you with a login portal to Lynda, like this one for the Los Angeles Public Library. Again, login with your library card number, and your pin, and boom, free Lynda courses.
In Los Angeles, there are tons more resources. Do some poking around and see what your library offers.
Any other cool library offerings I missed? Share in the comments, my dude!
