Your local library card can be a gateway to free ebooks, audiobooks, streaming movies, and music. Services like OverDrive and Hoopla offer digital content at no extra cost, though with some limitations. This summer, consider visiting your library for both physical and digital resources.
Summer is almost here, and while you may be planning outdoor activities, your local library offers a wealth of digital resources that can enhance your downtime. With just a free library card, you can access ebooks, audiobooks, streaming films, and music through platforms like OverDrive and Hoopla.
Key Points
- OverDrive partners with over 92,000 libraries worldwide to offer ebooks and audiobooks via its app Libby.
- Hoopla provides streaming movies, TV shows, music, and comics, though with a limited monthly borrow allowance and no 4K video.
- Many libraries also lend physical media like DVDs, CDs, and even video games.
- Library services include computers, printers, meeting rooms, and makerspaces.
OverDrive is a digital platform that allows you to borrow ebooks and audiobooks. You can place holds on up to 10 ebooks, and when a title becomes available, it syncs seamlessly to your Kindle or the Libby app. While popular books may have wait times, the service ensures you always have something to read. OverDrive claims to work with more than 92,000 public libraries, schools, and universities across 115 countries.
Hoopla is another free service available through many library systems. It offers a selection of streaming films, TV shows, music albums, and comic books. While the catalog is not as extensive as paid services like Netflix or Spotify, and video content is not in 4K, it is a valuable resource for discovering new content. You can check if your library supports Hoopla by visiting its website or contacting your local library.
Beyond digital offerings, libraries provide physical books, DVDs, CDs, and sometimes video games. They also serve as community hubs with computers, printers, meeting rooms, and programs for children and teens. A visit to the library can be a quiet, air-conditioned retreat during hot summer days.