Non-Resident Library Cards

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

• axis360 -- cloudLibrary -- EBSCO -- Freading
  
• Hoopla -- OverDrive -- TumbleBook Library

Library Associations

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

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Non-Resident Library Cards -- updated 01 Aug 2022

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

A ~ D

• Spoiler Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  • Brooklyn Public (NY) --- Free Card --- Digital -- OverDrive
    
  • Broward County (FL) --- $50/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • 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
    
  • 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
  Quote
  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 Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  • 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
    
  • Los Angeles Pub (CA) -- $50/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
    
    
  • Hennepin -- must register in-person -- digital checkouts NOT allowed
    
  • Los Angeles -- must register in-person
  Quote
  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 Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  • 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
    
  • Orange County (FL) ---- $125/yr ----- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
  Quote
  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 Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  • 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) ---- $40/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla -- more
    
  • Stark Library (OH) ------ $30/year --- Digital -- OverDrive -- Hoopla
  Quote
  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 Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  • Toledo Lucas (OH) ------ $75/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
    
    
  • Williamson -- electronic resources not included
  Quote
  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

• Central Arkansas Library System -- 57
  
• Eugene Public Library -- 47
  
• Germantown Community Library -- 36
  
• Hawaii State Public Library System -- 48
  
• Martin County (FL) -- 37

Library Systems

• Spoiler Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  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 Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  • 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)

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OverDrive Collection Sizes -- updated 01 Aug 2022


Largest Libraries -- updated 06 Aug 2022

• Spoiler Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  This is a listing of the largest OverDrive libraries; they have collections of at least 150,000 ePub books. Five of these libraries offer non-resident cards, but three of them have severe restrictions.
  
  OverDrive Library --------- Fee ------- epub --- kindle ---- mp3
  
  

  1. Los Angeles Pub (CA) --- $50/year ---- 355,693 --- 317,221 --- 101,326
     
  2. Sno-Isle Library (WA) -------------------- 240,673 --- 224,833 --- 118,242
     
  3. NLB Singapore (SG) ----------------------- 240,108 ------------------- 48,532
     
  4. Live-brary.com (NY) ---------------------- 201,463 --- 190,109 ---- 78,173
     
  5. Cleveland Public (OH) -------------------- 199,337 --- 173,077 ---- 67,204
     
  6. Hennepin Cty (MN) ------ $60/year ---- 197,073 --- 186,521 ---- 56,876
     
  7. Toronto Public (ON) ---------------------- 181,142 ------------------- 48,259
     
  8. King County Lib (WA) -------------------- 180,303 --- 173,913 ---- 69,941
     
  9. Brooklyn Public (NY) ---- Free Card --- 177,029 --- 149,480 ---- 67,025
     
  10. New York Public (NY) -------------------- 172,190 --- 144,690 ---- 62,775
      
  11. Metropolitan Lib (OK) --- $70/year --- 164,992 --- 155,737 ---- 70,319
      
  12. Stark Library (OH) ------- $30/year --- 161,569 --- 152,146 ---- 50,529

  
  Restrictions
  
  

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

over 100K ebooks

• Spoiler Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Quote
  • OverDrive Library --- Fee ------ epub ---- kindle --- mp3
    
    
  • Los Angeles Pub (CA) --- $50/year --- 355,693 --- 317,221 --- 101,326
    
  • Hennepin Cty (MN) ------ $60/year --- 197,073 --- 186,521 --- 56,876
    
  • Brooklyn Public (NY) ---- Free Card --- 177,029 --- 149,480 --- 67,025
    
  • Metropolitan Lib (OK) --- $70/year --- 164,992 --- 155,737 --- 70,319
    
  • Stark Library (OH) ------- $30/year --- 161,569 --- 152,146 --- 50,529
    
  • Multnomah Cty (OR) ---- $180/yr ----- 143,409 --- 126,803 --- 59,381
    
  • Orange County (FL) ----- $125/yr ----- 116,241 --- 100,248 --- 33,301
    
    
  • Los Angeles -- must register in-person
    
  • Hennepin -- must register in-person -- digital checkouts NOT allowed
    
  • Brooklyn -- restricted to ages 13~21

50K ~ 99K ebooks

• Spoiler Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  • OverDrive Library --- Fee ------ epub -- kindle --- mp3
    
    
  • Carnegie Library (PA) --- $30/2 yr --- 93,415 --- 86,523 --- 27,533
    
  • St Louis County (MO) --- $50/year --- 85,502 --- 80,604 --- 19,051
    
  • Williamson Cty (TN) ---- $25/6 mo --- 85,079 --- 77,511 --- 34,265
    
  • Washington Cty (OR) --- $140/yr ----- 82,391 --- 85,748 --- 36,245
    
  • Toledo Lucas (OH) ------ $75/year ---- 77,241 --- 73,179 --- 35,692
    
  • Broward County (FL) --- $50/year ---- 60,263 --- 52,708 --- 23,049
    
  • Westchester (NY) ------- $75/year ---- 52,522 --- 51,125 --- 15,091
    
    
  • Broward -- must register in-person
    
  • Carnegie -- must register in-person
    
  • Williamson -- electronic resources not included

40K ~ 49K ebooks

• Spoiler Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  • OverDrive Library ---- Fee ----- epub -- kindle --- mp3
    
    
  • Houston Public (TX) ---- $40/year --- 49,357 --- 47,147 --- 23,168
    
  • Queens Public (NY) ----- $50/year --- 48,994 --- 47,649 --- 10,012
    
  • St Louis Public (MO) ---- $50/year --- 46,236 --- 42,748 ----- 8,679
    
  • Chapel Hill Pub (NC) ---- $65/year --- 45,532 --- 41,763 --- 17,859
    
  • Salt Lake City (UT) ------ $80/year --- 42,285 --- 37,439 --- 21,227
    
  • Miami-Dade Lib (FL) ---- $65/year --- 41,899 --- 38,683 --- 18,366
    
  • St Charles Lib (MO) ----- $80/year --- 40,223 --- 39,659 --- 15,807

10K ~ 39K ebooks

• Spoiler Warning below
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  • OverDrive Library --- Fee ----- epub --- kindle --- mp3
    
    
  • Monroe County (NY) ---- $25/year --- 39,090 --- 37,485 --- 11,997
    
  • Hood River Cty (OR) ---- $80/year --- 35,811 --- 32,151 --- 17,695
    
  • Fairfax County (VA) ----- $27/year --- 32,585 --- 33,359 --- 20,679
    
  • New Orleans (LA) ------- $50/year --- 30,061 --- 29,711 --- 25,290
    
  • Montgomery (MD) ------ $10/year --- 29,064 --- 31,195 --- 15,442
    
  • C Mecklenburg (NC) ---- $45/year --- 28,806 --- 28,410 ----- 6,946
    
  • Enoch Pratt Lib (MD) --- $50/year --- 23,228 --- 21,302 --- 11,017
    
  • Detroit Public (MI) ------ $100/yr ---- 10,954 --- 10,789 ----- 4,903

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Thanks, tm, for pulling this all together.
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
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
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
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.