Online classes can be a great way to learn new skills, be it for career growth or just for fun.
Plus you can check out more indie publications from Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and more.
And this collection, unlike the film and TV options, does include a lot of recent and popular series.įor instance, you can borrow and read Marvel and DC comics issued just this week. While you're checking out the Hoopla app, be sure to browse their digital library of comic books and graphic novels. It's not a massive catalog of content - you won't find the latest Marvel movie, for example - but it's all free with your library card making it an affordable streaming service alternative (or addition). Once you create an account - you'll need a traditional library card number, you can't use your phone number - you can "borrow" and stream popular television shows, movies, and even music. Now, you can do the same thing, digitally, through the Hoopla and Kanopy apps (access may vary by region). Stream movies and TVįor many years, the library has been a great resource for catching up on your favorite shows and movies by borrowing DVDs for free. You can even bookmark your spot, set a sleep timer, and change the playback speed. You'll check out audiobooks the same as you would ebooks, and listen on any device right from the app. Many titles available as an ebook in the Libby app also come as an audiobook, making it easy to "read" while commuting, exercising, or whatever else you like. While we're singing Libby's praises, let's not forget about audiobooks. You'll need a traditional library card (not a phone-number based digital card) for access.
You can view archived and current news stories from your area.
It allows limited offline viewing and may have titles you can't get through Libby.įor the newspaper lovers, you can go online through America's News and access both local and regional news outlets.
Alternatively, magazines can also be checked out through the app Flipster. You can also browse and download more than 3,000 digital magazines. Browse magazines and newspapersĪnother awesome aspect of the Libby app is that it’s not strictly limited to books. Depending on your location, you may be able to use your mobile phone number to get a "digital" library card. One of the best things about Libby is that you don't necessarily need to go to the library to get a library card. Or, if you're a Kindle user, you can connect your account with your Amazon account and send a copy of the book to your Kindle device. You can either read via the app on any device. You can check out an ebook for 7 days or longer (depending on the copy, you can even get extensions). Library systems use a mobile app - called Libby (formerly OverDrive) - to offer digital copies of books for members to check out. While there are certainly still some of us who like the feel of a physical book in hand, there's no denying that reading on a digital device has its upsides. Here are just a few of the perks offered by a library membership: 1. All you need is to sign up for a library card - or, in some cases, provide your phone number - and you can unlock tons of value, all without touching your bank account. Library systems have done a lot to keep up with the changing times, and they offer a huge variety of digital media and online resources perfect for the modern lifestyle. And, in fairness - it is.īut your local library isn't the ancient repository of historical obsolescence that many people may picture these days.
To a population used to everything being digitally on-demand, a building full of paper-bound books and physical media can seem outdated.