Plus library cards can be used to access ebooks and audiobooks. They really are a fantastic resource
Library Apps are GOATed
Submitted 3 days ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to science_memes@mander.xyz
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Comments
seat6@lemmy.zip 3 days ago
DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 2 days ago
You can use your library card with apps like Libby, OverDrive, and Hoopla to read, listen to, and watch all sorts of stuff for free.
Glemek@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Is overdrive still usable? I thought it got replaced by libby? I still use libby but I much preferred overdrive.
DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 2 days ago
My Kobo Libre still calls it OverDrive but maybe they just never updated the app.
AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.ca 2 days ago
Yeah, pretty sure if you follow an overdrive link now it will take you to Libby.
beccaboben@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Our library offers access to Kanopy, which is a streaming service!!
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 2 days ago
Not my library card though. Only the capital city library has it in my country.
One day I’ll do it but right now I’m too lazy to drive there.
dkppunk@piefed.social 3 days ago
I have 3 library cards and I use them as frequently as I can. I’ve been building my video collection by borrowing blu-rays and ripping them to my pc. I have all of Star Trek Lower Decks and working on getting The X-Files.
I also walk the stacks to grab random books off the shelf. Sometimes I’ll flip through them, sometimes they will just sit at home before I return them a week or two later. Either way, the use numbers for library books go up and that’s a good thing!
The events are great, lots of art and music access. And one branch has a gardening swap meet to take in extra gardening scraps like cuttings, and extra fruits and veggies. I dropped off a bunch of extra spider plant babies and walked away with some new succulents like my new agave plant 🥰
Everyone should use their library card if you have access to one!
BallShapedMan@lemmy.world 3 days ago
A buddy rents all his video games there. He hasn’t bought a game in several years. As he has two younger children it’s nice to save the money I’m sure.
So if you’re a budget gamer this is smart! You don’t even need to be a patient gamer it seems. He’s been renting games that have come out just weeks before.
His library (and mine) only offer console games. Not helpful for us PC gamers.
Z745812939054@lemmy.zip 3 days ago
how would they offer to “lend” a game on PC?
janus2@lemmy.zip 3 days ago
I used to check out CD-ROM games from my library all the time as a kid. Most of them were designed to only be run while the disk was in the tray and I was 6 and hadn’t learned piracy yet lol
Most modern PCs lack an optical drive and even considering externals exist, I don’t think there are many PC game publishers that do physical releases these days :( so it’s kind of a big ask for a library to maintain a stock of retro computing disks, many of which are now really valuable
that being said, book publishers have been granting lendable ebook licenses for years. if they figured it out, game publishers could. but there’s no profit motive for it like there is for selling licenses to libraries since PC gaming doesn’t have a hundreds of years old lending model culture :(
BallShapedMan@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Yup, but I don’t know the knowledge of all PC gamers so just trying to be helpful to everyone who reads the comment.
Slovene85@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
This game will self destruct in two weeks
redsand@infosec.pub 2 days ago
I know of several libraries that will rent you an entire Nintendo switch or PS4
yucandu@lemmy.world 3 days ago
This goes for voting, too, btw.
yetAnotherUser@discuss.tchncs.de 2 days ago
Eh, voting is free, library cards are not (over here).
Malyca@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
Do they accept volunteers on average? I should check. I need to build solidarity with my community, figured something like that might be nice.
dannitien@piefed.world 2 days ago
Many libraries in the US have a Friends of the Library volunteer group, or something similar. I volunteer at two of our local branches.
Just a FYI that you might have to be fingerprinted or do a background check. That was required for our county, as we are sometimes in close proximity to children.
Malyca@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
Luckily I have a clean background. I’ll check it out.
Professorozone@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Usually I just use the library online. Recently they made me come in to renew my card. While I was there I looked at the movies and saw one that I had just rented on Amazon. Face Palm.
EntheoNaut@lemmy.ml 3 days ago
Books, e-books, library of things, games, reading clubs, meeting spaces, computer access, community; libraries are an amazing resource and pillar of healthy communities.
glups@piefed.social 2 days ago
I listen to so many books through Libby. Libraries are sacred
shweddy@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
Also you can borrow cds and dvds and rip them
thecommonistagenda@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
More people should be using Libby I’ve been trying so hard to get everybody I know on Libby
the_dopamine_fiend@lemmy.world 3 days ago
My library’s Kanopy selection is great. Finally watching The Prisoner all the way through.
pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 days ago
I go there for my state parks pass and occasionally check up on the people who I used to volunteer for
NABDad@lemmy.world 2 days ago
I’m currently streaming a show on Kanopy.com for free through my library card.
umbraroze@slrpnk.net 2 days ago
I visit the library often.
Not that I check out many books, but I love the fact that the local main library is a giant big concrete building with air conditioning and nice quiet desks with power strips for laptops. Immense productivity.
The library was closed for renovations last summer and the heat waves really put a huge dent on my work.
Mongostein@lemmy.ca 2 days ago
I use Hoopla to read comic books on the train. Just download before you hit a tunnel.
AmyAye@nord.pub 2 days ago
“Provides service to poor people.”
Rrreeeee CoMmUniSm!!!!!!111!!!1!1
/s
heartSagan5@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
“Ew, poor people. I don’t associate with poor people.” -them, basically.
Signtist@bookwyr.me 2 days ago
I’ve been learning Japanese for free through the Mango languages app through my library. It’s great!
zer0hour@lemmy.world 2 days ago
the main branch in Vancouver used to(might still, but don’t live there now) have a full on recording studio you could book sessions and rent almost any kinda instrument and/or equipment you wanted. did a few recordings there and it was awesome. sound isolation booths and all sorts of studio monitors and headphones. really cool stuff
dannitien@piefed.world 2 days ago
Our County Library offers preloaded Kindles that you can check out for a month. Each one has a different genre on it.
Libraries are also where people who can’t afford air conditioning like to hang out, where classes for everything from yoga to crochet are offered and where I found out from a visiting ACA rep that I could save $600 a month on my health insurance.
zbyte64@awful.systems 2 days ago
My city is talking about privatizing the libraries…
hans@feddit.org 2 days ago
I have like 16 library cards
Midnitte@beehaw.org 3 days ago
Some even have 3d printers if you wanted to get into that without making a $600+ investment.
dannitien@piefed.world 2 days ago
Yep, some of our libraries have these, in the Makers Space room. People also bring other crafts and spread out there.
DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 2 days ago
You can use your library card with stuff like Libby, OverDrive, and Hoopla to read, listen to, and watch all sorts of stuff for free.
FartsWithAnAccent@fedia.io 2 days ago
Looks like you double posted FYI
DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 2 days ago
Oh, I thought it failed. Thanks!
ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world 2 days ago
dont do books
Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 days ago
Please do not the books
trabpukcip@hexbear.net 2 days ago
The library is great for when I want to be tenth in line for a book that they’ll give me access to for 2 weeks in 6 months
felsiq@piefed.zip 3 days ago
“Provide services to poor people” is really valuable and kinda covers this but it’s worth mentioning on its own anyway: a lot of libraries have tools and stuff you can borrow when you need something occasionally but not often enough to waste money and storage space on having it. Need a food dehydrator for the occasional camping trip? Waffle maker? Laser cutter? Amazing service for anyone imo, poor or not
Fondots@lemmy.world 2 days ago
This will vary a lot of course, but in a lot of cases your local library may not be just your local library.
The library in my town isn’t anything too special, it’s a little small and doesn’t really have a lot of the cool things people talk about libraries having these days (though I am occasionally surprised, they have mobile hotspots you can borrow for example)
But it’s part of a network of libraries from around my county, so I can go check things out of around 30 different libraries and some of those other branches have a lot more cool stuff than mine does
Bonifratz@piefed.zip 2 days ago
My library even has original art you can borrow
Cris_Citrus@piefed.zip 2 days ago
My library has a seed library where I can go get seed packets ☺️
They also have a really cool little maker space, but I’ve never used it before (I wanna use the 3d printers some time but have to take the classes before I can use them)
Gaja0@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
Laser cutting? I need this back in my life. I used to dabble with the one at my last job. They’re fun.
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