Non-resident library card

Z

zedd

Full time employment: Posting here.
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Public libraries are primarily supported financially via local property taxes. Thus the check out of materials is limited to those holding a library card obtained by proof of residence etc. So if you support the library financially you have access privileges. If you dont, then your privleges are limited. I get that.

I wonder if there are any public libraries situated in MAJOR metroplotan areas that allow access privledges for free or a small fee.
Specifically I'm looking for download access for kindle format ebooks.
 
DW used to love the e-books at Baton Rouge's main library and when we moved she signed up to the library where we live in Texas but their e-book selection was very poor compared to Baton Rouge. After a year or so they dropped her and for them it is a residency rule. However, because I receive a pension from a Louisiana company I have to pay LA State taxes every year even though we haven't even driven through the State in almost 4 years. (that is irritating!!)

Even so, if they allowed a fee based subscription DW would pay it.
 
This question reminded me that Massachusetts residents used to be eligible for a Boston library card Now that ebooks are available it would be worth having so I checked and any MA resident or property owner or person who works in MA can get one.
Maybe check your big cities especially your state capitol if you are in the US?
 
Do a search here:

Search.overdrive.com

To see if your local library or your county is a member of Overdrive, a service for providing books that my library uses (there are likely other outfits like this). No cost to use this if your library is a member.
 
The public library for Cincinnati (Hamilton County) offers library cards with full privileges to any Ohio resident.
 
We live in an unincorporated area and could not get free access to the library. We had to pay (which we did for 3 year) to be able to download books. It was like $350. It was what you would have paid in taxes for the privilege.

We finally found a way around it.
 
DC, Montgomery County, MD., and Arlington, VA all allow residents of any of those jurisdictions to get cards. For me the other libraries were good for downloads but to inconvenient to use for real books.
 
Out here is Arizona the libraries are typically funded by each county. Although I live in a different county than Tucson (Pima) they do allow Arizona residents outside the county a free (limited) library membership. I can download 5 e-books at a time which is more than enough for me. Maricopa county (Phoenix) charges a $50 yearly fee for residents outside the county that want a library card.
 
Bestwifeever said:
Do a search here:

Search.overdrive.com

To see if your local library or your county is a member of Overdrive, a service for providing books that my library uses (there are likely other outfits like this). No cost to use this if your library is a member.
Click to expand...

+1
If your local library subscribes to Overdrive, and you are willing to read ebooks, this is by far the best solution.
 
In California you can get a card at any public library with a valid CA I.d. It's called a universal borrower's card. I have cards from San Jose, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Davis and my own town. I don't know what other states do.
 
Also, my library is part of a larger consortium, so over 30 libraries with shared services such as Overdrive. I have my city card but can use shared services.

I've been a librarian for over 30 years, btw.
 
I hold cards in three library systems--the city and county systems from where I used to live and the multi-county regional library from where I live now. I believe that as a former city employee, I'm entitled to keep my city card even though I don't live there any more, and I have been using it to download audiobooks, which I play on my computer. I don't know my status on the county system now that I have moved, but even if I am no longer eligible to hold the card, I can probably borrow from them via interlibrary loan through the regional library here--it will just take longer to get the book.

I have only downloaded the Overdrive player, and books, from the City library system. I haven't tried it yet, but suspect I might run into problems if I try to download something from the regional library, because the City system may not have a license for that particular book. If that happens, I hope my computer doesn't object to having two copies of the player installed.
 
My FIL lives in Cerritos, CA and they have a wonderful library. He lets me use his card because for the most part, he does not use his card. I just make sure to return books on time.
 
linny727 said:
In California you can get a card at any public library with a valid CA I.d. It's called a universal borrower's card. I have cards from San Jose, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Davis and my own town. I don't know what other states do.
Click to expand...

I do that, too. When we go on day trips to different cities I try to get a library card for any new library system. Each one has unique member benefits and different online databases.

I realized this year we can get our few remaining magazine subscriptions for free through the library, including Consumer Reports.
 
Nikki J said:
This question reminded me that Massachusetts residents used to be eligible for a Boston library card Now that ebooks are available it would be worth having so I checked and any MA resident or property owner or person who works in MA can get one.
Maybe check your big cities especially your state capitol if you are in the US?
Click to expand...

New York State residents can get a New York City library card on line. Great ebook selection
 
My local library card allows me to check out most books and other materials from any library in the county library system. I can also request books from other libraries in the system to be delivered to my home library for me to check out, free of charge. I have some extra privileges in my home library I do not have at other libraries such as priority internet access from the computers. I can also renew books from home, another handy feature.

Another special perk I have with my card is to able to access the online newspaper database, even from home. Instead of going to the library to look through the old microfilms, I can do an online search and call up images of the newspaper articles themselves.
 
When I lived in Manhattan before I was able to get a Brooklyn PL card. I had a P-T job in Brooklyn but I don't remember if that mattered.
 
Our County library has come in very handy, even when we have lived elsewhere as we still are property taxpayers there.

I would like to have similar online access to a major University library. Anyone figure out a way to do that?
 
Malcolm2 said:
Our County library has come in very handy, even when we have lived elsewhere as we still are property taxpayers there.

I would like to have similar online access to a major University library. Anyone figure out a way to do that?
Click to expand...

Are you an alumnus of a university? Many universities offer library services to alumni. Some, but not all, offer library services to unaffiliated members of the public. For example, here is the relevant link from the University of British Columbia (with which I have no affiliation). Unaffiliated seniors can get a library card for $40, for personal use only.

How to Get a Library Card | Use The Library

I would start by checking the websites of universities that you have attended or taught at, and those in your city or state. It might be worth asking a librarian if the website is not clear.
 
This has been a great thread. I mainly like to watch special interest videos. Netflix and Amazon have some, but are geared more toward Hollywood type entertainment videos.

I found out from this thread I can look up special interest videos on Overdrive, and then pay to become a member of libraries that carry the videos I want. I could join a few libraries much cheaper than I can buy DVDs, and change libraries each year or so to get access to different DVDs. I never knew Overdrive had a world wide search feature, or that I could pay to become a member of university or out of state libraries before.

Thanks to all who contributed.
 
We have a new free service called Zinio. Popular magazines you download and keep on you tablet, pc, whatever. Look for a library that has that. You'll never carry 10 heavy magazines on vacation again!

Having cards from different cities and counties allows you to use all the wonderful databases all from home.

This is a subject near to my heart. I retire as a librarian in 1 month, 2 weeks and 6 days, but I'll always be a library lover and supporter.
 
linny727 said:
We have a new free service called Zinio. Popular magazines you download and keep on you tablet, pc, whatever. Look for a library that has that. You'll never carry 10 heavy magazines on vacation again!

Having cards from different cities and counties allows you to use all the wonderful databases all from home.

This is a subject near to my heart. I retire as a librarian in 1 month, 2 weeks and 6 days, but I'll always be a library lover and supporter.
Click to expand...

I just got a library card with Zinio a few weeks ago! That is one of the items on my ER expense cutting list. No more magazine subscriptions for us.

I love the library, too. We use the free passes for museums, plays, zoos, gardens and all sorts of attractions. That was one of our great finds in semi-ER. We have had many fun day trips with library passes for free except for gas to get places.
 
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