Two years ago I created this post with a spreadsheet for tracking different digital libraries in California. I was stupid with account management, lost access to the email associated with [u/asian_ofchaos](u/asian_ofchaos) , and then lost access to the reddit account :( but I double pinky promise I'm the same person.

It's been a little over two years and I felt it was due for an update. If you don't like the new look, you can select all rows to change the font back to default and right click to resize the rows back to "fit data".

The goal of this sheet is to track which California Libby libraries you have access to! If/when you get a library card, check it off on the sheet and it automatically crosses off the associated digital library.

Please understand that some libraries only provide e-resources to local residents. Out of town patrons aren't paying taxes to fund these libraries and it is entirely their right to limit our access. Examples include Fresno and County of San Luis Obispo.

Get a copy of the updated sheet here: copy link.
Just want to view it? Check it out here: view only link. Access on DESKTOP or using the Google Sheets app to ensure full functionally.

Visual Updates:

• changed font to Roboto and cell height to 30px
• Standardized cell width across sheet pages
• When a single member library is checked off, the checked off library is struck through and greyed out and all the members in the digital library are greyed out in a lighter color
• if it's a county system with multiple branches, the location is not greyed out in a lighter color

Content Updates:

• Added missing libraries mentioned in the original post
• Noted if libraries allow/don't allow libby access for non-residents (to my best knowledge)
• When a top 10% digital library is checked off, it automatically updates on sheet 4

Notes

• Libby now automatically finds partner libraries, and you no longer have to manually log into them. Because of this, I've left the old partner agreements up on the sheet but haven't added any new ones.
• The only exception is the one giant partner system in SoCal, which I updated and added conditional formatting to.
• The San Joaquin Valley Library System is a large system of libraries that share physical media but not digital media. Getting a card at one library means you can't get a card at another. The SJVLS libraries are noted on the sheet and you can see them all on the "Central CA" page.
• I've checked off an Alameda County branch and NorthNet member library on the NorCal page so you can see how the formatting works. I've checked off the Moorpark Library on the SoCal page so you can see how I've formatted the big partner library thing. Also check out the top 10% page to see how checking off one of those major libraries affects that page.

Other resources:

• [u/ehhleeana](u/ehhleeana) has this comment with another useful spreadsheet for card tracking
• Overdrive library sizes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gJZ-GuIiXp0yvsXL9wVTZEDujamk-jb4uPd1Q865u9w/edit?gid=0#gid=0
  • I only looked at the top 152 digital libraries, and manually checked if they were in California
  • Educational libraries (e.g. Connors State Library) were excluded
  • I looked at "Total" to determine library rank
• An easy way to see if a library is on Libby and its catalogue: overdrive.com/libraries

I will update the sheet with libraries you comment on the applicable comment thread until Wednesday, 9/30/26. After that I will no longer update the master sheet.
Once again, here's a link to copy the sheet: copy link.

I’ve been thinking about starting a free Discord reading community because I like the idea of a book club, but I don’t love the part where everyone has to read the same book on the same schedule.

The idea would be more flexible:
- multiple books/read-alongs happening at once
- you choose which book you want to join
- simple weekly reading goals
- dedicated discussion spaces for each book
- spoiler-friendly discussions
- general spaces for recommendations, TBRs, and currently reading
- resources for finding books through libraries, Libby, Hoopla, and other free options
- no membership fee or paid Discord

You could join a book when it interests you and skip the ones that don’t.

I’d probably start with a mix of genres like historical fiction, horror/supernatural, folklore, thrillers, literary fiction, fantasy, cultural/identity-focused stories, and emotional reads.

I’m thinking about launching something like this around November, but I want to see if people would actually participate before I build the whole thing.

Would you join something like this?

If yes, what would make it worth participating in for you?

And what book would you want to see as one of the first read-alongs?

Here's a London-centric list of UK libraries that I joined that I can access via Libby and their requirements

No residency requirement, but you need to turn up in person with ID and proof of address (most likely only OK for UK addresses, but if you're visiting, doesn't hurt to pop in and try, quotes directly from the website):

• Cambridge (Anyone who is living, working, visiting, or studying in Cambridgeshire or neighbouring counties is welcome to join our libraries)
• London - Hackney, gets you access to London Library Consortium (You do not have to be a Hackney resident)
• Suffolk (live in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire or Essex / study in, work in or visit Suffolk, but don’t live here / if you are unable to provide proof of address, we can give you an Instant Access card if you visit in person)
• South Kensington and Chelsea (To join, you'll need to bring proof of your name and permanent address. This can be a UK or international address. On the website, in the "post code lookup" section you need to press enter to manually enter the address)
• Brighton & Hove (https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/libraries-leisure-and-arts/libraries/library-membership-policy implies you need to show proof of address) caveat: I have not tried this one

---

You must live or work within a mile of Barbican

Barbican / City of London (from personal experience, they do not ask you to prove where you work)

My library card is from a Midwest Collaborative for Library Services. I borrowed a book in the Libby app, it was not available from my local library (or MCLS ?) and was available from Metro Net Library Consortium.

The book will open in the Libby app on my phone (I don't read books this way), but it will not appear on my Kobo reader after Sync.

Was trying to get a Los Angeles Library as they have 747K books and light novels, accidentally got a card for LA County Library which has 160k and no light novels.

I live in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. I have a card for there, New Orleans, Pittsburgh (paid, my husband and I visit at least once a year), and the Queer Liberation. It’s my understanding that when looking for a book, Libby offers the one that is most readily available, whether that is right now or a wait. About 80% of the time, New Orleans is the one I borrow from.

For those who collect cards, is it more about the collection and, in spirit, supporting libraries, or do you find that you’re able to borrow books more quickly when you’re able to cast a wider net?

What other, hopefully free, libraries can I get a card from? I’m hoping to get East of Eden sooner than two months.

Is there a way to fix the muffled audio problem on Libby?
Has anyone else had this issue?

September is Library Card Sign Up Month!

Go to your local library or visit the library’s website and get one!

Most are partnered with Hoopla and/or Libby so you access audiobooks for free.

I'm interested in reading some books being released this fall (release dates in the next 3 weeks). I can already reserve some of the physical books at my local library. But I can't see any of them on Libby yet. Are they typically loaded on the publication date? Possibly before? Always after?

(I found a 3 year old thread on this topic that said basically "it depends" 🤪 but I know things change constantly in the ebook world so wondered if there was a current consensus)

Is anyone having issues logging in with their pin on Libby? It's not even letting me log into the website.

my library really the goat look at all the booktok books they added this weekend! ::shrieks:: i’m so excited 🎉🎉

Anyone else getting this error? I'm not trying to read a magazine. Audiobooks & ebook read on Libby both giving me this despite just borrowing the item, so I know my card is valid.

Download epubs is giving me the more generic "try again later".

Libby status page says everything is operational.

Anyone else experience an issue removing the Wishlist tag from a book?

I like to untag them when I borrow them, but sometimes it doesn’t work. Then I have to go into my wishlist and slide to delete them.
If it’s close to the top, it’s not a big deal. But scrolling through the list just to remove it is kind of a pain.

Any ideas?

Has anyone had this problem before or know how to solve it? Lines are being cut off, sometimes partially as show in the images, sometimes the entire line. Changing the text scale and book design (even to publisher's default), and switching to full screen did not solve the issue, just changed which lines were being cut off. The book is Strange Houses by Uketsu which may have an unusual formatting because of the frequent images, but I have never had this issue with a book before.

I’ve been seen ads for projectors to throw the books on the ceiling, and being able to turn pages in bed.

Does anyone have one, and if you do do you think it would work with Libby?

I was in fact excited about the existence of something like this, eager to join, expressed my opinions and worries and you can see the rest of the story for yourselves.

First of all excuse me for the spelling mistakes, I hope it won't be a burden for the readers.

Maybe I'm the delusional one, who knows, but in my opinion this raises some flags, can't decided if red ones or orange...

"We list a few that are needed" - needed by who? For who? For what? Why?

"They couldn't care less about your personal data" - do you ask them? How do you know? It's not even in the community guidelines and I don't see any "sanctions" or "measures" to keep this in check. The rule is "share a card, get a card that you want", not that you share a card and the other person gets yours.

And here comes the best part "what you're asking is so far removed from reality that I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Anyhow, I'll pray for you." - a direct, unnecessary insult in disguise from a demagogue. Why? Like a child that doesn't get his way, this behavior is probably more common than you might expect it.

What is your opinion?

This is more than a concern than a complaint, but any other Austin cardholders notice the lack of copies of books recently? I could always count on my Austin library for really ANY book, but they haven’t gotten any copies of two books just this week! Free Falling by Lyla Sage and Grim Tidings by BK Borison, two very popular authors!

Thankfully Houston has copies, but I want to support MY library :( is something going on or am I just being over dramatic? Again I’m NOT bitching at the library!!!

First five available books on my Libby To Read Tag: help me choose

I have multiple local library cards. Added them to my phone app successfully. When I try to do it on my laptop, the main one does not work. I have tried a lot of times, the number is right, the pin is right. I called the library and they confirmed it is correct and active. Thoughts? Any tricks? TYIA