Libby

by Overdrive

Libby is the free mobile app of our longstanding OverDrive service. It is a great way to browse the collection as well as read and listen to checkouts. 

Overdrive is a large collection of books, audiobooks, and magazines in a variety of digital formats including Kindle, OverDrive Reads, EPUB, and PDF. These items generally function like a library full of physical items; we purchase a license for use for a particular number uses or a time period for a title and a single user can use that licensed item at a time. Other patrons can put their name on a holds list to be notified when their turn with the item comes up. Occasionally, some titles are available for 'simultaneous use,' which means they are available for use by anyone regardless of whether another patron is using it at the same time. The magazine collection is entirely 'simultaneous use.' 

This collection is shared with the other Library Connection libraries, so there are a lot of patrons vying for use for popular titles. Make sure to sign in before you browse, SWPL patrons get access to a special reserve collection in addition to the shared titles. Users can limit their searches to only items that are currently available if they wish.

Hoopla Digital

Hoopla Digital provides an enormous selection of digital video (movies and TV shows), music, audiobooks, Ebooks and comics for library users. These items are all 'simultaneous use,' so there is never any waiting for a hold to come available. Users must create an account using their email address and library card number to gain access.

SWPL pays a 'per use' fee every time a patron uses an item from Hoopla Digital and it is generally more expensive than licensing items through Overdrive, so the level of service the library is capable of offering may vary from year to year. Currently, patrons are allowed up to five checkouts per month. Additionally, the library has placed a daily spending cap on this service that may cause it to be temporarily unavailable if that threshold has been reached.

eGO CT / The Palace Project

Connecticut State Library's Digital Collection

eGO CT is a project of the Connecticut State Library that is working to bring multiple collections of electronic books, audiobooks, and other media together in one easily searchable location. eGO compiles content from Digital Public Library of America, OverDrive, as well as an ever-growing collection of materials purchased by the Connecticut State Library. 

eGO's materials are made available through The Palace Project, which lets CSL organize, deliver, and purchase digital content for patron use. The Palace Project app is a great way to browse and check out content from eGO. 

Items in this collection will have many different licensing options -some will be 'simultaneous use,' some will function more like physical items where only one user may access the file at a time.