BCPL

News release

The Boyle County Public Library offers an extensive online collection that is always available, even when the library has to close due to winter weather conditions. Thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies and more can be accessed through the library’s website www.BoylePubLib.org/emedia.

Patrons only need to have an active library card to set up their online account. Digital library cards, which also provide access to the digital collection, are a great alternative for patrons who don’t already have a traditional library card and who are unable to visit the library in-person to sign up for one.

For people who are unfamiliar with the library’s digital collection and how to access it, here is a closer look at OverDrive and hoopla, two resources the library utilizes for their emedia collections.

• OverDrive is provided by Kentucky Libraries Unbound, a consortium of 96 Kentucky libraries that gives their patrons 24/7 access to a growing collection of digital media, all of which can be checked out free of charge.

At the end of the lending period, digital checkouts are automatically returned to the library’s catalog, so there are never any late fees. There may be a waiting list for popular items if all of the copies are checked out. A hold can be placed on the item, and when it becomes available, an email is automatically sent to the person requesting the title.

Library card holders can go directly to kyunbound.lib.overdrive.com to browse the online collection and download the Libby app. BCPL cardholders have immediate access to a collection of eBooks and eAudiobooks from Kentucky Libraries Unbound and may download up to 12 titles at one time, with an unlimited number of checkouts throughout the year.

Items may be downloaded to personal computers and to selected portable devices (tablets, eReaders and smart phones).

Using the Libby app, patrons also have access to Media Do books, which are primarily manga, comic books, and books in Japanese, and are typically read right-to-left. These titles are listed alongside other titles within the library collection.

• Hoopla is a web and mobile library media streaming service where patrons can browse over 700,000 titles in six different formats — audiobooks, eBooks, comics/graphic novels, full music albums, movies, and TV — and instantly borrow, then download or stream, the titles of choice.

Hoopla items are always available, regardless of if someone else has checked an item out or not, but borrowing is limited to five checkouts per month. Hoopla’s expanded collection of movies, TV series, and music makes it a wonderful free resource for entertainment.

Hoopla has numerous collections including New York Times Bestsellers, Black History Month, Sesame Street 50th Anniversary, At Home Learning, and more. They also offer Book of the Month, Graphic Novel of the Month, Movies of the Month, as well as Bonus Borrows, a program that is offered quarterly and provides additional titles that can be borrowed without counting toward the monthly borrowing limit.

All borrowed content may be enjoyed while connected to the Internet or Wi-Fi by streaming. On a mobile device, borrowed content may be temporarily downloaded and accessed offline. Hoopla can be accessed via the library’s website www.BoylePubLib.org/emedia.

Hoopla and OverDrive are available to anyone with a traditional or digital library card from BCPL. People in need of a digital library card can go directly to boylepublib.org/register to sign up. Additional information about the digital cards can be found on the library’s website, BoylePubLib.org, under the “How Do I?” section. Digital library cards are intended for people who do not currently have library cards. Patrons who already have a physical library card but have never used the online catalog can easily access it through the eMedia page, boylepublib.org/emedia. Anyone needing assistance registering for a digital library card or accessing the online collection may contact the library.

The library is open Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. In addition, free WiFi is available in the library parking lot 24/7. Chat with library staff using the live chat service on the library’s website or by texting (859)-545-8398.