Brooklyn Library discontinuing out-of-state library cards

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I signed up for the Metropolitan card. Very fast and easy.

They have three titles Brooklyn didn't have.

Looking further through my wish list, Metropolitan has eight titles Brooklyn doesn't easily covering the $70 fee. Also, it seems Metro adds about 1700 ebook titles per month, a healthy number.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by issybird

Well, that’s a blow. My state OverDrive stinks, to put it mildly. However, I think they’re entirely in the right; $50 was never going to cover the costs of an aggressive out-of-state user.

Whattayamean "aggressive"? I never read more than a book a day.

I'm going to use some very foul language: @#^*&@$%&^

I just paid a month or two ago for a Brooklyn card and I've been happy with it so far.
They often have availability on books that my other two (legit) libraries don't have.
Too bad that they hadn't offered a lifetime option.

I guess that I'll be moving to Oklahoma next year. Or sooner?

[SteveEisenberg]

One option for many Americans is getting access to free military eBook collection(s).

Years ago, DOD had a expansive definition of who qualified as a being in the family of a military member, and I had access to two military collections. Eventually, my Air Force card expired, and the general DOD collection I was using was closed. My son in law doesn’t know it, but eventually we’ll be on base again and I’ll get him to go to the library (bases often have one similar to a public library) and sponsor me, if that is the current system.

It used to be that you could get access over the web, and they would take your word for it that you were a relative of someone with a military association. I never posted about that, at the time, because it seemed open to abuse. I think the policy now is fairly liberal but you need someone with a military association (active duty, retired, works on a base, etc.) to sponsor you.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

One option for many Americans is getting access to free military eBook collection(s).

Years ago, DOD had a expansive definition of who qualified as a being in the family of a military member, and I had access to two military collections. Eventually, my Air Force card expired, and the general DOD collection I was using was closed. My son in law doesn’t know it, but eventually we’ll be on base again and I’ll get him to go to the library (bases often have one similar to a public library) and sponsor me, if that is the current system.

It used to be that you could get access over the web, and they would take your word for it that you were a relative of someone with a military association. I never posted about that, at the time, because it seemed open to abuse. I think the policy now is fairly liberal but you need someone with a military association (active duty, retired, works on a base, etc.) to sponsor you.

DoD MWR Digital Library

Authorized Patrons Today:

• Active duty military (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard).
  
• Members of the Reserve components and National Guard.
  
• Retired military, including retired from the Reserves and National Guard.
  
• Medal of Honor recipients and veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities.
  
• Eligible family members who are officially sponsored (ID card holder) by authorized patrons in the above categories.
  
• DOD and Coast Guard civilians, including appropriated and non-appropriated fund employees, when stationed outside the United States; stateside eligibility contingent upon resource availability.

These are generalized categories; eligibility per DoDI 1015.10.

[Fbone]

I recommended a title on July 18th from Metro Library and today the 25th they purchased it and placed it on hold for me. Great service.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I recommended a title on July 18th from Metro Library and today the 25th they purchased it and placed it on hold for me. Great service.

Same for me. I recommended 2 books on 7/18 and they were both added. It could be a coincidence as these are both upcoming releases.

My one nitpick is that they purchase pre-releases too far in advance. It makes my hold list max out (the maximum number is 10).

[issybird]

Originally Posted by John F

My one nitpick is that they purchase pre-releases too far in advance. It makes my hold list max out (the maximum number is 10).

This strikes me as good policy. It makes people prioritize their holds and therefore keeps overall holds in check; it can also help them manage purchases by identifying highest demand books. So essentially people get a few most-wanted books early, but have to enter the scrum for the rest. The longer the hold list, the flatter the projected demand and the less useful as a purchasing tool.

I’ve got nine months to run in Brooklyn but shall be visiting OK eventually and I’ve already identified a few pricey books they own that Brooklyn doesn’t and hasn’t bought on my recommendation, :sniff: . I just hope they don’t come to the same conclusion as Brooklyn and FLP in the meantime…..

[John F]

Originally Posted by issybird

This strikes me as good policy. It makes people prioritize their holds and therefore keeps overall holds in check; it can also help them manage purchases by identifying highest demand books. So essentially people get a few most-wanted books early, but have to enter the scrum for the rest. The longer the hold list, the flatter the projected demand and the less useful as a purchasing tool.

...

With BPL, I normally didn't have more then 5 books on hold, and no pre-releases on my wishlist. With Metro, I have my hold list maxed out, and several pre-releases in my wishlist. For myself with Metro, there will be thrashing in my hold list; books will be moving back and forth between the two lists.

I would think most readers would have a better idea of what is a higher priority the closer they are to release date.

And recommends throws another variable into mix for the library.

[JSWolf]

What I do sometimes is put the same book on hold at various libraries and see which one I'll get it from first and then I'll delete the others. I may have multiple holds when I'm not sure which one will be first.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by issybird

This strikes me as good policy.

I was initially skeptical that my taste would harmonize with those of Oklahomans, but it turns out to be an excellent library for me.

I don't recommend purchases for fear a library will overpay for a book no one else will read. But a day or two ago I put in a hold for this title, not in the Brooklyn collection, and marked as 0 copies available with 0 owned. This means OKC used to have a license, but it expired -- right?

It came in today.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What I do sometimes is put the same book on hold at various libraries and see which one I'll get it from first and then I'll delete the others. I may have multiple holds when I'm not sure which one will be first.

I do this all the time for upcoming releases, depending on how many holds I have free and how eager I am to read the book immediately upon publication.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I do this all the time for upcoming releases, depending on how many holds I have free and how eager I am to read the book immediately upon publication.

Another thing I'll do. If I want a book that's not yet released, I'll recommend it at a number of libraries so hopefully, this book will be bought and i'll not be too high on the wait list at least at one library.

[tubemonkey]

Non-Resident Library Cards -- updated 27 Jul 2022

Note: OverDrive collections only - other vendors may be available

1. Metropolitan Lib (OK) --- $70/year --- 164,992 epub --- 155,737 kindle --- 70,319 mp3
   
2. Stark Library (OH) ------- $30/year --- 161,569 epub --- 152,146 kindle --- 50,529 mp3
   
3. Multnomah Cty (OR) ---- $180/yr ----- 143,409 epub --- 126,803 kindle --- 59,381 mp3
   
4. Orange County (FL) ----- $125/yr ----- 116,241 epub --- 100,248 kindle --- 33,301 mp3
   
   
5. Toledo Lucas (OH) ------- $75/year --- 77,241 epub --- 73,179 kindle --- 35,692 mp3
   
6. Westchester (NY) -------- $75/year --- 52,522 epub --- 51,125 kindle --- 15,091 mp3
   
7. Houston Public (TX) ----- $40/year --- 49,357 epub --- 47,147 kindle --- 23,168 mp3
   
8. Queens Public (NY) ------ $50/year --- 48,994 epub --- 47,649 kindle --- 10,012 mp3
   
9. St Louis Public (MO) ----- $40/year --- 46,222 epub --- 42,776 kindle ----- 8,646 mp3
   
10. Chapel Hill Pub (NC) ----- $65/year --- 45,532 epub --- 41,763 kindle --- 17,859 mp3
    
11. Salt Lake City (UT) ------- $80/year --- 42,285 epub --- 37,439 kindle --- 21,227 mp3
    
12. Miami-Dade Lib (FL) ----- $65/year --- 41,899 epub --- 38,683 kindle --- 18,366 mp3
    
13. Monroe County (NY) ----- $25/year --- 39,090 epub --- 37,485 kindle --- 11,997 mp3
    
14. Fairfax County (VA) ------ $27/year --- 32,585 epub --- 33,359 kindle --- 20,679 mp3
    
15. New Orleans (LA) -------- $50/year --- 30,061 epub --- 29,711 kindle --- 25,290 mp3
    
16. C Mecklenburg (NC) ----- $45/year --- 28,806 epub --- 28,410 kindle ----- 6,946 mp3
    
17. Enoch Pratt Lib (MD) ---- $50/year --- 23,228 epub --- 21,302 kindle --- 11,017 mp3
    
18. Detroit Public (MI) ------ $100/yr ----- 10,954 epub --- 10,789 kindle ----- 4,903 mp3

Library Systems -- these libraries are part of larger library systems (see above for stats)

• Chapel Hill Pub (NC) ----- North Carolina Digital Library
  
• Enoch Pratt Lib (MD) ---- Maryland's Digital eLibrary Consortium
  
• Stark Library (OH) ------- The Ohio Digital Library

Restricted Non-Resident Library Cards

• Brooklyn Public (NY) ---- FREE --------- ages 13~21 only
  
• Carnegie Library (PA) --- $30/2 yrs --- must register in-person
  
• Hennepin County (MN) -- $60/year --- digital checkouts NOT allowed
  
• Los Angeles Pub (CA) ---- $50/year --- must register in-person

Former Non-Resident Library Cards

• Brooklyn Public (NY) --- no longer offers out-of-state fee cards as of 15 July 2022 --> details
  
• Free Library Phil (PA) -- no longer offers out-of-state fee cards as of 01 Nov 2019

.

[spacepope]

I signed up for Stark Library after reading this reddit thread, and I got a card within a few days! They were really kind and it has a LOT of titles my local library does not. It's only $30... if I read 4 books on it it'll be worth it! Which I most definitely will.

My local library has 35K ebooks and 15K audiobooks. My state library has 28K ebooks and 14K audiobooks. Both are rather good collections, and I can't complain too much. But I love SFF and both my local and state libraries are lacking in that regard. Stark Library seems to help solve this problem

[Renate]

Too bad this forum doesn't support tables in BB code:
Here is a pasteup from another forum: