Libraries Which Liberally Extend Borrowing Privileges.

[GtrsRGr8]

Use our Wiki (a link for it is at the the top of every webpage on this site, I think) to find them!

I was doing a search for libraries which extend borrowing privileges liberally. Came across a site that I thought was a Wikipedia webpage. But, no, it is actually a Wiki webpage of MobileRead's (https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/EBo...ail.2C_to_non-). There's an enormous amount of information.

Moral of the story: don't forget about our Wiki when doing searches for information!

There was also a list that someone published somewhere else on this site, and I think maintained, also, of libraries which would give or sell (usually sell) a yearly membership. It seemed like tubemonkey in the Bargains, Resources and Freebies forum maintained it, but I couldn't find it just now. It may have only been for audiobooks, too, I just don't remember. But the above-referenced MobileRead Wiki page is bound to be more comprehensive.

[John F]

Thanks for this. Bookmarked.

[Froide]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

[...] There was also a list that someone published somewhere else on this site, and I think maintained, also, of libraries which would give or sell (usually sell) a yearly membership.

You're referring to the following section of the thread you linked to, titled "USA Libraries that offer cards online or by mail, to non-residents", which is accessible at: https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/EBo..._non-residents.

[auntykatkat]

Originally Posted by Froide

You're referring to the following section of the thread you linked to, titled "USA Libraries that offer cards online or by mail, to non-residents", which is accessible at: https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/EBo..._non-residents.

I know that Houston allows for non residents to pay. Only 40 dollars a year.

http://houstonlibrary.org/find-it/my-link

Auntykatkat

[Larla]

Here is a good Overdrive link for libraries that provide paid non-resident cards:

http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/201...ry-is-lacking/

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by Larla

Here is a good Overdrive link for libraries that provide paid non-resident cards:

http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/201...ry-is-lacking/

That's from 2011 - you may find it out of date.

[Larla]

I linked it because it shows more libraries that the link given in #3. You can use the links to find out exactly how many ebooks each of the libraries have available. You can also use the links to find out the current cost for non-resident cards (although it can be tricky sometimes to find this information).

[JSWolf]

If anyone has updated information, please edit the wiki.

[GtrsRGr8]

The one fly in the ointment is that many of these libraries require that you show up in person to get the non-resident card. I'm sure that there's got to be a good reason for the policy. Well, actually, I'm not sure that there is a good reason. Anyway, that's the situation.

It might give me the excuse that I need to go visit Aspen, Colorado or Yosemite Park or Key West or some other place that I've been wanting to visit. ha

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

The one fly in the ointment is that many of these libraries require that you show up in person to get the non-resident card. I'm sure that there's got to be a good reason for the policy. Well, actually, I'm not sure that there is a good reason. Anyway, that's the situation.

It might give me the excuse that I need to go visit Aspen, Colorado or Yosemite Park or Key West or some other place that I've been wanting to visit. ha

My card is waiting for me at Brooklyn library, a good excuse for going back to New York Orange County sent me the card by snail mail

[Catlady]

Yeah, I got all excited about the Los Angeles library, but I don't think a three-thousand-mile trip is in the offing.

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

My card is waiting for me at Brooklyn library, a good excuse for going back to New York Orange County sent me the card by snail mail

Yep, some of the libraries do let you get a card without showing up in person. Which makes me wonder: why do all of these other ones make you show up in person????

Then, almost all of them will also charge a fee (semi-annually, yearly, whatever). So, combined with the requirement to show up in person by most libraries, that really narrows the possibilities. Two or three of the regional library systems around here have reciprocal agreements, with free cards available to people in the other systems. But if one of the libraries is not on the beaten track, you have to make a special trip to one of the libraries in a system in order to get a card. I only have one other (i.e., besides the local system that the library where I live is in) library card like that; however, it has much more to offer than our rather-rural library system does.

It's not that big of a deal to me right now. I have such a huge backlog of un-listened-to audiobooks that it literally might take me the rest of my life, at the rate that I'm going, to listen to all of them.

[Kyle Connor]

I found this site bartleby.com where you can find great books for free. I found 3 books that I had been wanting to read but couldn't find in my nearby library.

[hedwig]

I'm overseas and have three non-resident cards none of which I had to show up in person to get:

Free Library of Philadelphia - $50 per year
Houston Public Library - $40 per year
Orange County Library System - $125 per year (worth it for the excellent selection)

Los Angeles Public Library requires you to apply in person.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by auntykatkat

I know that Houston allows for non residents to pay. Only 40 dollars a year.

http://houstonlibrary.org/find-it/my-link

Auntykatkat

I saw this on the link you provided:

*Online registration does not allow access to our downloadable e-books, e-audiobooks and online courses.