The Blog of Toledo Lucas County Public Library

5 Perfect Reasons to Use Your Library's eMedia

Posted 12 months ago by Ryan R

The Holidays are just around the corner and days are getting busier. Perhaps you have some travelling planned. With the ability to checkout and download almost anytime and anywhere, coupled with their extreme portability, the convenience of Library eMedia is unparalleled. Consider these scenarios where eMedia really shines! If you're new to eMedia, visit your favorite librarian and they'll get you downloading in no time!

1. The title you want isn't available in print right now

You're ready to read the next bestseller but there's a hold list. Next time, ask the librarian to check if the same title is available as an eBook. The book you want isn't always immediately available as an eBook- you may need to wait there, too - but sometimes you'll get lucky! Also, if you add yourself to the hold list of an eBook, you don't need to go back to the library when it's ready. In many cases, the book will automatically check out to you when it's your turn.

2. You're in the middle of your trip

The big trip is here! You thought of every detail, made your checklists, and managed to fit everything you need in one suitcase (OK, maybe not!). Yet somehow, you packed only three quick vacation reads, and now you've finished them all! What now? If you're staying in a place that has WiFi, or can stop at a coffee shop or other location that does, you can access the Library's digital collection through the app of your choice, select a new book, download it and get reading. Most of our eMedia apps save your library card information. It's like having your library with you wherever you go.

3. Easily carry multiple books around on your device

Speaking of travelling, it's much easier to carry around eBooks than physical ones. Carry all the eBooks you need on one tablet or device, and switch between books with ease, all without the extra weight. Between our Hoopla, Overdrive, and RB Digital collections, that's a lot of books on one small device! Digital audiobooks let you travel light, too! Say goodbye to large cases of CDs. Just plug your headphones into your device and start listening. If you're in a car, try connecting through Bluetooth or plugging into the radio's AUX jack, and listen away.

4. Do research when the Library is closed

eBooks aren't just for pleasure reading. Many nonfiction titles are available that can come in handy when you're working on your next school or work research project. Outside of the Overdrive and Hoopla collections, The Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) is accessible through TLCPL's own website. You can save pages as PDFs for later reference or annotation. "Financial Literacy for Millenials" and the "Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life" are two examples of the great references you'll find on GVRL. If you find yourself under deadline and you can't make it to the library, you can still supplement your research with real books- digitally.

5. No fines or fees

You will never have any late fees or fines when using digital media! When the lending period is over, in many instances the item returns itself or moves on to the next customer waiting to read it. If you need more time with an item, simply request it again. If there's no hold list, you can check it out right away. If others are waiting, you'll be put right back on the hold list until it's your turn again. Either way, you don't have to step out to the library to return or retrieve a book. It's really very simple and easy to use!

eMedia is a really unique way to borrow from the Library. Check the App Store on your device for apps like Libby by Overdrive, RB Digital, and Hoopla, or access those same collections directly from the links below.

Helpful Links

TLCPL eMedia
RB Digital
Gale Virtual Reference Library

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