Downloadables

Exciting Libby News 

On March 21st Libby will be getting a shiny new update for libraries and their patrons to enjoy! This news means that Libby is introducing two new features called deep search and notify me. The deep search feature will allow patrons to find more titles, ones that may not be in the library’s collection yet. And Notify Me tag is actually a part of the tags feature that already exists within Libby now!  

Deep search will allow everyone to see titles that may not be in the collection. Once you find something you are interested in but is not in the collection you can then use the Notify Me tag to let the libraries know you are interested in that title. And in turn if that title is added you will then be notified of its addition so that you can read or listen to that title! 

This does mean that the Recommend to Library feature that some people may be familiar with is officially going away. This is going hand in hand with the OverDrive App’s formal sunset at the end of April.  

So, this is a good time to remind everyone – if you are still using the OverDrive App and have not yet switched to the Libby App – now is the time! OverDrive will be going away officially at the end of April along with its Recommend to Library feature but fear not Libby will still be here with its handy new deep search and Notify Me tags to help us meet your library needs! 

P.S. For those not yet familiar with Libby’s tag feature please take a peak at their handy help page here all about tags and how to use them: https://help.libbyapp.com/en-us/categories/tags.htm . And to get more familiar with Libby please don’t forget to checkout https://libbyapp.com/library/acla .

Happy Reading  

~Adrianne 

Northland Library 

Continue ReadingExciting Libby News 

Popular Magazine Title Leaving OverDrive

FYI —

OverDrive recently released an update regarding required digital lending model changes for The Economist in the OverDrive Magazines Collection.

According to the update, the new requirements would restrict lending period access to only 24-hours and prohibit a reader who wants to access the same issue from borrowing it again remotely. For a reader to continue access to the issue, they must visit the library to renew access. 

OverDrive has decided not to implement this new lending model. As a result, all editions of The Economist will be removed from OverDrive Magazine collections effective February 1, 2023. The last issue available for readers to borrow will be January 28, 2023. All back issues will also be removed from collections on February 1. 

While this news will come as a disappointment for many library users, OverDrive continues to add new magazines to the collection regularly, including most recently, Fortune. Additionally, Allegheny County Library patrons have access to nearly 100 popular and in-demand digital magazine titles with the hoopla Magazine BingePass collection.

– Richelle at Sewickley Public Library

Continue ReadingPopular Magazine Title Leaving OverDrive

Goodbye, Flipster

In September, the Digital Resources Committee announced that Allegheny County Libraries’ subscription to the eMagazine service Flipster would not be renewed and that on December 31st, 2022, this service will disappear. 

Some patrons may take issue with Flipster disappearing, so if that occurs, here are some talking points. 

  • Usage for Flipster has decreased over the years while circulation numbers for Overdrive and Hoopla have risen.  
  • Public libraries have limited resources. 
  • Flipster offers limited access to latest/back issues and the app is limited when it comes to accessibility features. 

There will still be plenty of options available for magazine lovers. In fact, Overdrive offers thousands of options to choose from and Hoopla’s growing collection can be accessed with a single borrow as part of its BingePass program.

-Erin Weaver, Bridgeville Public Library

Continue ReadingGoodbye, Flipster

Attention E-Mag Readers!

Due to decreasing usage and limited titles, ACLA will be dropping our Flipster subscription as of December 31, 2022. However, there is good news for E-Magazine readers! We have two other services which offer many more titles for you to check out and flip through, digitally and on the go.

Overdrive/Libby: We currently offer over 4,000 issues of popular magazines in our Overdrive/Libby collection. Titles are always available, and there is no limit on the number you can borrow each month! Magazine issues can be checked out for up to 21 days and downloaded to a mobile device for off-WiFi enjoyment. You can find the magazine collection in the Libby app or at acla.overdrive.com.

Hoopla BingePass: A newer addition is the “BingePass” feature in Hoopla, which allows unlimited 7-day access to their magazine collection using only one of your 15 per month checkouts. So if you borrow a BingePass each week, you can have constant and unlimited access to Hoopla’s 90+ titles! Note that this is a streaming service, so an internet connection is required to read. Hoopla’s BingePass is located under the “More” section in the app or at hoopladigital.com.

Visit our eLibrary at elibrary.einetwork.net for more information, or feel free to reach out to your local library for help getting started with one of these great E-Magazine services. Happy reading!

–Heather Auman, Western Allegheny Community Library

Continue ReadingAttention E-Mag Readers!