If you are a Libby App user, you may have experienced frustratingly long wait times, especially if you like new releases. In a previous post, I detailed how to add two additional library collections to Libby using your Upper Hudson Library System card, as well as how to apply for free NYC borough library system cards.
But what if you’re not from our area, or you’re looking for available paid library memberships to access their collections? Enter ReciproCard.
What Can ReciproCard Do for Me?
Search for your home library system on ReciproCard to instantly see every free and paid reciprocal library agreement you qualify for. Every new card you find can be added to Libby to give you more options and shorter wait times.
Here is some text copied from the ReciproCard website that explains how it works:
When you first download Libby, it uses your location or zip code to help you find your closest local branch. However, it does not explain the complicated eligibility rules that determine if you are allowed to get cards at other libraries in your state.
ReciproCard solves this. Instead of just showing nearby buildings, the database searches for cards based purely on eligibility tied to your home library. We actively map out:
- Statewide library systems
- Reciprocal borrowing agreements between specific counties and cities
- Regional partner networks
- Non-resident library card rules
As a bonus, they use a redundancy filter that ensures no two cards listed offer access to the same collection. There are more details available on their How It Works page.
How Do I Use ReciproCard?
Start by entering your home library in the field at the top of the page:
The results start with the additional collections that can be accessed with your existing card:
Scrolling a bit farther down, we see libraries that require a separate card, but membership is free for members of our library system. In this case, all residents of New York are eligible for free cards from these libraries, and they can apply online:
The next section shows libraries that offer a free card, but require your presence in the library to issue it:
At the bottom of the page, you’ll see a list of paid cards for which you are eligible:
If you click the blue button at the top of that section, it will explain your paid options with more context and detail:
I noticed that Queens was listed both as a place I could apply for a free card (as a NY State resident), and a place where I could pay for a card. I suspect this duplication slipped by the deduplication filter because the free card is listed as Queens Borough Public Library in Jamaica, and the paid card is listed as Queens Public Library in Queens, NY. The cost, collection size, and the fact that I knew Jamaica was in Queens tipped me off.
Summary
The free ReciproCard tool is helpful to library patrons who want to expand their access to titles and cut their wait times on Libby. Even if you have already added our local library systems to your Libby app, there are more to discover on ReciproCard.
