I’m aware that this community is not usually happy with the content that’s available above-board for-free under-restriction. For instance, free with subscription, or free with ads.

But I have found myself obsessed with library cards recently.

Libraries grant access to pretty expansive collections even online: movies, tv, music, and ebooks are just the beginning. Genealogical resources, vehicle repair manuals, business contact databases, academic journals, and periodicals. One of my libraries granted me access to Udemy Business through Gale. I honestly can’t detail every database/collection/resource i’ve found available through the 4 libraries who have granted me useful access.

But I seem to have hit a wall. The New York Public Library says “visitors” may get a “temporary” card, but the number they gave me expired after 2 weeks and didnt get me access to any of their online offerings anyway.

Paris says they’ll happily issue me a card. All I need to do is fill out the form (in french?!) and show up in person with photo ID. /s

Surely, I’m not the only one who has decided to try to collect library cards like pokemon cards. I imagine there are philanthropic libraries or national libraries or something that I just don’t know how to look up. I’m looking for any library that will issue me a card regardless of residency, but for reference I am in the US if that’s the only residency requirement. Anyone got tips?

    • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      12·
      1 year ago

      ok well here’s a tip: Libby by Overdrive has different availability of resources depending on your institution, but the app allows you to load all the cards they know about. And they have some kind of affiliation with Kanopy (for movies and tv), who seems to have a universal collection, but limits access to some of their holdings using a ticketing system like carnival rides. More library cards means more tickets-per-month. And Hoopla is sort of a hybrid: it has ebooks, audiobooks, tv, movies AND MUSIC, but your library pays for so many items-per-day across all of its patrons, so if one of your libraries has hit its daily limit, just… switch cards.

    • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      5·
      1 year ago

      MEK appears only to be available in hungarian, with some english, but i don’t know hungarian at all. maybe someone else will find this useful tho.

    • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      most institutions will issue a physical card, but i don’t care if i get one as long as i get an account that grants me access.

      I’ll check out mek

  • WhiteOakBayou@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    1 year ago

    I use libby and have three cards. My county library, my city and a city I used to live in. Between those three I almost constantly have new books to read. I’ve read 19 book so far this year. All of them new release literary fiction and 16 of them through libby. With the right card it is really good. I went from dling 10 books a month to 1 a month so far this year.

  • Gooey0210@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    5·
    1 year ago

    I will get downvoted for that

    1. Get the cheapest id card from tor
    2. Go to the area of that id card
    3. Get the library card
    4. Repeat
  • PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    Careful with this. My buddy started collecting library cards. He had cards for all the neighboring towns, local universities, some out-of-state universities, etc… After he collected like 30 or 40, Libby banned him.

    Personally I have three cards; My local public library, the public library from the largest city in the area, and the library from my hometown. Between those three, I can usually find anything I want.

  • AspieEgg@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    You might have trouble getting free unrestricted library cards if you don’t live in the area that the library serves. They are usually paid for with taxes and aren’t there to serve people outside their community.

    If you’re willing to pay for it, I know that the Ottawa Public Library in Canada offers membership for $90/year to people living outside Ottawa. You may find something similar at other libraries.

    The Libraries and Archives of Canada will issue a card too, but you have to visit the archives in person and have a reason you are using the archives and not another library.