Become a Library Power User

The library has more to offer than many people realize, and you don’t need special training to take advantage of it. Library Power User is a blog series designed to spotlight helpful features across our catalog, website, app, and databases that make finding books, movies, and information easier. Each post focuses on simple tools and tips that help you go beyond basic searching and start using the library like a pro.

One State. Many Library Cards.

You already know your library card gives you access to thousands of eBooks and audiobooks on Libby. But here’s a true Library Power User tip: As a resident of Ohio, you can get a library card at other public libraries across the state to unlock even more titles on Libby.

The Ohio Advantage

Ohio public libraries receive state funding, and most systems allow permanent Ohio residents to apply for a library card even if the user doesn't live in that specific city or county.

Policies vary slightly by system, but many libraries offer quick online registration for instant access to their digital library. That means easy access to so many more titles, streaming services, and databases!

Why This Is a Game-Changer for Libby Users

If you use Libby regularly, you’ve probably run into one of these annoying barriers:

• A 10+ week wait for a book title to become available
• Reaching your hold limit
• Not finding a title at all

Due to certain restrictions on digital licensing, there's only so much our library can offer on its own.

But...

If you have multiple library cards registered in your Libby account, now:

1. You have access to a bigger selection. Different library systems purchase different titles and different numbers of copies. One library might not own a title yet, while another has multiple copies available!
2. Shorter Wait Times. The same book might be available for 14 weeks at one library, 6 weeks at another, or be available now somewhere else. It’s worth checking!
3. More Holds & Borrows. Each library card comes with its own loan and hold limits, which means more flexibility for heavy readers (especially if you love trending fiction, BookTok favorites, romance, or thrillers).

Understanding Ohio’s OverDrive Consortia

When you add multiple library cards in Libby, you’re not just adding libraries; you’re often adding access to different OverDrive collections.

Many Ohio libraries belong to something called a consortium. A consortium (or consortia, plural) is a group of libraries that pool their digital collections together to increase access. This helps libraries stretch their budgets and offer larger collections than they could on their own.

The Three Largest Ohio OverDrive Consortia

Across Ohio, there are about 250 public library systems, and most belong to one of three major digital consortia:

The Ohio Digital Library
This is the consortium to which our library belongs. It includes 174 member libraries, making it the largest digital consortium in the state.

CLEVNET
Serving primarily northeast Ohio, CLEVNET includes 46 member libraries.

Digital Downloads Ohio
This consortium includes 18 member libraries, mostly clustered in central Ohio.

In addition, some larger systems maintain their own independent OverDrive collections, such as:

• Akron-Summit County Public Library
• Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
• Cuyahoga County Public Library
• Dayton Metro Library
• Muskingum County Library System
• Toledo Lucas County Public Library
• Portage County District Library
• The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County
• Warren-Trumbull County Public Library
• Wood County District Public Library

Power User Tip 💡

If you'd like to check which consortium a library or school belongs to, use the OverDrive Locate Library Search Tool.

Why This Is Important for Power Users

Here’s the key insight: if you add two library cards that both belong to the same consortium, you are accessing the same digital collection.

For example, both Greene County Public Library and Columbus Metro belong to the Digital Downloads Ohio consortium. You can absolutely add both cards to your Libby account, but the eBook collection behind them is the same shared pool.

To truly expand your access, you’ll want to add a card from a library that belongs to a different consortium. Think of each consortium as a completely different digital bookshelf.

If you add:

• A library card that is a member of The Ohio Digital Library (This is your Clark County Public Library card!)

• A library card that is a member of Digital Downloads Ohio

• A library card that is a member of CLEVNET

• A library card that has its own independent, large system

You’re now browsing entirely separate collections! That’s when you start seeing different purchasing priorities, different wait times, and different title availability. This way, you're not just stacking cards randomly; you're strategically expanding your digital reach. You'll be able to tell which item belongs to which consortium by the color of the card:

How to add multiple cards in Libby

To add a library:

1. Go to Menu (the middle icon at the bottom of your screen)
2. Select Add Library.
3. Find your library:     
   • Use the search box to find your library by name, city, or zip code.
   • Tap Map (in the top-right corner) to look for libraries near you.
4. Tap the library to open its collection.
5. Follow the prompts at the top of the screen to add a library card.

Here is a video that walks you through the process:

A Real Example: Why Checking Other Consortia Is Worth It

Take a look at the example above.

If this user was only using our consortium, the Ohio Digital Library, they would be facing a several-month wait for Exit Strategy by Martha Wells. Ugh, that's such a long wait, especially when you want to binge the series.

But...

Because this is a Library Power User, they added library cards from other Libraries in different OverDrive consortia, they can see something else:

• Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library has copies available right now
• CLEVNET has copies available right now
• Digital Downloads Ohio has a 2-week wait (a way more managable of a wait time)

Same book. Same format. Same app. Completely different availability.

If this patron only had one card, they would have to wait months. But since they checked across each OverDrive consortium, they can borrow the book immediately.

That’s the difference between using Libby…

…and using Libby like a Library Power User.