Several years ago, I set out to get a library card from my true local library (the one in my actual hometown). I eventually managed to get a card but it was akin to me having to fight a dragon beast and then climb through a thorny forest and then having to scale a hundred foot tower to finally get the card.
Side note: The local librarian had a major attitude and didn’t like doing her job. And that made for very unpleasant experiences.
So, then I proceeded to renew my card at the next town over’s library because I had lost my card when I was a teenager. So, I liked this library better (they had a better budget, etc) but the wait for books could be a little long.
Around this time, I started blogging and via publishers was receiving early copies of books, so my library card use greatly declined. And if I’m being truly honest: I sometimes did not like checking out books that had been there awhile because I didn’t know who had put their grubby hands on the books.
A few weeks ago, though, my friend Reeca started talking about library books on Instagram. We had a little conversation and she mentioned about why are you not using your library card which got me thinking about checking out Hoopla and Libby. My local library, unlike Reeca’s, uses Hoopla and CloudLibrary; but I have found I really enjoyed using CloudLibrary. I was able to get the 2022 Sandra Brown book Overkill, reserve the 2023 Sandra Brown book, get the new Ashley Winstead book Midnight is the Darkest Hour all within like 3 or so weeks. I also like the save function as I have 9 books saved and Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney on hold.
Here’s what I’m really loving: The fact that I can request these books without getting physical books. The physical books, while ok, make my germaphobe self kinda go ugh. With the app, I can have books on my phone so I can read at lunch.
Now I still love buying books and I def love getting early copies of books from publishers- but I am def enjoying the perks of the library.
*What is the last book you checked out from the library?*
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
T @ Traveling With T
Traveling With T 
Have a library card that I dutifully renew every year, but since I’m almost never at home, have very little opportunity to use it. At this instance my local library doesn’t allow to download digital formats online: you have to go to the library and download it there. My nomadic lifestyle would require me to apply every 3 or 4 months for a different card. I know some digital nomads who love to work from libraries, but my line of work doesn’t allow it. Lately I mostly rely on my audible subscription for my leisure reading.
Oh wow. I wish your library would allow digital downloads.
The last thing I checked out of the library was a dvd.
I’m trying to check out more books. I used my Hoopla account to stream a Taylor Swift cd 🙂