Beginning Sunday, September 1, 2024 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County libraries are making the following changes to Libby and hoopla:

• Reducing Libby holds from 20 to 10 at a time
• Reducing Libby borrows from 20 to 10 at a time 
• Reducing hoopla borrows from 15 to 5 per month  
• Requiring PIN authentication to the Libby sign-in process

Learn more about these changes here.

In addition to the new holds and checkout limits, there are some additional things you can do to improve your own digital experience while helping other readers out along the way.

 

In the Catalog:

Use the “For Later” button that is listed right underneath the green “Place Hold” button. You can monitor the availability of the items you’re interested in by checking yout “For Later” shelf.

 

 

In Libby:

Before you place a hold or check an item out, it’s a good idea to read or play a “Sample” to see if you’re sure you want to use your holds/borrows. You can also create a tag for items you’re interested in. Instead of placing the hold, tap the “Tag” option. A screen pops up and you can tap the + sign to create and name your tag, “Wishlist” or “To Read,” for example.

   

 

 

In hoopla:

Favorites:
Your “Favorites” list in Hoopla helps you keep track of materials you would like to borrow later. When you click the heart icon in hoopla, that person, item or series is added to your Favorites list. You can keep track of new releases from your favorite authors, musicians, comic book artists, TV series and more with Favorites.

BingePass:
BingePass gives you unlimited access to an entire collection of content for seven days and only counts as one borrow. In hoopla, under “Browse,” navigate to “BingePass” and choose from the curated collection of content.

 

 

In General:

• Check the wait times on multiple formats (print, eBook, eAudiobook) before placing your holds.
• Do not freeze holds indefinitely. Instead, remove the hold and tag the title for later.
• Cancel your hold if you’re no longer interested.
• Borrow for 7, 14 or 21 days depending on your personal habits.
• Return items as soon as you’re done or no longer interested.

 

Happy reading and streaming! And as always, don’t be afraid to ask your library staff if you need any assistance!