Digital Library (eBook and eAudio)

Read or listen to downloadable books! Find bestsellers to business, mystery to history, romance to politics, and much more on Libby. 

Get eBooks and eAudio titles now!

With over 10,000 titles to choose from, take books with you on the go! All you need to get started is a library card. Click here to get a library card with the Juniata County Library or follow this link: https://www.juniatalibrary.org/using-library/get-a-library-card

Libby (iOS) (Google Play Store) (Microsoft App Store available on Windows 10)
Website: https://centralpalibraries.overdrive.com/

August 2024 Updates

Library cards with an address outside of our district (Juniata/Mifflin/Centre/Clearfield counties) will not be able to access Libby. 

Why is this happening?
The cost of electronic resources is high, and wait times for our patrons for the most popular titles are long. Given that, priority must be given to the residents of our district, whose taxes help pay for library service through their local municipalities.

● Digital items cost far more than their physical counterparts. New bestselling eBooks can cost between $45-65 per item, and digital audiobooks can cost between $45-120 per item, meaning that we are able to purchase far fewer digital copies of popular items than we can in print.
● The high cost leads to long wait times that are frustrating for readers; given these factors, we are limiting access to these high-cost electronic collections to those who live or learn within our district.
● This change will prioritize service to the taxpaying residents of our area.
● Four statewide resource libraries receive special funding to provide service to the entire state (Free Library of Philadelphia, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, State Library in Harrisburg and Penn State University Libraries - all campuses). Residents who want to access additional resources, both in print and digital, should contact these libraries, or visit their websites, to learn how to get a library card, and what materials may be accessed.
● POWER Library databases, available to all Pennsylvania residents, also contain several resources with eBooks and digital audiobooks.
● Anyone with a JCL card is welcome to borrow physical items from our library!

When will this happen?
Effectively immediately

FAQs

Q. Why can’t I access Overdrive/Libby?
A. Because of the high cost of digital items, the library cannot afford to serve all residents of Pennsylvania, or residents who live outside of the state. Priority must be given to the taxpaying residents of our district.

Q. If I make a donation to the library, can I access these services (electronic resources/interlibrary loan)?
A. Unfortunately, we are prohibited by the state Office of Commonwealth Libraries from charging fees or accepting donations specifically in exchange for core library services, including access to books and interlibrary loan. However, four libraries in the state are specially charged with serving the entire population of Pennsylvania - the Free Library of Philadelphia, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, State Library in Harrisburg and Penn State University Libraries. Requirements for getting a library card may vary, so interested patrons should contact these libraries, or visit their websites, for more information about getting a library card. Additionally, all residents of Pennsylvania have access to the POWER Library databases, which include several eBook resources, through their local libraries.

Q. I don’t see what the big deal is - I just want to borrow a few items from your Overdrive collection!
A. While the ease of borrowing eBooks and downloadable audio titles makes the service seem effortless, libraries pay a high cost for these items. Our libraries pay a $7,000 annual fee just to have access to the service. New bestselling titles often cost an additional $45-65 per copy, and many can only be purchased for a two year period before they must be purchased again. For additional electronic resources, residents can get a library card from the Free Library of Philadelphia or Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Q. I only check out a few books a year - why does it matter?
A. Wait lists for the most popular items are only increasing, so even a few patrons placing holds and checking out a few items a year has an exponential effect in increasing wait times. 

Even a few people can have a big impact (just 5 people with just ten holds and 10 circs is 50 books and 50 checkouts or 100 weeks or almost 2 years of additional wait time added). We’ve also found that people who go out of their way to acquire additional library cards tend to be the power users who place a lot of holds and check out many items, only increasing their impact.

Q. I live outside of Clearfield/Mifflin/Centre Counties and commute to work in Juniata County. Will my access be affected?
A. Yes. Libby is only available to patrons who live or learn in Juniata/Clearfield/Mifflin/Centre Counties.

Q. My home library has so few resources - why can’t I check out more here?
A. The high cost of electronic resources means that much as we might wish otherwise, we cannot afford to serve all residents of Pennsylvania, or those from outside of the state. Priority must be given to serving those who live or learn in our district, as their taxes directly support library services. Patrons are additionally encouraged to contact their home library to express their interest in particular electronic resources.

Q. But I have an Access PA sticker on my library card - doesn’t that mean I can get a library card here?
A. Having the Access PA statewide library card sticker on your card does mean that you can get a library card here at the Juniata County Library. However, the guidelines provided by the state Office of Commonwealth Libraries note that libraries are not required to offer their electronic resources to those outside of their service area. Due to the high cost of these items, electronic resources are only available to those in our district.  

June 2023 Updates

Libby is now (finally!) available to download from the Amazon Appstore. Before now the OverDrive app was the only option.

The OverDrive app will be removed from the Amazon Appstore on June 7, 2023. Fire tablet users who already have the OverDrive app installed can continue to use it for now, but it is no longer in active development. The OverDrive app will display messaging encouraging those with compatible devices to upgrade to Libby.

The Kindle Book format remains available to users in the U.S. only.

📲 Get free eBooks with your library card, whether the library is open or not: https://www.juniatalibrary.org/programs-services/ebooks-main

March 2023 Updates

The OverDrive app for iOS, Android, and Windows 8/10 will be sunset on May 1, 2023.

Amazon has not yet accepted the submission of the Libby app to the Amazon Appstore so the OverDrive app will remain available for Kindle Fire users to download and access until further notice. Users with Kindle Fire devices can also sideload Libby manually by following these steps.  

Beginning March 21, the following in-app message will share this timeline with users, including a final reminder to switch to Libby:  

Beginning May 1, users who try to access your library’s collection in the app will see the following message, informing them they need to upgrade to Libby:  

  • Libby help: How-to videos and step-by-step instructions on Libby Help explain how to use the app.
  • Overview page about the transition to Libby: This informational page for users includes an overview of the sunset, FAQs, and training opportunities. Note that this page will be updated on March 21 to share the May 1 sunset timing with users.
  • Virtual training: Users can sign up for a virtual training session hosted by team OverDrive.
  • Options for Kindle Fire devices: Amazon has not yet accepted the submission of the Libby app to the Amazon Appstore so the OverDrive app will remain available for Kindle Fire users to download and access until further notice. Users with Kindle Fire devices can also sideload Libby manually by following these steps.

January 2023 Updates

The OverDrive app will be sunset at the end of April 2023. 

As of now (01/30/2023) this will not apply to Kindle Fire devices.

In the weeks before the OverDrive app sunset, current in-app messaging will be updated to give users a final reminder to switch to Libby. After the OverDrive app is sunset, users who try to access the library’s collection in the OverDrive app will see the following message, informing them they need to upgrade to Libby:  

Get eBooks and eAudio titles now!

What is Libby?

Libby by OverDrive is a free service offered by your library that lets you borrow digital content (like ebooks and audiobooks) anytime, anywhere. Every Libby collection is slightly different because each library picks the digital content they want for their users. We are part of the Central Pennsylvania District, which shares eBooks with libraries in Mifflin, Centre, and Clearfield counties.

Get eBooks and eAudio titles now!