[HOUSTON, TX. FEBRUARY 14, 2025] – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Harris County Public Library (HCPL) and Houston Public Library (HPL) are getting together to share the love with all Houston-area eBook fans. The two library powerhouses, with a combined service population of over 4.5 million people, have agreed to link their popular OverDrive digital collections. Library patrons will be able to check out any available item in the libraries’ digital collections using the Libby app with their existing or new library cards from either library system.
While the libraries’ OverDrive collections remain separate, the partnership gives users of OverDrive and its popular Libby app a simplified user experience and browsing, and, most importantly, access to more than 600,000 eBooks and downloadable audiobooks. “HPL and HCPL share many of the same customers, so sharing Overdrive will make it easier for everyone to access a wider variety of digital content. Simplifying the process of finding and checking out books is a win for the community,” said Patrick Atkins, Deputy Assistant Director of Library Materials at Houston Public Library.
Cooperating to Meet the Ever-Evolving Needs of Library Patrons
The advent of nearly universal internet access has blurred geographical and traditional governmental boundaries. Digital collections have made it possible for vast numbers of people to become dedicated public library users without ever stepping inside a brick-and-mortar branch. The cooperative agreement between Harris County Public Library and Houston Public Library both acknowledges these changes and ensures broader and more equitable access for all. Both libraries are committed to refining and redefining public libraries for the twenty-first century and beyond. "We are dedicated to building partnerships and expanding robust digital collections that ensure equitable access to knowledge and resources for all. Our commitment goes beyond simply providing digital materials; it is about creating opportunities for learning, growth, and enrichment that empower individuals and strengthen our community," said Amber Seely, HCPL's Division Director of Collections and Technical Services.
Browse over 600,000 eBooks and downloadable audiobooks
No Effect on Hold Queues
Users of the OverDrive collections of both libraries will undoubtedly ask how the new agreement will affect wait times. As with print copies, the most popular digital items tend to have longer wait times. This is because publishers, for the most part, sell digital copies to libraries as if they were print copies, meaning each digital copy can be checked out by only one reader at a time. The good news is that wait times should not increase. While users will be able to check out any available digital item in either collection, they can only place requests for items that are already checked out in their own library’s catalog. The net effect is that the number of requests for bestsellers will not increase beyond the normal growth of digital readership.
OverDrive and the Growth of Digital Reading
This partnership is possible because both library systems' chief supplier of digital content is OverDrive which fills the same role for over 92,000 public, school, college, and university libraries across 115 countries worldwide. Over the last decade, spurred by the increasing ubiquity of smartphones (about 96% of Americans own one), digital checkouts have skyrocketed. In 2016, Harris County Public Library was the first library in Texas to circulate over a million eBooks. As of 2023, HCPL and Houston Public Library combined to circulate a staggering 9 million. [NOTE: 2024 OD circ numbers should be released soon and this sentence will be updated]
One of the big selling points of OverDrive collections is their convenience. The sheer ease with which readers can browse, check out and return eBooks has converted countless print book partisans into digital reading diehards. However, both libraries’ leadership believe the partnership is about much more than convenience for area readers.
OverDrive/Libby Lending Partners FAQ
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Reciprocal borrowing means that Harris County Public Library patrons can borrow materials from other library systems using their HCPL library cards, and patrons of those libraries can borrow HCPL materials. HCPL has reciprocal borrowing agreements with Bellaire Public Library (BPL), Bryan + College Station Public Library System (BCSPLS), Montgomery County Memorial Library System (MCMLS), Pasadena Public Library (PPL), and, starting February 14, 2025, Houston Public Library (HPL).
Each agreement between libraries is different. For instance, our agreements with BCSPLS and HPL only apply to digital collections (eBooks, downloadable audiobooks). Each agreement has limitations and restrictions. Visit our Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements page for full details of HCPL's reciprocal borrowing partnerships.
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Starting February 14, 2025, Harris County Public Library library card users will have access to Houston Public Library’s OverDrive digital catalogs and the Libby App. This means HCPL patrons will have a broader selection of digital titles to check out.
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No, the agreement is limited to items in both library systems' OverDrive digital collections (which includes the Libby App).
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It will not affect wait times for popular items. Patrons can only check out eBooks and downloadable audiobooks that are available for checkout in the partner library's collection. To put it more simply, Houston Public Library customers will not be able to place holds on Harris County Public Library items and will not be able to check out an item unless no Harris County patrons want it at the time. The same goes for HCPL cardholders using Houston Public Library's Overdrive catalog.
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Simply put, you will be able to check out available eBooks and downloadable audiobooks from HPL's and BCSPLS' OverDrive/Libby digital collections, but you will not be able to place holds on items in their catalogs. You will not be able to checkout print materials, DVDs, CDs or any other physical items from partner libraries with your Harris County Public Library card.
The 'no holds' limitation was put in place so that wait times for high-demand and popular items, will not increase.
