What is the Reciprocal Lending Agreement between HPL and HCPL?
What is the Reciprocal Lending Agreement between HPL and HCPL?
Answer
Starting 2/14/2025, the Houston Public Library (HPL) and our neighbors at Harris County Public Library (HCPL) are partnering to share our digital items in Libby, one of the library’s e-book and e-audiobook platforms! This means library cardholders will have a broader selection of digital titles to check out, with no drawbacks!
Details on the Reciprocal Lending Agreement
With your MYLink Card, you now have access to HCPL’s Libby content through both your web browser and the Libby App.
How this impacts HPL customers?
HPL and HCPL customers will be able to check out available e-books and e-audiobooks from HCPL’s collection (even if they don’t have an HCPL library card!).
Please note that HPL customers will not be able to place holds on HCPL items and vice versa so as not to negatively impact current hold wait times for either library system.
Can HPL customers visit their nearest HCPL location to check out print books and vise versa as part of this agreement?
This agreement is for HPL and HCPL's eBook and audiobook collection in Libby. If you'd like to check out physical books from both library systems, you may qualify for a library card for both libraries! For more information on getting an HCPL card, check out the HCPL Library Card options.
How it works?
You can access the HCPL’s Libby collection two ways: either through the HPL Overdrive website or through Libby (web app or app on your device).
- From the HPL Overdrive website, click on the Partner Libraries dropdown menu on the top right of the screen, then click on Harris County Public Library. This will take you to their Overdrive page. Here, you can sign in with your HPL MYLink card and check out available items from their collection!
- From the Libby Web App or Libby App, click on the Menu button (three horizontal bars) and select Add Library. Search for Harris County Public Library, and when you get taken to their Libby page, click on Sign In. From their list of Partner Libraries, select Houston Public Library, and sign in with your MYLink card information. Once you are signed in, you can check out available HCPL items. At this point, you will now have the HPL and HCPL collections available at the same time. You can search both collections simultaneously using the Search feature or browse the featured titles for each library system by selecting them from the Your Libraries section on the Main Menu.
Are there limitations on what HPL customers can check out from HCPL’s collection?
- Number of checkouts depend on the library system which owns the item you are trying to check out. Please check out HCPL’s FAQ on Digital Media to read about their current checkout limits.
- Checkout limits only apply to the library system being used; HCPL checkouts will not count against the checkout limit of HPL titles.
- Certain collections such as magazines may not be lent outside of the home library system due to agreements with publishers. HPL customers will only be able to see HCPL items that can be checked out. To access all of what HCPL has to offer, an HCPL Library card is required.