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    Public Library Power Pack

    Six free apps your library card already pays for. Most people never use them.

    $0/month. All you need is a library card.

    First — get a library card

    1. 1.Search "[your city or county] public library card".
    2. 2.Most libraries let you sign up online with proof of address (a recent piece of mail). Some require an in-person visit the first time.
    3. 3.Card is free. PIN is usually the last 4 of your phone or your birth year — set it the first time you log in.

    Libby — e-books and audiobooks

    Saves $10–$25 per book

    Borrow Kindle e-books and audiobooks free, on your phone or tablet, no late fees ever.

    Roughly 95% of US public libraries are on Libby. Same titles you would buy on Amazon. Read on any device — phone, tablet, Kindle.

    How to start

    1. 1.App Store / Play Store → search "Libby" → install.
    2. 2.Open the app → "Yes" you have a library card → search for your library by zip code.
    3. 3.Type your library card number (on the back of the physical card) and PIN (often the last four of your phone).
    4. 4.Search any book → tap "Borrow" → it downloads to the app.
    Visit Libby

    Hoopla — movies, TV, music, audiobooks

    Saves $10–$15/month vs Netflix or Spotify

    Free streaming of about 1 million titles. Every account gets a few "borrows" per month from the library's budget.

    Movies, TV shows, comics, music albums, audiobooks — all in one app. Never any waiting list.

    How to start

    1. 1.Install "Hoopla Digital".
    2. 2.Sign up with your library card number and pick a PIN.
    3. 3.Browse and borrow — no holds, immediate access.
    4. 4.Each library sets a monthly limit (usually 4-12 borrows per card).
    Visit Hoopla

    Kanopy — premium movies and documentaries

    Saves $5–$15/month

    High-end streaming — independent films, Criterion Collection, PBS documentaries, classic foreign films.

    Where you go for the movies that are not on Netflix. Most libraries get you 5-10 "credits" per month.

    How to start

    1. 1.Install "Kanopy".
    2. 2.Sign up with your library card.
    3. 3.Browse — credits show in your account, drops as you watch.
    Visit Kanopy

    Press Reader — newspapers and magazines

    Saves $50–$200/year

    Free unlimited access to 7,000+ newspapers and magazines from around the world. Wall Street Journal, Vogue, the Atlantic, NYT — without the subscription.

    Better selection than Apple News+ or Apple Books. International too — Le Monde, the Times of London.

    How to start

    1. 1.Install "PressReader".
    2. 2.Sign in with library card OR connect on the library Wi-Fi to enable home access.
    3. 3.Pick any publication — read the full layout or text-only.
    Visit Press Reader

    Freegal — music downloads

    Saves $1.29 per song

    Download a few songs per week to keep forever. About 16 million tracks.

    You actually own these — they are not streaming. Download to your phone or computer.

    How to start

    1. 1.Install "Freegal Music".
    2. 2.Sign in with library card.
    3. 3.Search and download. Most libraries give 3-5 free songs per week.
    Visit Freegal

    LinkedIn Learning (free with library card)

    Saves $40/month or $240/year

    Thousands of professional video courses — Excel, Photoshop, public speaking, leadership.

    Same library you would pay LinkedIn for. About 75% of US public libraries provide it free.

    How to start

    1. 1.Library website → search "LinkedIn Learning" — usually under "Online Resources" or "Databases".
    2. 2.Click through with library card → it logs you into LinkedIn Learning.
    3. 3.Watch any course; certificates work the same as paid LinkedIn.
    Visit LinkedIn Learning (free with library card)

    A note on what your library has

    Not every library has every app — Libby is nearly universal, the others vary. Visit your library website (or call the reference desk) and ask: "what online resources do I get with my card?" Most libraries also offer free 1-on-1 tech help sessions to set these up. Worth an hour at the library.

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    Subscription Tracker

    Cancel paid services these replace.

    Quick Tip: most US libraries have free 1-on-1 tech help — schedule a session to install all six apps in one visit.