The ReciproCard Report: Alabama
Overview
Based on my research and input from ReciproCard users, Alabama has agreements, but they're not as prevalent as some other states.
Libraries and Libby Participation
Library systems: 159
On Libby: 142 (89.3%)
Not on Libby: 17
The ones not on Libby: Alabaster - Albert L. Scott Library, Arley Public Library, Auburn Public Library, Baldwin County Library Cooperative, Carbon Hill City Library, Double Springs Public Library, Fairfield - Walter J. Hanna Memorial Library, Fort Payne - Dekalb County Public Library, Grant Public Library, Haleyville Public Library, Hobson City Public Library, Leeds - Jane Culbreth Library, plus 5 more.
Not every library system uses Libby. Some offer digital borrowing through other services, and a few haven't adopted a digital platform yet. This report only covers libraries that are on Libby.
Unique Catalogs
Alabama has 7 different shared digital catalogs. Every one you can reach through a partnership, an agreement, or a non-resident card is a different library of books on Libby. The collections really do differ from one system to the next, so every new card here is a real upgrade.
A shared digital catalog, sometimes called a consortium, is a collection of ebooks and audiobooks that multiple library systems fund and share together. Each catalog listed below is a separate collection. Libraries that belong to the same one are all drawing from the same pool of books.
Catalogs
| Catalog | Library systems |
|---|---|
| Camellia Net Digital Catalog | 109 |
| Jefferson County Library Cooperative | 20 |
| Southeast Alabama Digital Library | 4 |
| Valley Digital Library | 4 |
| Colbert Digital Downloads | 3 |
| Camellia Net Digital Catalog | 1 |
| Tuscaloosa Public Library | 1 |
A shared catalog is what happens when a group of libraries pool their money and buy one collection together. With this many separate catalogs in one state, every card you can get is potentially a whole new library of books, so the gaps in my data here are frustrating.
New Card Opportunities
New card opportunities: 10
Through agreements: 10
I've confirmed 10 new card opportunities across the state. They cover 9 of Alabama's 142 Libby libraries, which is 6.3%. So roughly 93.7% of libraries here don't currently have anything attached to them.
A new card opportunity is any time a library system's cardholders can access a Libby catalog they don't already have, as identified by ReciproCard. These come from Libby partnerships (where your existing card works at another library's catalog), reciprocal agreements (where you apply for a free card at another system), and statewide programs (where a library is open to all residents regardless of location). ReciproCard filters out duplicate catalogs, so each opportunity listed here represents access to a genuinely different collection. Keep in mind that ReciproCard only tracks agreements that include Libby access. Many libraries have reciprocity for physical books but not Libby, and those aren't counted here.
That doesn't mean those libraries have no agreements, but based on my research Alabama doesn't have many that provide access to Libby.
How Alabama Compares
- 20th of 51 for number of library systems (159).
- Tied for 28th of 51 for separate Libby catalogs (7).
- 30th of 51 for new card opportunities (10).
- Largest catalog: Camellia Net Digital Catalog (109 libraries).
Explore Other States
Haven't Searched Your Own Library Yet?
This report gives you the statewide picture, but your results depend on your local system. If you haven't already, enter your home library system in the search above to see what cards you might be eligible for.