The ReciproCard Report: North Carolina
Overview
North Carolina runs on agreements, and there are a lot of them.
North Carolina has 15 separate Libby catalogs, which means 15 different collections of books sitting in the same state. Libraries here have struck reciprocal agreements with each other so their cardholders can cross over, and I've confirmed 429 new card opportunities as a result.
Libraries and Libby Participation
Library systems: 84
On Libby: 84 (100.0%)
Not on Libby: 0
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
North Carolina has 15 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.
Ten Largest Catalogs
| Catalog | Library systems |
|---|---|
| NC Kids Digital Library | 29 |
| NC Kids Level Up | 17 |
| North Carolina Digital Library | 13 |
| E-iNC Library | 13 |
| Appalachian and Northwestern Regional Libraries | 2 |
| Brunswick County Library | 1 |
| Cabarrus County Public Library | 1 |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library | 1 |
| NC Kids Level Up | 1 |
| Craven-Pamlico Regional Library | 1 |
Plus 5 more, 10 of which serve a single library.
A shared catalog is what happens when a group of libraries pool their money and buy one collection together. ReciproCard hides libraries that share a catalog you already have, because a second card for the same collection just shows you the same books twice. Everything counted below is a collection you don't already have.
New Card Opportunities
New card opportunities: 429
Through agreements: 429
Every one of North Carolina's 84 Libby libraries has at least one new card opportunity attached to it.
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.
Open to everyone in the state
5 libraries in North Carolina will give a card to any resident of the state, wherever you live. 0 online, 5 in person. Worth checking before anything else, since eligibility is guaranteed.
How North Carolina Compares
- 31st of 51 for number of library systems (84).
- Tied for 12th of 51 for separate Libby catalogs (15).
- 12th of 51 for new card opportunities (429).
- Every library system in North Carolina is on Libby.
- Largest catalog: NC Kids Digital Library (29 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.