The ReciproCard Report: Ohio
Overview
Ohio runs on agreements, and there are a lot of them.
Ohio has 12 separate Libby catalogs, which means 12 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 2,724 new card opportunities as a result.
Libraries and Libby Participation
Library systems: 248
On Libby: 247 (99.6%)
Not on Libby: 1
The ones not on Libby: Hurt/Battelle Memorial Library/West Jefferson. ReciproCard only tracks Libby, so I can't say what those libraries use instead.
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
Ohio has 12 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 |
|---|---|
| The Ohio Digital Library | 176 |
| CLEVNET | 44 |
| Digital Downloads Ohio | 17 |
| Dayton Metro Library | 2 |
| CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY | 1 |
| Cuyahoga County Public Library | 1 |
| Akron-Summit County Public Library | 1 |
| Muskingum County Library System | 1 |
| Portage County District Library | 1 |
| Toledo Lucas County Public Library | 1 |
Plus 2 more, 8 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: 2,724
Through agreements: 2,724
Every one of Ohio's 247 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
16 libraries in Ohio will give a card to any resident of the state, not just people in their own town or county. 11 let you apply online and 5 want you to come in.
It's easy to miss, because you'd assume an agreement only covers the next county over. In Ohio a lot of these reach the whole state.
Across State Lines
Agreements don't always stop at the border. Ohio reaches into Kentucky (111), West Virginia (2), 113 agreements in total.
A card from across the border is a completely separate collection with its own copies and its own hold lines, so if you live anywhere near the state line this is worth a look.
How Ohio Compares
- 11th of 51 for number of library systems (248).
- Tied for 20th of 51 for separate Libby catalogs (12).
- 5th of 51 for new card opportunities (2,724).
- Largest catalog: The Ohio Digital Library (176 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.