Libby News & Updates
The latest on what's new in Libby, plus library news worth knowing about.
Last Updated: September 30, 2026
Libby Is Starting to Require a PIN to Sign In
September 30, 2026
Heads up, Libby is starting to ask for a PIN when you sign in. I haven't seen anything official from Libby or OverDrive yet, but tons of libraries are posting about it, and a lot of them say it starts October 1. The date seems to vary by library, so you may see it sooner or later than that. Libraries say it applies to Kanopy too.
From what libraries are saying, signing in will take your library card number plus the PIN you use for your library account. I'm not sure yet whether people who are already signed in will get prompted, so I'll update this once I know.
What this means for you: If you need help with your PIN, contact your library. They can get you sorted out before it becomes a problem.
Sources: Lots and lots of libraries
Two More Illinois Libraries Join a Libby Partnership
September 29, 2026
Skokie Public Library and Cook Memorial Public Library just joined the existing Libby partnership between Gail Borden Public Library and Evanston Public Library. Both say more libraries are on the way.
If one of these is your home library, the others should be added to your Libby automatically. Tap the menu at the bottom of the app to see them.
What this means for you: Libby partner libraries are different from traditional reciprocal agreements. With a partner library there's no new card to apply for, it just shows up. With a reciprocal agreement, you apply for a card at the other library yourself. Both are worth checking, and I explain how they differ in Partner Libraries vs. Reciprocal Agreements.
Sources: Cook Memorial Public Library
Libby Now Adds Your Partner Libraries Automatically
September 25, 2026
Libby just made partner libraries a lot easier. It used to be a manual process where you had to search for each partner library and sign in with your card one at a time. Now, for most people, that happens automatically. Open the app, tap the menu, and your partner libraries should already be sitting there under your home library.
What this means for you: Go check your menu. If your library is part of a partnership, you may have catalogs you didn't know about, and you didn't need a new card to get them. If you don't see any, that's completely normal. Only 16 states have an official Libby partnership right now, so most libraries don't have one. You might still qualify for a lot of extra access through reciprocal agreements, which work differently. I break down the difference in Libby Partner Libraries vs. Reciprocal Agreements, and you can see the full list of partnerships in my partner libraries guide.
Every Libby partner library is also included in ReciproCard. So if you're not sure what you have, just enter your home library in the search above and it will show you.
Sources: Libby Help, LibbyLife
The ReciproCard Report Is Now on the Site
September 10, 2026
I just added The ReciproCard Report to the site. It's a state by state look at how library access works across the country, based on all the research I've put into mapping reciprocal agreements, Libby partnerships, and non-resident cards.
Start on the main report page. The map and rankings show how all 50 states and D.C. compare on things like new card opportunities, Libby partners, and agreements. To find your state's full report, pick it from the "Explore a state" dropdown or tap it on the map. Each state report shows how many library systems are on Libby, the biggest shared catalogs, and how many new card opportunities people there have.
What this means for you: Take a look at your state's report to see what's out there before you even search. It's also a great way to see how different library access is from one state to the next. Just keep in mind that ReciproCard only tracks agreements that include Libby access, so always confirm details with your library.
Sources: The ReciproCard Report