When people imagine what our library offers, it’s easiest to consider the many shelves of books, the computer stations, and even the dabble box in the basement; that being said, many people are unaware of the many online resources that the library offers as well. Although library patrons may be familiar with a handful of our online resources, such as the MORE catalog or Libby, there are plenty that are offered by LEPMPL (L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library) that get highlighted far less often.

For the fifth blog post in the series of highlighting online library resources, I would like to take some time to focus on the “Digital Media” section under the “Explore” tab on the library website’s front page. There are two general topics available on that page, each holding information and access to a variety of digital media, though they are each limited to library card owners.

The first digital media resource that LEPMPL offers is Wisconsin’s Digital Library (WDL), which is a great place to rent library items completely digitally, including on mobile devices through the Libby app. To avoid any confusion, it’s worth noting that Libby and WDL are essentially the same service; the only real difference is that WDL is accessible through a web browser and Libby is a downloadable app (otherwise, they offer all the same items!). Using WDL/Libby is quite similar to using the actual library, but on a smaller, digital scale: you can have up to ten items checked out at a time (this is not attached to the 100 item limit on your physical card!), ten holds placed at a time, and need a library card to use their services. They offer magazines, books, graphic novels, and audiobooks, but don’t forget that since it runs like a traditional library you may have to wait until the “copy” of the item isn’t “checked out”. Additionally, while you are always welcome to ask a library staff member for assistance using these services, there are also multiple FAQ pages available to help with navigating WDL and downloading/using Libby on a wide array of devices.

The second digital media resource that LEPMPL offers is Hoopla, a service similar to WDL/Libby. Where WDL/Libby are offered at libraries across the state and run similar to a traditional library, Hoopla is a service that LEPMPL specifically chooses to pay for, meaning that it is not available at every library. The reason that Hoopla can be such a wonderful service is not only because it also has a wide array of items available to be “checked out” (including movies and television, unlike WDL/Libby), but these items are also always available and cannot be “checked out” by only one person at a time. However, be aware that you can only check out four items per month! Similar to the other services on this page, there is also an FAQ page and information about using Hoopla on your computer and other devices.

If you have any questions regarding these resources, feel free to contact the reference services department of LEPMPL in person on the second floor of the library, through email at reference@eauclaire.lib.wi.us, or over the phone at 715-839-5004.