Frequently Asked Questions

You may print from any of our Library computers, or from anywhere on your own device.

Use a Library Computer
You can print using the default settings on the computer and pickup your job at a Kiosk in the Library.

At the Kiosk, enter your Library Card & PIN to retrieve the print job. You will be prompted to choose options as well as to pay by cash or credit card.

Print from anywhere on your own device (SmartAlec)
You can send print jobs for pickup at any AC Library using our SmartAlec service. Visit the link and enter your Library Card & PIN information. Non-members can also go through similar steps, but will be required to create a guest account to use this service. SmartAlec is also available as a free download on Android and iOS. 

After logging-in, you will be able to upload a document to print. You may visit any of our locations to complete the printing process at a Kiosk in the Library. 

Adults who have some availability during regular school hours (8:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) can become Bookleggers. The main qualifications are a love of reading and a desire to share that love with children. There are no educational prerequisites or financial requirements. Books used for volunteering are available for checkout from the Alameda County Library.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not accepting new Bookleggers or visiting classrooms. 

There are two ways you can look at an electronic version of Consumer Reports:

1. 1. Read the eMagazine on Flipster. The titles of eMagazines on Flipster can be searched or browsed alphabetically.
      You can read in the browser or get the Flipster app for your iOS or Android device.  You will need your library card number to sign in.
   2. Read articles on EBSCOhost.  Full-text issues go back to 1991 but are organized by article. 

If there is a specific article you would like to read or you would like to search across all issues, use the EBSCOhost link.  If you would like to read the most recent issue (or a recent back issue), use the Flipster link.

If you need help or have questions, please contact us anytime. 

Getting a Library Card is easy:

1. Apply for an account online or at any our libraries. If you are under the age of 13 years old, your parent or guardian will have to help you complete the form.

2. Verify your account by bringing your identification (with name and proof of current California address) to any of our libraries' Circulation Desks. See below to learn how to request a Library Card by mail.

3. Start enjoying all that AC Library has to offer! 

Please note: Non-Alameda County residents’ eCard accounts will be deleted after 30 days.

What identification do I need?

Accepted forms of identification include (but are not limited to):

• California driver's license
• California ID
• School-issued ID
• Physical or digital utility bill
• Recent postmarked mail

Library Cards by Mail

For a limited time, anyone who lives in the state of California can get an AC Library Card by mail. Here's how:

1. Apply for an account online. If you are under the age of 13 years old, your parent or guardian will have to help you complete the form.

2. Tell us where to send your Library Card. We'll mail your Library Card within one week.

3. Verify your new account online or by phone.

4. Start enjoying all that AC Library has to offer! 

Paper Library Card Applications

If you would rather fill out a paper application form, please print and complete one of the below forms, then bring it to any of our locations:

• Printing or copying black and white pages costs $0.15 per page
• Printing or copying color pages costs $0.35 per page
• Scanning is free - Please contact your local Library for the latest on scanning availability. 
• For fax costs, please contact your local library

At present, AC Library cardholders can print up to ten (10) black and white pages per day free of charge from a Library computer or your personal device. We are unable to provide this benefit for photocopies or to members without a Library Card. The number of free prints available may change at any time due to costs.

Costs may be paid at the print Kiosk by cash or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Amex).

Your privacy is something we take very seriously. There are two parts of keeping your print information confidential, the physical access and the digital storage.

For physical access to your print job, only someone who enters your Library Card number and PIN can view information about your printing at the print Kiosk. A digital copy is kept on the print Kiosk in case the printer jams, only until the end of the day or until manually deleted by staff at your request.

For Online Printing, SmartAlec jobs are transmitted over TLS 1.2 network protocols. These jobs are encrypted and stored in a database for seven days to provide time for you to visit and pick them up. If you wish, you can log in and delete your own uploads from the database prior to the automatic deletion.

In Fremont, Bookleggers visit elementary school classrooms, grades 2 to 5. In Castro Valley, Bookleggers visit elementary school classrooms, grades K to 5. The number of classrooms each semester depends on each school district’s needs.

We operate very similarly to your Community Library, although we do not offer printing or computer services. All you need to check-out materials is an AC Library card. If your card is expired or you need a new or replacement card, we can help you on the Mobile Library, with or without an ID. If you do not have an ID, we can issue a welcome card with limited borrowing privileges.  

Every library provides Pocketalkers for in-library use. Pocketalkers are personal sound amplifiers that help users hear more of what they want to hear and less of what they don't. They achieve this by reducing background noise and allowing the user to focus on and amplify specific sounds.

Pocketalkers are ideal for library programs, film showings, group discussions, one-on-one conversation, and for library use in general. Using a Pocketalker is as simple as plugging in a pair of headphones (or using the included pair), positioning the microphone near the preferred sound, and adjusting the volume to your desired setting. 

Visit any of our libraries' Reference Desks to borrow a Pocketalker for use during your next library visit. 

In addition, we have RF (radio frequency)-based assistive listening systems from Listen Technologies at the Albany, Castro Valley, Dublin, Fremont Main and Newark libraries. These systems are great for larger events and programs. Users can adjust the volume of the presentation audio on an individual basis using an RF receiver. Simply let staff know if you would like the presenters to provide event or program audio through one of these systems. 

If you require accommodations for a specific library program, please contact the library where the program is being held or message Accessibility Services at least seven (7) days in advance. 

Alameda County Library Cards and eCards must be renewed every five years. You can renew your account in a few different ways:

• Online via our Library Card Renewal form.  
• On the phone by calling any AC Library location. We'll ask you to provide the following information to verify it's really you:
  • Library Card or eCard number
  • Full name
  • Mailing address
  • Phone number and/or email address
• In-person at any AC Library location. You will be asked to provide your Library Card or identification with name and current address. 

Yes, you can print from your own computer at the library or from anywhere in the world with internet access.

Cloud printing of documents is available for mobile devices and computers using a web upload or by installing the Smart Alec App (iOS / Android).

We are now accepting returns at any time! You may return items to any of our Alameda County Library locations, no matter which location they were originally checked out from. Book drops may be closed if full.

We are not accepting donations at this time, and return receipts are unavailable.

Service animals are welcome in all of our libraries. We love all animals, but pets, emotional support animals, and other animals that have not been trained to perform specific acts directly related to an individual’s disability are not allowed into our libraries.

During training, class time is 2.5 to 3 hours weekly, and homework time is about the same. After training, the time commitment varies depending on the grade level and school district.

Yes, you can return Mobile Library items to any AC Library location. If you need to return items that you checked out at one of our Community Libraries, we can accept them on the Mobile Library.

All eligible AC Library items renew automatically three (3) days before their due date, and most can be renewed twice. However, if you decide that you would like to renew your items ahead of that date, you can do so online or by phone 24/7.

To Renew Your Items Online

Renewing a Single Item

1. Log in to your account.

2. On the menu, click Checked Out.

3. Find the title you want to renew.

4. Click the Renew button below the item.

5. A popup message will let you know if your renewal was successful.

Renewing Multiple Items

1.Log in to your account.

2. On the menu, click Checked Out.

3. If necessary, filter your checkouts by clicking Overdue, Next due or Due later under the My Borrowing summary on the left of the page.

4. Do one of the following:

• Click the checkbox next to each item you want to renew
• Click the checkbox above the items to select all of the items on the page.

5. A bar appears at the bottom of the page. Click Renew selected. The number of items affected appears in brackets on the menu.

6. A popup message will let you know if your renewals were successful.

To Renew Your Items by Telephone

Have your library card number and the barcode numbers for the items you wish to renew ready, then call 510-790-8096 and follow the automated instructions. Our telephone renewal service is available in English, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Reasons Why Your Renewal Wasn't Successful

Unable to renew? Your renewal request might not have been completed for the following reasons: 

• Another member has put a hold on the item.
• Your library balance is $10.00 or more.
• An item on your record is ten or more days overdue.
• The item has already been renewed twice.
• Your library card account needs to be updated.

On top of borrowing up to 100 items from any of our ten libraries or the Mobile Library, you can also do things like:

• Stream movies through Hoopla
• Download ebooks or audiobooks
• Check out a laptop from a Tech It Out kiosk
• Check out a Discover & Explore backpack and explore the beauty of our regional parks
• Get live homework help through Brainfuse
• Get free and low-cost tickets to museums, science centers, and other cultural venues through Discover & Go

Bookleggers indicate their preferences for grade level and school sites. The volunteer coordinators make every effort to honor those preferences.

If you are interested in donating material, please contact your local library first to inquire. 

If we are not the right fit for your donation, StopWaste.org may help you locate another option in your community.

In general, all items are due back on the date of our next scheduled stop.

For your convenience, Alameda County Library allows Library Cardholders to add authorized users to their account by submitting a completed Additional Users Authorization form, either online or print. These forms are also available at each location's Circulation Desk.

An Additional User can:

• Check out the primary member’s holds
• Borrow and request items on the primary member’s account
• Pay fees
• View borrowing records and account balance

To access the account to which one is an approved user, the Additional User must do one of the following:

• Present the primary member’s library card
• Present an approved form of ID, know the name and address of the member, and be listed as an approved additional user on the account
  • Please note: Exceptions to the ID requirement may be permitted for Additional Users under 13 years old.

Revoking Additional User access must be done in person or by submitting an Additional Users Removal form, either online or in print. Copies of this form are also available at each location's Circulation Desk.

All Alameda County Library cardholders agree to the following terms prior to receiving an account:

I agree to follow all library rules, to notify the library of any changes to the above information, to immediately report any lost or stolen cards or materials, and to pay any charges resulting from lost or damaged materials. 

I understand that all library materials and services are available to all members, regardless of age or reading level, and that the Library’s use of my personal information is governed by CA Government Code Section 6267 and the Library’s Privacy Policy.  

For applicants under the age of 13: I understand that my parent/guardian will be authorized to access to my library account records.

For parents and guardians (if the applicant is under the age of 13): 

I understand that I am responsible for my child’s use of all library materials and services, including internet access and any overdue fines or charges. 

Please contact us if you have any questions about this agreement.

You can suggest a purchase anonymously through this form or follow these instructions to suggest a purchase from your account.

1. Click Log In from the top right of any page.
2. Select My Library Dashboard from the drop-down menu and log in when prompted.
3. Choose Submit a Suggestion from the dashboard menu on the left.
4. Enter the title information and click on Submit Suggestion.

To check on the status of previous requests:

1. Click Log In from the top right of any page
2. Select My Library Dashboard from the drop-down menu and log in when prompted.
3. Choose Suggested this Month from the dashboard menu on the left.

Yes, the multifunction printers at the Library can scan to email or a USB drive. There is no charge for this service.

As of May 2022, scanning equipment is down at many locations. Please contact your local Library for the latest on scanning availability. 

If you require accommodations for a specific library program or event, please contact the library where the program is being held or message Accessibility Services at least seven (7) days in advance. This will help us ensure the needed accommodations are in place in time for the event.

There is a select list of books that the Library stocks in abundance for the Bookleggers to use. Bookleggers have a wide variety to choose from within this list but are not permitted to use books outside of the list. The books for this list are chosen based on recommendations by library staff, volunteers, teachers, and families. The Booklegger list does not focus on books that children might already know, like award winners, best-sellers, or classroom classics. Instead, Booklegger books focus on great stories, unique characters, and diverse appeal.

Getting started with PressReader is pretty easy - just follow the instructions in this short tutorial.

If you need help or have questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.  We love answering your questions!

You have the option to receive courtesy, overdue, and hold pickup notices by email or by phone. In addition, Alameda County Library also offers SMS text notices through Shoutbomb.

• Courtesy notices are sent three days in advance of your item's due date. If your item was automatically renewed, the notice will display the new due date.
• Overdue notices are sent 10 days after your item's due date.
• Hold pickup notices are sent the day your requested item becomes available.
• Hold cancellation notices are sent if your requested item is no longer available.
• Outstanding library charges statements are sent after an item has become billed after 21 days overdue, or if a previously billed item has been returned (as an account adjustment).

Link+ is a free interlibrary loan service that allows our members to request books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and VHS from over 60 other libraries throughout California.

Library Cardholders can request any books or media unavailable from Alameda County Library and have them delivered to their local library. 

Some details about using Link+:

• Requested items usually arrive within 4 days and will be held for up to 10 days.
• The loan period is 3 weeks with 1 renewal if there is no one waiting for the item.
• Renewals can be requested within 3 days of the due date. 
• Members may have 15 Link+ transactions at a time.
• Please note: there is a charge of up to $115.00 for lost or damaged Link+ materials.

How to request an item through Link+:

If your AC Library catalog search shows that we don't own the item that you would like to borrow, click Try Your Search in Link+. This will automatically transfer your search terms to the Link+ catalog.

When you find the item you would like to borrow, click the Request It button, then select "Alameda County Public" from the dropdown menu on the next screen. Finally, enter your name, Library Card number, choose your desired pickup location and click Submit.

You'll be contacted by email, phone, or text as soon as your requested item is available.

Yes, specialized equipment is available to send a fax. Please contact your local library to confirm availability and cost for faxing.

Kids love Bookleggers! Families frequently come to the library right after a Booklegger has visited to get the books that were shared. We hear from students who felt like readers for the first time after a Booklegger visited, or who tried a new genre and were surprised to find they loved it!

Our library is now fine free, so if you return your library materials on our next visit you will not be charged any fines. If you'd prefer not to wait, check out our list of locations to find the closest library to return items. If you need further assistance with your account, please give us a call, 510-745-1477, and we'll be happy to help. 

Yes, you can use the LearningExpress Library app!  

The LearningExpress native mobile app is available on the iOS and Android platforms for both phones and tablets, and are downloadable from iTunes and the Google Play Store. Links to both can be found in the LearningExpress home page footer.

You will need to create an account for LearningExpress Library on the site before you can log in to the app. 

Please note that some of the resources available in the app are different from those available on the full site:
The mobile app includes all the same flashcards, eBooks, and articles that are available on the online platform. It also includes all multiple-choice only practice tests and skills builders. All multiple-choice only practice tests and skill builders on the online platform share identical content and test formats with their mobile counterparts. For many important tests whose online counterparts include item types other than multiple-choice (like the GED® Test), there are mobile-only, multiple-choice versions available in the application. If a practice test is a pared-down mobile-only version, this is indicated in the mobile test’s instructions. The mobile versions of these practice tests are very helpful preparation, but for a complete practice experience, including different item types and diagnostic scoring, users should take the full versions available to them on the online platform.

Tutorials, computer courses, and Job & Career Accelerator tools are not currently available in the mobile application.  The mobile app does not offer diagnostic scoring. Each completed test in the app reports an overall test score as a percentage, as well as the number of questions the user answered correctly, incorrectly, or skipped.

Need help! Feel free to contact us anytime!  You might also find our Quick Start Guides helpful.

Yes! All TTY users can dial 888-663-0660 to contact the Alameda County Library about their accounts, the library's services, or brief reference questions.

Alternatively, you can simply dial 711 to be connected to the California Relay Service. To have your call immediately answered in your language and preferred mode of communication, please dial using one of the numbers below:

• TTY/VCO/HCO to Voice
  • English: 800-735-2929
  • Spanish: 800-855-3000
• Voice to TTY/VCO/HCO
  • English: 800-735-2922
  • Spanish: 800-855-3000
• From or To Speech-to-Speech (English & Spanish): 800-854-7784

Sometimes our reminder notices won't make it to your voicemail or inbox, for a variety of reasons. Here are a few steps you can take to help ensure you receive your library notices:

1. Log in to your account online to verify that your provided contact information is correct.
2. Add donotreply@aclibrary.org to your contacts or trusted senders lists so that our notices don't end up in your spam folder.
3. If you currently receive email notices, consider signing up for text notices as well.
   1. Please note: we are unable to offer both phone and text notifications simultaneously. If you enroll in text notices, you will no longer receive phone notices. 

Please remember: Alameda County Library provides phone, email and text reminder notices as a courtesy. As a library cardholder, it is your responsibility to return your materials on time or to contact us whenever that is not possible.

We currently offer Shoutbomb text message notices in English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese. 

To sign up for Shoutbomb text message notices, text the message SIGNUP, REGISTRESE, or 注册 to (844) 225-7200 and reply with your card number. The language you use to sign up will determine what language Shoutbomb uses to communicate with you in the future.

Please note: we are unable to offer both phone and text notices simultaneously. If you enroll in text notices, you will no longer receive phone notices. 

 To update your notification preferences or other account information:

1. Log in to your account.
2. On the menu, click My Settings.
3. On the My Settings page, find the Account Information section.
4. Click Change next to the setting you want to change.

To update your notification preferences in the Basic Catalog:

1. Sign in to My Account and click Modify Personal Information.
2. Confirm that your phone number(s) and/or email address are correct. 
3. Choose whether you would like to receive your notices by email or telephone. You can also sign up for SMS text notices here.
4. Click Submit. 

Once your requested item becomes available, you will be notified via email, phone, or text (depending on your account preference). The item will then be held for you at your chosen pickup location for one (1) week. If your requested item is not picked up within one week, your hold will expire. The item will then become available to the next member in the hold queue or released back into circulation.

To set your PIN for the first time:

1. Go to the My Account login page in the Basic Catalog.
2. Enter your Library Card or eCard number in the Barcode field.
3. Leave the PIN field blank.
4. Click Submit.
5. A new page will display with the message “Please enter a new PIN.”
6. Enter an at least four-digit PIN into the New PIN and Retype new PIN fields.
7. Click Submit.
8. Your new PIN is set!

Choosing a good PIN

We highly recommend not including any of these items in your PIN: 

• Significant dates such as your birth year or your spouse’s birthday
• Simple number sequences like 1234 or 0000 (including repetition 1122 or 2233)
• Any part of your social security number
• Any part of your address or phone number

Please fill out the request form online so that your neighborhood gets consideration the next time we have an opening in the schedule. 

Training takes about 6 weeks. Each class is about 2.5 to 3 hours long. For more specifics please contact the Fremont or Castro Valley Booklegger coordinators.

Are you an Alameda County resident that is only interested in using our online resources? Then the eCard may be the right card for you. Our eCard is a more limited, digital-only account that will still allow you to use most of our eLibrary (see here for exceptions).

Apply online and get instant access.

Please note: If you do not live within Alameda County, follow the instructions above to apply for a Library Card. Non-Alameda County residents’ eCard accounts will be deleted after 30 days.

Please note: If you change your eCard to a physical card, you will need to update to the new number when you next use hoopla Digital.  You can find instructions for doing that in the hoopla Quick Start Guide.

The Booklegger training class assumes nothing — all the skills necessary to be able to make an exciting classroom presentation are taught! We'll teach you effective methods of storytelling, how to booktalk, how to use props if you should choose to do so, how to mix genres, what books are effective at which grade levels, how to work with gifted readers, reluctant readers, and readers functioning below grade level. For several sessions, we have experienced guest speakers to give their tips and expert advice for successful booklegging. We'll have you practice your new skills in the training class and you'll be able to visit actual classrooms full of kids!

Extended Services Library Cards are intended to ease access to library materials for our members with disabilities or mobility issues. These cards allow members to borrow items for 30 days (as opposed to the normal 21 days). 

To have an account updated to an Extended Services Library Card, the member just needs to show some form of verification of disability, including (but not limited to):

• A statement or letter on a physician's/medical professional's letterhead stationary.
• A statement, record, or letter from a government agency that issues or provides disability benefits.
• Certification from a vocational rehabilitation counselor or another counselor that issues or provides disability benefits.

If you cannot easily provide this verification, just speak with your local Alameda County Library staff or contact Accessibility Services. We'll find a solution.

Members that have a hard time physically visiting a library may also be interested in adding an Additional User to their account (to designate another person that is allowed to pick up and borrow library items on their behalf).

The number of items you can borrow or place on hold depends on your account type.

All Alameda County Library items check out for 3 weeks with the exception of in-library-use-only electronic devices.

Your borrowed items may be renewed up to 2 times unless there is a hold on the item from another member, you owe $10.00 or more in fees, or you have an item that is 10 or more days late.

Items borrowed from other libraries through Link + are subject to the borrowing policies of the owning library.

We love all animals, but pets, emotional support animals, and other animals that have not been trained to perform specific acts directly related to an individual’s disability are not allowed into our libraries. Service animals are always welcome in our libraries.

The information below is a summary of our fines and fees. Please see our Policies page for the full text of our Borrowing Policy.

Please note, as of January 2022, cash registers have been removed from our libraries. Charges for replacement materials may be paid in the following ways:

• Online by credit card by logging into your account in the basic catalog.
• At a Library location (not available at Niles or Mobile & Outreach Services) at a printing kiosk. Kiosks accept credit cards, and $1 and $5 bills.
• Mail a check to our finance office. Please include your library card number beginning with 21157 on the check. You may also bring a check to your local Library instead of mailing.
  Mail to:
  Alameda County Library Finance
  2450 Stevenson Blvd.
  Fremont, CA 94538

Late Returns

Lost or Damaged Items

• Alameda County Library bills members the cost of any item more than 21 days past its due date. This bill is waived upon return of the item in good condition.
• An item will be billed for damage if, due to misuse or negligence on the part of the borrower, it is no longer fit to loan.
• A member’s borrowing privileges are suspended if the member is billed for any item. Borrowing privileges are restored once the outstanding issues are resolved.

After you've signed up for an eCard, make sure to take down the number you are provided. Once you've done that, you'll need to get a PIN. You can do that by following the instructions here. You will need a PIN to use most of our resources.

We have a number of eBook & eAudiobook vendors. Each of them is described in our Quick Start Guide. There you will find information about apps you might need, and getting started guides.  

If you have questions, remember that you can always contact us through our eResources email form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer Acorn TV as of May 14, 2021.  You can find some Acorn TV content at hoopla Digital.  

If you love Acorn TV, check out our list of similar content from hoopla Digital.

Discover & Go is a program your library provides that offers free and low-cost passes for museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and other cultural destinations. You must meet your library's minimum age requirement and live within your library's service area to use the Discover & Go Service.

Check out our Quick Start Guide to Discover & Go for detailed information.

At OverDrive you can have 10 items checked out and 10 items on hold at any time.  eMagazines and Libby Extras do not count against your checkout limit. For more information about OverDrive/Libby, take a look at our Quick Start Guide.

LinkedIn Learning for Libraries is somewhat different from the commercial version of the product in that library users do not provide their name or email address, and cannot connect their learning to LinkedIn.  For this reason, there is no way for the LinkedIn Learning system to add a name to a completion certificate. 

You can download copies of your completion certificates, but they will always be anonymous.  Unfortunately, We do not have a way to change these certificates. 

With Shoutbomb's text message service, you can use a variety of text commands to help manage your AC Library account:

If you would like to update the language in which you receive your circulation notices, please submit a request online or contact any of our locations.

We currently offer email notices in the following languages:

• English
• Spanish
• Simplified Chinese

We offer phone notices in the following languages:

• English
• Mandarin Chinese
• Spanish

A California State Library Parks Pass is a borrowable pass that grants free vehicle day-use entry to over 200 participating state park units operated by State Parks. The pass is valid for entry of one passenger vehicle with capacity of nine people or less or one highway licensed motorcycle.

Alameda County Library Cardholders can borrow a California State Library Parks Pass for 21 days from any of our libraries. See current availability or place a hold on a California State Library Parks Pass.

Please note that not all state parks are participating in this program. For details, visit the interactive map of participating state parks, or the list of parks not accepting the pass.

Classroom Cards are special AC Library accounts that allow teachers to borrow more items, for longer, for classroom use.

Teachers, educators, administrators, school librarians, child care providers, or after school program providers who teach in Alameda County are all eligible for a Classroom Card.

If you are a teacher who would like to apply for a Classroom Card, please complete our Classroom Card Application and bring it to any of our libraries’ Circulation Desks along with your school ID or proof of employment as an educator in Alameda County.

During the pandemic, the vendor that provides Ancestry Library to us gave us (and many other libraries) special permission to offer the product at home since users could not come to the library.  Now that our library buildings are open again, they are going back to the original model, which only allows on-site (inside our library buildings) use.  

At this time, remote access is not available to purchase. 

We occasionally have technical difficulties with our eResources that make them temporarily unavailable.  If you aren't sure if the problem is with your computer/device or with our systems, you can look at our eLibrary. There is a box in the upper right side of the screen titled, "Current Technical Issues."  Any problems will be listed in that section.  

You can report problems to us by filling in our eResources email form. 

The Braille & Talking Book Library (BTBL) in Sacramento, CA is our local outpost of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS).  BTBL lends braille books, talking books (physical and digital audiobooks), audio magazines, and descriptive video DVDs to eligible readers in Alameda County by mail, for free!

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible for BTBL service, a person must have a certified authority* confirm that she/he is permanently or temporarily:

• Legally blind, with vision in the better eye of 20/200 or less with corrective glasses, or
• Have a visual field no greater than 20 degrees in diameter, or
• Be unable to see well enough or focus long enough to read standard print, even with corrective glasses, or
• Be unable to handle print books or turn pages because of a physical disability, or
• Be certified as having a perceptual or reading disability of sufficient severity to prevent reading printed material in the usual manner.

*As of February 2021, certification may be made by librarians.

Provided For FREE:

• Talking book players
• Audiobooks and magazines on digital cartridge (no late fees)
• Free delivery and mailing – no postage required
• Downloadable/streaming audiobooks and electronic braille
• Braille

Reading Material Available

• Over 100,000+ books
• 3,000 to 5,000+ new audiobooks and 600+ Braille books added each year
• 50 new locally recorded books on California interest added each year
• Popular magazines
• Foreign languages

Sign Up

• Downloadable application: btbl.ca.gov/apply
• Need an application mailed? Request one: btbl@library.ca.gov or 1-800-952-5666
• Need assistance completing and/or certifying a Braille & Talking Book Library application? Ask us! In-person or online. 

You can upgrade your Welcome Card to a Library Card in person at any of our locations. Simply bring your Welcome Card and identification with name and current address.

And, for a limited time, we’re offering Welcome Card upgrades by mail.

Upgrading your Welcome Card by mail is easy:

1. Request a Welcome Card upgrade code.
2. Receive your new upgrade code in the mail within a week.
3. Verify your new account online or by phone.
4. Start enjoying your expanded eResource access and borrowing privileges! 

When printing at a Library computer, your print job is deleted at the end of the day.

No, you may access Library computers and print as a guest. You will need to hold on to your pass to retrieve your print job and you will not be eligible for free pages as a guest user.

Yes, color printing is available for the cost of $0.35 per page.

Yes, Library staff can provide limited help to members using Library equipment. Some locations also have volunteer tech tutors during designated times. Call your local library for details, or check our events calendar for upcoming Computers & Technology programs.

We do not currently have computers you may take home. Our Tech It Out Laptops are for use only within the Library.

You may access Library desktop computers and print as a guest. You must have a Library Card to use a Tech It Out Laptop. You will need to hold on to your pass to retrieve any print jobs and you will not be eligible for free pages as a guest user.

Computer sessions are limited to two hours per day.

• Screens with enhanced display and blue light reduction
• Windows Narrator
• ZoomText
• Large format keyboard with high visibility keys

The following software is found on all our computers. On specific workstations we also offer assistive technology. 

• MS Office Suite
• PDF Reader
• VLC Media Player
• Web Browsers
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Edge

We provide desktop and laptop computers running Windows 10. Our machines were last replaced in 2020 and provide a familiar desktop experience.

For member privacy, all of our computers are reset and wipe any data added by users at the end of every session. 

Yes, some of our resources will let you read on your computer.

OverDrive

The most popular eBook vendor, OverDrive, has an app for Windows 10, you can find it in your app store by searching for Libby.  The icon has a maroon background and features a child reading.  Libby is very easy to use, and the set up is quick and easy - just follow the instructions on screen.

If you don't have Windows 10, you can still use Libby in the browser at www.libbyapp.com.  It works exactly the same way as the app, but you cannot download eBooks or eAudiobooks.  You can also use most OverDrive eBooks and eAudiobooks in the browser directly from aclibrary.overdrive.com, but you may find that Libby is a better experience.

If you need to download, you can choose to download eBooks to your computer by choosing the PDF or EPUB version when you check out at aclibrary.overdrive.com. You will need to have an eReader like Adobe Digital Editions installed on your computer.  You can find instructions for doing that here.

Finally, if you would like to read Kindle eBooks on your computer, you can check them out at the OverDrive site and send them to a Kindle app on your computer.  You can learn all about checking out Kindle books here.

If you need help with material from other resources not listed here, or if you have any questions or problems, please don't hesitate to contact us.  

eBooks and eAudiobooks at Libby/OverDrive are very popular, so it may seem like there's never anything to borrow when you look at the landing page.  Happily, there's more below the surface - you just have to know how to find it.  

The quickest way to find borrowable materials in Libby is to filter for availability:

1. 1. Tap on "Library" in the bottom left of the screen.
   2. Tap on the little + next to "Preferences" in the band across the top middle of the screen.
   3. Tap "Availability" and choose "Available Now".  This will filter out everything that is checked out.

You can also place holds on checked out materials.  You can see how long you'll probably have to wait by tapping the little calendar icon next to the cover. 

Finally, please feel free to contact us at any time with questions.  We're happy to help you find just what you want!

There are a few different reasons why you might choose to use OverDrive/Libby differently.  Read the questions below and pick what's right for you.

• Are you an iOS or Android user?  

  If you want to read eBooks or eMagazines, listen to eAudiobooks, or get a pass for Libby Extras on an Android, or iOS device, we recommend that you use the Libby App.
  Passes for Libby Extras (The Great Courses and Craftsy) are checked out through the Libby app or the www.libbyapp.com site.  You will then be redirected to The Great Courses or the Craftsy site. 

• Do you have a Windows or Mac Computer or laptop? 
  If you are on a  computer we recommend that you use the www.libbyapp.com site or the OverDrive site at aclibrary.overdrive.com.
• Did you check out a streaming video?
  If you want to watch streaming video we recommend that you use the browser viewer through the OverDrive site at aclibrary.overdrive.com.
• Are you a Kindle user?
  If you want to read Kindle eBooks, you will need to get one of Amazon's Kindle apps or use a Kindle Device. Any book that is available as a Kindle book is also available in other formats. See our Managing Kindle eBooks tutorial for more information on this.
  You can send your eBooks to Kindle using the Libby app, the www.libbyapp.com site, or the OverDrive site at aclibrary.overdrive.com.
• Are you a Kindle Fire user?
  If you have a Kindle Fire you will have to use the OverDrive app or check out Kindle format eBooks.  The Libby App is not available for Kindle Fire.  You can also choose to use the www.libbyapp.com site in the browser.
• Do you use a screen reader or other accessibility tools? 
  If you use a screen reader or other accessibility tools, you can use the OverDrive site at aclibrary.overdrive.com  or the Libby app. For more information about accessibility at OverDrive, check out their accessibility article.  For accessibility information specific to the Libby app, check out their Libby accessibility page.

Need more help?

Check out this helpful device guide from OverDrive or look at our Quick Start Guides for more info.

If you're still not sure which app is best for you, feel free to contact us - we'd be happy to help!

The only eBooks that can be downloaded through the Library's catalog at this time are from OverDrive.

If you check out an eBook or eAudiobook through the library catalog, do not download the EPUB, PDF, or MP3 file from the browser.  You will need to move to the Libby app or the OverDrive Browser Reader to read and listen. You can find detailed instructions in our Quick Start Guides.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us through the eResources help email form.