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Comment by efreak | Hacker News Reader

I know only a comparatively small number of people who own library cards. You cannot check out an ebook from the library without a library card. You cannot get a lovely card without physically entering the library. If you did not have a library card when the library closed, or you left it unused until it expired, then you cannot check out ebooks from the public library.

Last I checked, there was, I think, 3 public libraries in California that allowed you to get a library card without being present. One of them required verification in some other method (fax? I can't remember), the other two had a second level card that didn't give access to ebooks or other library resources.

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In Ohio, many (maybe all?) libraries allow you to apply online for a virtual library card that can be used to check out ebooks/audiobooks/etc. A librarian reviews the application and approves or denies it within a day or so, and you get an email either way. No need to ever visit a library in person.

I'm not 100% sure that this was in place before COVID-19, but I think it was.

To check out physical books, you have to visit a library in person and upgrade the virtual library card to a physical library card.

The Boston Public Library has done virtual cards for years as well, and a BPL card is available online for any Massachusetts resident.

Yea, I forgot to mention it, but it's the same way for all of the major library systems in Ohio as well. My local library is connected to Dayton's system, but I also have virtual cards for Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. It makes finding audio books much easier.

Right, bit the justification for this was that libraries were closed because of covid. If people weren't using them before then it doesn't affect them

There are a lot of people who use libraries without a card. Admittedly, many of them only use the computers, but in most locales anyone can wander in and read as much as they want.

A tangent, but I'm really glad California allows any state resident to use any public library in the state. In the state where I grew up, I was fortunate to live in a town with excellent library resources, but it was not something everyone in the state could enjoy even if they were willing to travel to another town. There's still a very noticeable difference between the library systems in different towns in CA, but at least one can still register and utilize online resources (assuming they visit in-person once if that's needed to register).

I don't know when you last checked, but Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, and Sonoma counties all let you get a "virtual" card to check out ebooks and you can do it online. (I'm not 100% sure about Napa's ebook status, though; I have a Santa Clara county virtual card but am just checking the web sites for other counties!) San Mateo County will mail you a library card. San Francisco County is the only one in the Bay Area that seems to require in-person visits, although they've waived that through July. Sonoma County also seems to coordinate with Mendocino and Lake counties on their online card systems. I won't check the rest of California, but it seems like it's definitely more than three libraries now. :)

Many libraries changed the policies you're describing during the pandemic. As though they, too, were responding to changes on the ground.

NYPL, for instance, suspended address verification for issuing new e-library cards, with the caveat that it was restricted to borrowing ebooks.

Only speaking for Toronto here, but the Toronto Public Library very quickly amended their application process to allow you to get a card/membership online. (For any faults in this city, the TPL is amazing)

Good to hear. I was looking into this for my young nephew who lives there. I was very surprised to find they offered no way for him to get a card.

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