5 Secret Library Hacks {+ Bonus Digital Resources & Services Too!}

Updated April 2025

Did you know that the second week of April is National Library Week? My kids and I pay a trip to our local library branch at least once a week, and while we use it mainly as a resource to check out books, there are several other services that your local library offers. For assistance compiling this ultimate library cheat sheet, I enlisted the help of my own personal library guru and another fellow mom— my friend Michelle! Here are our tips, both common and lesser known, for making the most out of your local library.

Library Secrets Unlocked

• Sign up for Library Elf – If you are always racking up fines or like to check out a lot of items, then you need to sign up for Library Elf! Library Elf is an independent service that keeps track of what’s due/overdue/ready for pickup, making your next trip to the library absolutely seamless. Multiple accounts can be linked to the service and you can also choose to opt in or out of custom reminders via email or text.
• Freeze Your Holds – Placing holds is basic library knowledge, but did you know that you can also suspend holds? If you have too many other books on your TBR at the moment or don’t want to lose your place in line, put a freeze on your holds and simply resume them when you’re ready!
• Install Library Extension On Your Browser – Library extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge and automatically checks your library’s online catalog to instantly display the availability of matching items on the same page.
• Use Interlibrary Loan (ILL) or Suggest A Purchase – If your library doesn’t have a book that you want in its catalog, try using Interlibrary Loan first. Interlibrary loan (ILL) allows you to check out a book from another library with your existing library card, which, if available, is fairly quick. If that doesn’t work, you can also try suggesting a purchase. Libraries are very responsive to this and almost always try to come through!
• Join Multiple Libraries – If you live in the Houston area, you can join multiple library systems, not just the one closest to you. Each library system has different policies {for digital content as well} and book availability, so you’ll likely have more options. For example, I am a member of Houston Public Library, Harris County Public Library, and the Fort Bend County Library. Their checkout lengths and renewal policies are all different and so is the size of their collections, so I use them for different things.

Digital Resources

• Apps – Libraries connect with apps to provide free digital content. OverDrive and Hoopla offer eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV shows, and music. Flipster has magazines, ComicsPlus has comics, Freegal streams music, and TumbleBooks offers animated books for kids. Libby, the library reading app, even provides free access to Craftsy, an online resource for all creative makers!
• Scholarly Databases – Are you in graduate school or do you have kids conducting research? Your local library has access to many scholarly databases, which you can easily search online.

Services

• Librarians – Librarians have a vast amount of knowledge, and they really want to help! In addition to asking them about the resources and services that your library offers, you can also ask them for local recommendations, information about the community, or even research requests pertaining history or genealogy.
• Community Services – The library offers SO MANY services, and I will include some here but there is no way to list them all. There is a service available for every age, including classes, tutoring, and clubs for hundreds of subjects. The library also offers free practice for standardized tests, help with your taxes, and passport renewal services. You may even be able to participate in a yoga session, attend a pajama movie night, or borrow/swap seeds! The list of library services is truly endless.
• Personal Reading List – Do you want to read more but you don’t know where to start? Answer a few questions for your librarian and have them create a curated, personal reading list just for you.
• Unusual Resources – You’ll find way more than just books at the library! FLIP kits are for parents + kids, and often contain a book and the supplies to do a specific activity. “Take and makes” are also popular at many libraries— these “craftivities” are small activity projects for kids to take, make, and keep. Depending on your library, you may also be able to check out 3-D printers, media players, cake pans, puppets, board games, or puzzles.

Are you inspired to visit your library this month? What’s missing from our list? We’d love to hear if you have a genius library secret to add!