The Westport Library is moving its ebook and audiobook services to Libby, providing patrons with more access to more digital titles than ever before.
The transition to Libby, from CloudLibrary, will take place on Tuesday, March 18. CloudLibrary, the Library’s current digital vendor, will no longer be available as of Monday, March 17, meaning that any titles reserved on CloudLibrary will expire at that time. The last date that holds can be placed through CloudLibrary is Saturday, February 15. (See below for important dates and FAQs.)
The Library will offer both online and in-person tutorials from March 18 to March 21, 3-4 pm, to help patrons with the transition. There will also be an Anyone Can Use class focused on the Libby app, held at the Library on Wednesday, March 19, 11 am to 12 pm.
“We are really excited for this change,” said Westport Library Chief of Staff Melanie Myers. “CloudLibrary has been a great partner for many years, but the more we discussed a possible change with staff and patrons, it became clear that Libby was the right choice to provide the best digital reading experience for our readers moving forward — both now and in the years to come.”
Libby is recognized as the leader in the digital space among libraries throughout the country, and more devices are supported by Libby than any other.
During the transition, patrons will continue to have access to all Westport Library digital services. That includes Hoopla, the Library’s other digital service for e-books, audiobooks, and more, which will not be impacted by the transition to Libby.
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Transition to Libby: Important Dates
Monday, February 3: You can no longer make Suggestions for Purchase in CloudLibrary. You can now only place 5 items on hold per cardholder.
Saturday, February 15: You can no longer place holds on items in CloudLibrary.
Week of March 10: Make a copy of your Reading History and your Holds List (reading history and holds lists will not transfer to Libby App).
Monday, March 17: Due date for all items checked out of CloudLibrary.
Tuesday, March18: The Libby App goes live.
Tuesday. March 18 – Friday, March 21: Drop-in Libby app tech help held in the Library, 3 to 4 pm.
Wednesday, March 19: Anyone Can Use: the Libby App session.
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Digital Library Transition FAQs
What is Libby?
Libby is a free app (that will replace CloudLibrary) for eBooks and digital audiobooks. You can stream titles with Wi-Fi or mobile data or download them for offline use.
Why is this change happening?
Libby is the leading digital book service for public libraries. It can be enjoyed on more devices, and it offers an improved user experience and additional functionality. It also provides access to publishers that are unavailable on other platforms.
What devices are compatible with Libby?
The Libby app is compatible with any device running iOS 10 or Android 7.1 or newer, Amazon Fire tablets from 2020 onwards, and Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks. The service can also be used to download books onto Kindle e-readers.
Will I have to create a new account for Libby?
Simply download the Libby app and follow the on-screen instructions. Just a Westport Library barcode is required. No PIN needed for Libby.
What if I need help using Libby?
Many different training options will be available for patrons, including support from staff and training videos.
What are the check-out periods and borrowing limits?
The check-out period and borrowing limits are the same as CloudLibrary (21 days and nine books at a time, respectively).
When will Libby be available to use?
Libby will be available on March 18!
When is the last day I can use CloudLibrary?
CloudLibrary will no longer be functional after March 17.
If I have downloaded a book onto my device, will it be available after March 17?
If the book was able to be transferred to Libby, you will have to re-check out the book on the new app after March 18.
When is the last day I can place holds on CloudLibrary?
Holds will no longer be placeable after February 15.
When is the last day I can Suggest a new book in CloudLibrary?
We stopped taking ebook suggestions on January 13 in order to give us sufficient time to move titles over to the new platform. We will be purchasing ebooks minimally until February 5. Meanwhile, patrons are welcome to keep checking out ebooks we already own up until the end. We will also continue purchasing physical books and audiobooks at our usual rate to ensure people can keep reading!
Will holds placed on CloudLibrary titles carry over to Libby?
Holds will not carry over. Patrons must place new holds once Libby is available. (Privacy restrictions prevent us from seeing patron holds in CloudLibrary and therefore we can’t transfer them to Libby.)
Will all CloudLibrary titles be available on Libby?
Most CloudLibrary titles will be available on Libby, pending any publisher limitations.
Will materials borrowed through CloudLibrary automatically be returned?
All materials borrowed through cloud library will be automatically returned on March 17 (exact time unknown), regardless of when it was checked out.
Will CloudLibrary reading history and saved lists transfer?
Reading history and saved lists will not transfer.
While the rest of the world turns over a new leaf, the start of 2025 marks the halfway point of the school year. New Year’s celebrations give way to study sessions and project planning, a daunting prospect for many students — which is why The Westport Library remains committed to facilitating a welcoming, conducive space for teens during midterm season.
The Library will be opening early at 10 am on back-to-back Sundays, January 5 and January 12, exclusively for high school students preparing for midterm exams and projects. Snacks and hot chocolate will be available for students to enjoy while they work.
Students must show their Schoology account or student ID to enter. Traditional library services, such as book checkout and tech help, will not be available during this time.
Doors will close at 12:30 pm for the Library to prepare for regularly scheduled opening. Any students in the building before 12:30 pm will be able to stay in the building until doors open for the general public at 1 pm.
Please note: On Sunday, January 12, the Library will be open in the morning but the Trefz Forum will not be accessible, as the Library prepares for an afternoon program.
“Teens are always welcome here, and we’re happy to have them,” said Jeanmarie Ryan, teen services librarian at The Westport Library. “We focus our efforts on providing a productive space for high school students all year round, but especially during a time when their studies take precedence.”
In addition to the early Sunday hours, the Library will also be offering students a chance to de-stress with therapy dogs (on Tuesday, January 7). These lovable companions are known to reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and bring a sense of comfort and joy, making them the perfect remedy for a stressful day. Relax, recharge, and return to your studies refreshed and ready to go!
The Westport Library will soon be adding a new language program, with the English Conversation Group holding its first meeting on Monday, January 29.
The group will meet weekly on Mondays after that, from 11 am to 12 pm, in the Board Room (Room 210) on the Library’s upper level. The group is offering the opportunity to practice your English language conversation skills with others. It will be informal conversation and is open to both non-native and native speakers.
With its inception, the English Conversation Group joins a host of language conversation groups offered at the Library, including French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.
The Library’s language conversation groups are for those interested in practicing speaking in another language. The groups are open to all levels of experience and are self-directed. If you are interested in starting a group in a language not offered, contact Jennifer Keller at jkeller@westportlibrary.org.
Those interested in the English Conversation Group should reach out to Youn Su Chao at englishinwestport@gmail.com.
The Westport Library, well-known as a hub for lifelong learning, cultural events, and innovation, is now the recipient of a post-COVID $57,462 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant enhancing the Library’s technological infrastructure and wireless connectivity. The ARPA grant bolsters the Library’s capacity to serve as an emergency hub in times of power outages.
In previous years, extreme storms like Irene and Isais caused power and wireless disruption for many, with more than 12,000 patrons utilizing the Library’s wireless internet connectivity in a matter of days. In many cases, service could not meet demand. The ARPA grant extends the wireless signal to Jesup Town Green and the Levitt Town Pavilion, with four additional wireless access points installed. In addition, the Library’s firewall has been updated for added safety and security.
The State of Connecticut reports, "The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) is the sixth federal COVID-19 relief bill passed in the last year, and is by far the largest infusion of resources to the state. The scale of assistance and time-frame over which funding remains available spurred Governor Lamont to direct his administration to ensure that the state’s recovery efforts were oriented toward transformative initiatives that would enable Connecticut to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger, healthier, and ready to resume the progress that has made the state a leader in many areas, and a desirable place to live."
By providing Fairfield County with resilience in times of emergency, The Westport Library can better execute its charge of service to the community and serving as a community hub, all while providing patrons with fast, free wireless internet service with added security.
“The Westport Library is delighted to receive ARPA grant funds to upgrade our service and infrastructure,” said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “This is a win-win for Fairfield County emergency planning and the countless number of patrons and programs that rely on our connectivity.”
The Westport Library has long supported all types of educational efforts, whether that is furthering your studies, providing reference materials and experts to help with research, or learning technical skills through our MakerSpace or Verso Studios.
Starting this spring, we’re building on those efforts with the launch of Verso University, a year-round series of high-level classes, workshops, and lectures designed to further education and learning — and above all, learning for a lifetime.
Offerings will run the gamut of educational opportunities to take your learning to the next level, ranging from one-time lectures to ongoing courses to classes that meet weekly or perhaps monthly. And they will cover a wide variety of topics, with classes and courses to appeal to all ages and interests, from our younger patrons to our most experienced.
Each semester, we’ll be offering classes tailored to your interests, responding to what our community wants to deliver programs that will resonate.
“Fundamentally, a library is a place of learning, of engagement, where patrons can come to explore and grow,” said Bill Harmer, Westport Library executive director. “Verso University is a natural extension of that lifelong interest and curiosity. Our innovative spaces and innovative technologies enable us to lead the development of 21st century models of literacy and learning. These models are community-based and focus on dynamic, interpersonal learning integrated with 21st century infrastructure and technologies.”
Here is a closer look at what we’ll be offering for the spring semester (more classes to come this summer and fall):
Launch Lecture: Martin Yellin on Space
Monday, March 13, 1-2 pm, Trefz Forum
We kick off the spring semester with a launch event for the ages, courtesy of longtime Westporter and scientist Martin Yellin, who will visit the Library to offer an overview of the fascinating and sometimes unexpected discoveries we’ve made in space, and how, from absolutely nothing, we’ve begun to understand where we are and how we got here.
The Range of Literary Realism: Four Masterpieces of 21st Century Fiction, with Dr. Mark Schenker
Tuesdays, April 4 & 18, May 2 & 16, 2-3 pm, Brooks Place
In this series of classes, Mark Schenker, renowned lecturer in English at Yale University, examines four novels that reflect the range of literary realism as portrayed in 21st Century fiction. The novels are considered masterpieces, three of which are ranked by The Guardian in the Top 50 of “100 Best Books of the 21st Century”:
Got Problems? Think Them Through for Better Problem Solving!
May 2023
Problem solving is making a decision, accomplishing an objective, working toward a goal, and solving a dilemma. Join problem-solving coaches Mike Hibbard PhD and Patricia Cyganovich EdD to learn thinking-it-through problem-solving processes to use in any area of life, to learn how to think through a situation and use strategies to identify and solve the problem, and much more.
Fiction Writing Master Class, with Gabino Iglesias
May 2023
Renowned noir writer and Westport Library StoryFest alum Gabino Iglesias will be on hand to teach a master class-style writing workshop.
Crew Call
Rolling Admission, Spring through Fall
In 2022, more than 100 people participated in Verso Studios training and more than 30 engaged in Crew Call — a training program focused on live media production skills. Crew Call is an incredible opportunity for volunteers of all ages to gain real-world experience in video recording and production. Crew Call participants are now regularly supporting the many productions that happen every week in the Library. Available spots are limited.
Staples High School students will be on hand at The Westport Library now through Thursday, April 27, for drop-in tutoring in a range of subjects for grades 2-8.
Tutoring will take place starting at 4 pm in the Children’s Library, on the Library’s second floor, covering the following days, grades, subjects, and times:
Please bring homework for which and workbooks with which you need assistance. And check back to the day’s schedule on the Library’s website for any cancellations or changes in schedule.
Adults with students under the age of 12 are required to stay in the Children’s Library while their child is being tutored.
The Westport Library’s Anyone Can Use… series is returning to the Library, with a series of four classes being held throughout November and December.
The classes offer live tech instruction and are open to all patrons. They will focus on using your Library card to download books, music, movies, and more (November 2); using Microsoft Excel (November 16); learning a language with Pronunciator (December 7); and using NoveList and Goodreads to review, rate, and share books (December 21).
All four events will be held from 11 am to 12 pm in Brooks Place, near the checkout desk.
Similar classes had been offered in previous years but were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re very excited to once again be offering the Anyone Can Use… series,” said Melanie Kelly, reference manager at the Library and the organizer of the series. “Recent advances in technology can be hard to keep up with and at times overwhelming to navigate. We hope these classes will help flatten that learning curve, and all in a way that patrons will find fun and engaging.”
For more on the Anyone Can Use… series and other offerings at the Library, visit our events calendar.
