Library Digital Services
Your library card gives you more than books. Streaming movies, genealogy research, language learning, and more.
Cancel your subscriptions
Your library card replaces these paid services:
Criterion Channel
$11/mo
Free w/ card
Ancestry
$25/mo
Free w/ card
LinkedIn Premium
$30/mo
Free w/ card
Audible
$15/mo
Free w/ card
Duolingo
$7/mo
Free w/ card
NYT
$17/mo
Free w/ card
New York Public Library (NYPL)
Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island. 49 digital resources.
Kanopy
DiscontinuedHoopla
Replaces: Netflix ($15.49/mo), Spotify ($11.99/mo), Audible ($14.95/mo)
NYPL: 5 borrows per month (may vary; some systems have daily spending caps). Bonus Borrows (last 7 days of month) don't count toward limit.
Access(opens in new tab)Libby / OverDrive
Replaces: Audible ($14.95/mo), Kindle Unlimited ($11.99/mo), Scribd ($11.99/mo)
3 checkouts + 3 holds from OverDrive/Libby at any one time. Loan period: up to 21 days.
Access(opens in new tab)cloudLibrary
Replaces: Audible ($14.95/mo), Kindle Unlimited ($11.99/mo)
3 checkouts + 3 holds from cloudLibrary at any one time
Access(opens in new tab)LinkedIn Learning
Replaces: LinkedIn Learning subscription ($29.99/mo), Skillshare ($19/mo), Coursera Plus ($59/mo)
Unlimited — no checkout limits
Access(opens in new tab)PressReader
Replaces: Apple News+ ($12.99/mo), individual newspaper subscriptions ($15-30/mo each)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Flipster
Replaces: Apple News+ ($12.99/mo), individual magazine subscriptions ($5-10/mo each)
Unlimited — no checkout limits
Access(opens in new tab)Mango Languages
Replaces: Babbel ($13.95/mo), Rosetta Stone ($11.99/mo), Duolingo Super ($6.99/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Ancestry Library Edition
Replaces: Ancestry.com ($24.99/mo for US Discovery, $34.99/mo World Explorer)
No limit during access session
Access(opens in new tab)HathiTrust
Replaces: Google Books (free), individual academic journal access ($30-40/article)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Digital Collections
Replaces: Getty Images (paid), library special collections access (limited hours)
Unlimited — no checkout, free to browse and download
Access(opens in new tab)Newspapers.com
Replaces: Newspapers.com Publisher Extra ($19.90/mo), GenealogyBank ($29.95/mo)
Unlimited — available from home with NYPL card
Access(opens in new tab)New York Times (1980–Present)
Replaces: NYT Digital subscription ($25/mo for basic, $50/mo for All Access)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)New York Times (1851–2022) with Index
Replaces: NYT archive access ($100+ for PDFs), ProQuest Historical Newspapers ($200+/yr)
Unlimited during access
Access(opens in new tab)New Yorker Digital Archive
Replaces: New Yorker subscription ($12/mo digital), Complete New Yorker ($150 one-time)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)JSTOR
Replaces: Individual academic journal articles ($30-50 each), institutional academic access
Unlimited — temporarily expanded for remote access from home courtesy of JSTOR
Access(opens in new tab)ProQuest Research Library
Replaces: EBSCO similar databases ($100+/yr personal)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Gale Academic OneFile
Replaces: Individual journal subscriptions ($100+/yr each)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Gale eBooks (formerly Gale Virtual Reference Library)
Replaces: Encyclopaedia Britannica ($70/yr), Oxford Reference ($29.95/mo)
Unlimited — always available, no checkout required
Access(opens in new tab)Credo Reference
Replaces: Oxford Reference ($29.95/mo), Encyclopaedia Britannica ($70/yr)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Oxford Reference Online
Replaces: Oxford Reference subscription ($29.95/mo), OED print edition ($1,000+)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)LearningExpress Library
Replaces: Kaplan prep courses ($300-2000), Magoosh ($149), Princeton Review ($150-1000)
Unlimited — create a personal account to track progress
Access(opens in new tab)Career Cruising
Replaces: Career assessment tools ($50-200), career coaching sessions
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Docuseek
Replaces: Kanopy alternative, academic documentary streaming ($100+/yr for individuals)
Unlimited — new NYPL database as of 2026
Access(opens in new tab)Naxos Music Library
Replaces: Spotify Classical ($11.99/mo), Apple Music Classical ($10.99/mo), Idagio ($9.99/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)ScienceFlix
Replaces: Mystery Science ($120/yr), Science subscriptions ($50-100/yr)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Culture Pass
Replaces: Individual museum admissions ($15-30 each). Met Museum ($30), Guggenheim ($25), MoMA ($25), NYBG ($28), Brooklyn Botanic Garden ($18).
4 active reservations max. Passes released on the 1st of each month for the following month.
Access(opens in new tab)NYPL Archives Portal
Replaces: In-person research visits to special collections
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Digital Research Books (Beta)
Replaces: Google Books limited access, individual ebook purchases
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)NOVELny Resources
Replaces: Various paid databases
Unlimited — no login needed within NY State
Access(opens in new tab)EBSCOHost
Replaces: PubMed (free), Google Scholar (free), individual research databases ($100+/yr)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Gale LegalForms
Replaces: LegalZoom ($79+ per document), Rocket Lawyer ($39.99/mo), attorney fees ($200-500/hr)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Gale Business: Plan Builder
Replaces: LivePlan ($20/mo), business plan consultants ($500-5000)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Gale Business: Insights
Replaces: IBISWorld ($1,000+/yr), Hoover's ($300+/yr), Statista ($199/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)HeinOnline
Replaces: Westlaw ($200+/mo), LexisNexis ($200+/mo)
Unlimited — in-library use only at certain NYPL locations
Access(opens in new tab)Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Online
Replaces: OED print edition ($1,000+), OED subscription ($99/yr)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)World Book Online
Replaces: Encyclopaedia Britannica ($70/yr), Wikipedia (free but less reliable)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Biography in Context (Gale)
Replaces: Biography.com (limited), individual biography sources
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Literature Resource Center
Replaces: Bloom's Literary Reference ($89/yr), Gale Literary databases
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)ProQuest Central: Journals & Newspapers
Replaces: Multiple database subscriptions
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Transparent Language Online
Replaces: Rosetta Stone ($11.99/mo), Babbel ($13.95/mo), Pimsleur ($21.95/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)HeritageQuest Online
Replaces: Ancestry.com limited features ($24.99/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Reference Solutions (formerly ReferenceUSA)
Replaces: ZoomInfo ($15,000+/yr), Dun & Bradstreet ($2,000+/yr), Hoovers ($300+/yr)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Morningstar Investment Research Center
Replaces: Morningstar Premium ($34.95/mo), Bloomberg Terminal ($2,000+/mo)
Unlimited — in-library use
Access(opens in new tab)Value Line Investment Survey
Replaces: Value Line Standard & Premium ($99–$599/yr)
Unlimited — in-library use
Access(opens in new tab)Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)
Brooklyn. 17 digital resources.
Kanopy
DiscontinuedHoopla
Replaces: Netflix ($15.49/mo), Spotify ($11.99/mo), Audible ($14.95/mo)
BPL typically offers 5-10 borrows/month (check current policy). Bonus Borrows don't count toward limit.
Access(opens in new tab)Libby / OverDrive (eBooks & Audiobooks)
Replaces: Audible ($14.95/mo), Kindle Unlimited ($11.99/mo)
20 checkouts max + 10 holds at any one time
Access(opens in new tab)Comics Plus
Replaces: Marvel Unlimited ($9.99/mo), DC Universe Infinite ($7.99/mo), ComiXology Unlimited ($5.99/mo)
Unlimited — no limits
Access(opens in new tab)Creativebug
Replaces: Skillshare ($19/mo), Craftsy ($11.99/mo), individual art classes ($50-200 each)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)LinkedIn Learning
Replaces: LinkedIn Learning ($29.99/mo), Skillshare ($19/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Mango Languages
Replaces: Babbel ($13.95/mo), Rosetta Stone ($11.99/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Brainfuse HelpNow
Replaces: Private tutoring ($30-80/hr), Khan Academy (free but no live help)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Brainfuse JobNow
Replaces: Career coaching ($50-200/hr), resume services ($100-500)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Ancestry Library Edition
Replaces: Ancestry.com ($24.99/mo US Discovery)
Unlimited during session
Access(opens in new tab)Brooklyn Newsstand
Replaces: Newspapers.com Publisher Extra ($19.90/mo), Brooklyn Public Library microfilm access
Unlimited — no card needed
Access(opens in new tab)BPL Digital Collections
Replaces: Getty Images (paid), physical archive visits
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Culture Pass
Replaces: Individual museum admissions ($15-30 each)
4 active reservations max. Passes released on the 1st of each month.
Access(opens in new tab)BookMatch
Replaces: Personal book shopper ($50+), Amazon recommendations (free but impersonal)
As often as you want
Access(opens in new tab)biblio+
Replaces: Netflix ($15.49/mo), Hulu ($17.99/mo), Peacock ($7.99/mo)
Unlimited — no checkout or streaming limits
Access(opens in new tab)Reference Solutions (formerly ReferenceUSA)
Replaces: ZoomInfo ($15,000+/yr), Dun & Bradstreet ($2,000+/yr), Hoovers ($300+/yr)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Queens Public Library (QPL)
Queens. 13 digital resources.
Hoopla
Replaces: Netflix ($15.49/mo), Spotify ($11.99/mo), Audible ($14.95/mo)
5 borrows per month (movies, music, comics, TV all count toward this limit)
Access(opens in new tab)Freegal Music
Replaces: Spotify Premium ($11.99/mo), Apple Music ($10.99/mo), Amazon Music Unlimited ($10.99/mo)
5 song downloads per week + 3 hours streaming per day. Music videos = 2 downloads each.
Access(opens in new tab)Libby / OverDrive (eBooks & Audiobooks)
Replaces: Audible ($14.95/mo), Kindle Unlimited ($11.99/mo)
Standard OverDrive limits apply (typically 10-20 checkouts depending on card type)
Access(opens in new tab)Axis 360
Replaces: Audible ($14.95/mo), Kindle Unlimited ($11.99/mo)
Varies — standard ebook lending limits
Access(opens in new tab)PressReader
Replaces: Apple News+ ($12.99/mo), individual newspaper subscriptions ($15-30/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)LinkedIn Learning
Replaces: LinkedIn Learning ($29.99/mo), Skillshare ($19/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Rocket Languages
Replaces: Rosetta Stone ($11.99/mo), Babbel ($13.95/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Transparent Language Online
Replaces: Rosetta Stone ($11.99/mo), Babbel ($13.95/mo)
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Culture Pass
Replaces: Individual museum admissions ($15-30 each)
4 active reservations. 1 per institution per calendar year.
Access(opens in new tab)Gale Business: Insights
Replaces: IBISWorld ($1,000+/yr), company research databases
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)QPL Digital Archives (Local History)
Replaces: In-person historical society visits
Unlimited
Access(opens in new tab)Kanopy
Replaces: Criterion Channel ($10.99/mo), Netflix ($15.49/mo)
15 checkouts/month (bonus titles don't count toward limit)
Access(opens in new tab)Library tips most New Yorkers don't know
Get all 3 library cards
NYPL, BPL, and QPL are separate systems. You can have cards from all three. Triple your digital access.
Kanopy is back (QPL)
QPL rejoined Kanopy. If you have a QPL card, you can stream the full Criterion Collection for free.
PIN issues?
Default PIN is the last 4 digits of your phone number. If that doesn't work, reset it at any branch.
Ancestry is in-branch only
NYPL's Ancestry Library Edition is only available on branch computers. Plan a research session.