Best Non-Resident Library Cards for Overdrive Access

Recently I was trying to find a good list of libraries in the country that I can join as a non-resident and still access their audiobooks on overdrive. To my surprise, I didn’t see very much information on the internet and what I did find was old. So, I gathered this list of the best non-resident library cards for Overdrive access.

I also did an in depth comparison post of Hoopla and Overdrive here. Check it out if you are unsure which service would work best for you.

Brooklyn Public Library – New York

The Brooklyn Public Library allows any New York resident to get a free ecard. This allows access to the electronic collections on Overdrive, 3M and Flipster only. Out of state residents can also get a library card for $50 annually. It appears that you can have the card mailed, although the website doesn’t make that clear. I did a quick search of their Overdrive library and found that they have 154,593 total ebooks and audiobooks, which is a ton. Click here to visit the Brooklyn Public Library new library cards page.

Fairfax County Public Library – Virginia

Fairfax County allows non-residents to get a library card for $27 a year. They have a total of 41,214 ebooks and audiobooks on their Overdrive, which seems like a lot for only $27 a year. Click here to visit the Fairfax County Public Library new library cards page.

Houston Public Library – Texas

The Houston Public Library provides a free library card to all Texas residents, which can be applied for through the mail without going to one of the locations. They also allow non-residents to get a library card in person or by mail for $20 for six months or $40 for a year. The Houston Overdrive provides access to 55,760 ebooks and audiobooks. Click here to visit the Houston Public Library new library cards page.

Orange County Public Library – Florida

Orange County allows non-residents to get a fee card, which costs $75 for three months, $100 for six months and $125 for one year. They do mail the cards to people not able to stop by any of their locations to pick up the card. The Orange County overdrive account provides access to 131,209 total ebooks and audiobooks. Click here to visit the Orange County Public Library new library cards page.

The Free Library of Philadelphia – Pennsylvania

The Free Library of Philadelphia allows anyone in Pennsylvania to get a card for free. Out of state residents can get a card with an annual fee of $50. I did a quick search of their Overdrive library and found that they provide access to 35,729 total ebooks and audiobooks. Click here to visit the Free Library of Philadelphia new library cards page.

Omaha Public Library – Oklahoma

Non-residents can get an Omaha library card for an annual fee of $75. The library has a phone number that you may call for assistance if you are not within driving distance to the physical locations. Their Overdrive account provides access to 39,686 total ebooks and audiobooks. Click here to visit the Omaha Pubic Library new library cards page.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library – North Carolina

Non-residents can get a Charlotte-Mecklenburg library card for an annual fee of $45. This allows for full access to all online resources. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Overdrive provides access to 18,759 total ebooks and audiobooks. Click here to visit the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library new library cards page.

Enoch-Pratt Free Library – Maryland

Non-residents can get an Enoch Pratt free library card for a$50 annual fee. You must mail the application and a check to the main library. They will mail the card to your address within 30 days. This gives you access to the Maryland’s Digital eLibrary Consortium overdrive account. This Overdrive account has a total of 26,668 total ebooks and audiobooks. Click here to visit the Enoch-Pratt Free Library new library cards page.

New Orleans Public Library – Louisiana

The New Orleans Public Library allows non-residents to get a library card for $50 annually for an individual or $100 for a family. They also mail it to people who are unable to pick up in person. The New Orleans Overdrive account has 21,688 total ebooks and audiobooks. Click here to visit the New Orleans Public Library new library cards page.

This appears to be all of the libraries in the country that allow non-residents to get a library card mailed to them. If I have missed any, please let me know in the comments.

I also did a quick calculation to see what library gives the most access to digital media for the money. My calculation shows that Brooklyn provides double the ebooks and audiobooks per dollar spent than the others. The second-best dollar value is Fairfax County, primarily because it has a fair amount available for a very cheap price. Those two would be the only ones I would personally join.