Children's Books discussion

There are a lot of books on Hoopla that are not in any of my libraries. But I cannot figure out how to use it! The one library staff member I found time to ask didn't know it, either.

Can anyone here post a step-by-step 'for dummies' about it?

Yes it's not intuitive at all but better than Libby. Usually I search by certain authors or titles I want. You can search by general subject too but it often brings up strange things. You can search the long way by choosing one of their topics too. Are you using the app or desktop? I can post a tutorial for you if my tablet ever charges! If it doesn't, I can talk you through it using the new tablet.

I'd rather use the app on my (Android) tablet....
I can be patient, too. Sorry to hear of your technology troubles.

I think I'd be glad to search by title; it's usually most interesting when I know that I want to read something and can't find it elsewhere.

I believe I've found the listings before, but haven't been able to figure out how to 'check them out' and then actually read them.

At your convenience, I'd love to see a tutorial!

I'll try to do it tonight on the new tablet. The old one simply won't charge and I don't want to drain the battery until I can dig up more plugs and cords to see if it will work.

I found out that not all books and media listed are available to borrow, which is weird, but most of them are. It doesn't have a good catalog like a traditional library catalog. I searched my favorite authors and series and followed the subject headings from there. It also gives me recommendations. Up at the top of the page is May Bonus Borrows if you want to try to practice with something free.

Free? Is it not always free?

It's free through your library. I used the private library but I'm not longer a member. Now I mooch off a friend who gets it through the public library. She has way more borrows than either of us can use. I'm going to try to post screen shot tutorials for you.

Sign up for Hoopla using your library card number. Set up with your e-mail address and password. Not all libraries have Hoopla but if you belong to a consortium, another library may have access you can use.

After logging in:
You can search e-books by tapping the e-books icon
https://i.postimg.cc/76PsLkg4/Screens...

Choose genres and collections to target something general if you don't know what you want to read.

https://i.postimg.cc/HL9vHx83/Screens...

Here is all collections
https://i.postimg.cc/cJSkVYCr/Screens...

You can choose which collection you want to browse
ex. LGBTQ stories and experiences
https://i.postimg.cc/X7tzkt0K/Screens...

When you find a book you want to read, tap it
https://i.postimg.cc/tCscPp8C/Screens...

I didn't want to read that one so I went back to a new collection

You can save it for later by tapping the heart icon
https://i.postimg.cc/1RCTffCj/Screens...

https://i.postimg.cc/wvFr5v63/Screens...

Next to the heart, in the middle under the book cover is the borrow button. Tap borrow to borrow the book right now.

At the top of the screen tap borrowed to see which books you have checked out right now.

https://i.postimg.cc/zfZ486tD/Screens...

or tap the home screen
https://i.postimg.cc/rsPYbPRk/Screens...

The home screen shows recently borrowed and returned books

To view your favorited media
up top on the home screen next to borrowed is favorites
Choose favorites and your favorites are saved there by author or title and type of media

https://i.postimg.cc/yYxMPF3K/Screens...

Alternately you can just perform a general search for keyword, author, title, series or an advanced search

https://i.postimg.cc/VsKyn764/Screens...

Here you can see I have searched for The Scottish Bookshop Mysteries
https://i.postimg.cc/FKkFnMf9/Screens...

I want to save this search as a favorite.
https://i.postimg.cc/T34Y0d37/Screens...

Advanced search
https://i.postimg.cc/jS5Sywtn/Screens...

You can also narrow it down by choosing the kids option for just children's books. (not YA)

Hope that helps!