Books · eBooks FAQs

  • General Questions

    Here are some strategies for searching for eBooks and eAudiobooks in our catalog.

    Basic Search

    Enter your search term along with the name of your preferred service (Libby, Freading, or Hoopla) in the search bar, then click the magnifying glass icon (blue background with white outline).

    Here is a sample result. Clicking the link indicated by red arrow in the screenshot below takes you to the vendor's website where you can download the title.

    Direct Search Through the Vendor

    If you prefer to use a particular service (Libby, Freading, or Hoopla), you may want to search directly through that service. For direct links to our eBook and eAudiobook services, please visit our Stream & Download page.

    Questions?

    Please contact our Virtual Information Center by phone at 513-369-6900. Our staff will be happy to assist you.

    Learn how to borrow an eBook from the Library on your computer or mobile device.

    Your library card gives you free access to three eBook services: Overdrive, Hoopla, and Freading.

    What you need:

    How to check out an eBook using our website:

    1. Search our catalog and find the eBook you would like to check out.
    2. If the eBook is available, click the link to exit the Library's website (see blue arrow in screenshot below) and open the selected eBook service. You need to log in to the eBook service's website using your library card number and PIN.
    3. Once you have checked out the eBook on the service's website, you can select from multiple viewing options, including reading the eBook directly in your web browser or downloading the eBook for offline use.

    Check out an eBook from our catalogHow to check out an eBook using an app from one of our eBook services:

    1. Download the apps for your desired service: Libby, Hoopla, or Freading and log in using your library card.
    2. Search for your desired eBook directly through the app or through our website catalog. Note: If you are searching inside the app (such as Hoopla), your search is limited to the Library's catalog for that service only (such as the Library's Hoopla catalog).
    3. Check out the eBook through the app.

    Please contact us by phone, 513-369-6900, or use our chat service, opens a new window if you need assistance with this process.  

  • Libby

    Yes, whether you're on your phone, tablet, eReader, or even TV, there's a Library app to help make digital borrowing quicker and easier.

    Please note, the Overdrive app phased out in early 2023 and fully transitioned to Libby. Both apps access the same digital collection and Libby provides even more features to explore. Libby allows for simple, customizable reading, the ability to export notes and highlights (perfect for book clubs), tags to track your favorite reads, wish lists, and more.

    Visit our Stream & Download page for links and descriptions. 

    Freading 

    No, Freading does not accept recommendations.  

    Hoopla 

    No, Hoopla does not accept recommendations. 

    Libby (Previously Overdrive) 

    While you can't recommend titles to your library in Libby quite yet, Libby is working on a feature that will let you express interest in any title in the OverDrive catalog. If a title you're interested in is purchased by one of your libraries, you'll receive a push notification in Libby.

    This feature will be released in 2023.

    Recommending physical titles for purchase 

    The Library accepts up to 20 physical title purchase requests per month, per customer account. (You also may request eBooks and eAudiobooks through the Library’s website.) Please visit this FAQ page for more details. 

    No, you will not accumulate overdue fines on digital titles. Digital titles are returned automatically. 

    See the Help, opens a new window section of the Libby website. You also can contact the Library's Virtual Information Center by phone, at 513-369-6900, or email, opens a new window. 

    The renew option becomes available three days before a title expires, and it appears next to the title on your "loans" page. If the title already has holds, you can't renew it but you can request it again.

    Libby titles must be renewed in Libby, not in the Library's catalog. Go to the Libby support website, opens a new window for details on how to renew eBooks in Libby.

    Yes, if a title is checked out you must put your name on a waiting list for it. You may have up to 20 items on hold, regardless of format.

     Customers can have a total of 40 items checked out from Libby, regardless of format. Find more information on Libby's support website, opens a new window.

    Yes, and your PIN. Your card must be in good standing.

    PCs, Macs, iOS, Android, NOOK, and Kindle devices. Find more information on Libby's support website.

    If you have a Windows computer, Mac computer, or a Chromebook, you can use Libby in your web browser at libbyapp.com, opens a new window. We suggest using the latest version of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge. Find more information on Libby's support website.

    RBdigital, one of our eAudiobook and eMagazine providers, was acquired by OverDrive / Libby, another digital book vendor. That means that all the content that you’ve come to enjoy through RBdigital is now available through the Libby app instead of the RBdigital apps.

    The transition timeline for eMagazines was Jan. 28, 2021.

    Thanks for your patience and understanding during this change. Please contact  digitalbooks@chpl.org  or chat with us if you have any comments or questions.

  • Hoopla - Books · eBooks

    Yes, whether you're on your phone, tablet, eReader, or even TV, there's a Library app to help make digital borrowing quicker and easier.

    Please note, the Overdrive app phased out in early 2023 and fully transitioned to Libby. Both apps access the same digital collection and Libby provides even more features to explore. Libby allows for simple, customizable reading, the ability to export notes and highlights (perfect for book clubs), tags to track your favorite reads, wish lists, and more.

    Visit our Stream & Download page for links and descriptions. 

    Freading 

    No, Freading does not accept recommendations.  

    Hoopla 

    No, Hoopla does not accept recommendations. 

    Libby (Previously Overdrive) 

    While you can't recommend titles to your library in Libby quite yet, Libby is working on a feature that will let you express interest in any title in the OverDrive catalog. If a title you're interested in is purchased by one of your libraries, you'll receive a push notification in Libby.

    This feature will be released in 2023.

    Recommending physical titles for purchase 

    The Library accepts up to 20 physical title purchase requests per month, per customer account. (You also may request eBooks and eAudiobooks through the Library’s website.) Please visit this FAQ page for more details. 

    No, you will not accumulate overdue fines on digital titles. Digital titles are returned automatically. 

    See the Help, opens a new window section of the Hoopla website. You also can contact the Library's Virtual Information Center by phone, at 513-369-6900, or email.

    Titles cannot be renewed.

    Hoopla Digital titles are always available; you don't have to put holds on them.

    21 days

    Customers have a checkout limit of 20 Hoopla downloads per month.

    Hoopla also has a daily limit for downloads which resets at 8 p.m. eastern time. Please try after 8 p.m., or the following day, if you receive this message: “The daily lending limit has been met. Please save this title to your Favorites and try again tomorrow.”

    Yes and your PIN. You also need to create a free account with Hoopla.

    No plugins are needed to listen to read or listen to Hoopla titles.

  • Freading

    Yes, whether you're on your phone, tablet, eReader, or even TV, there's a Library app to help make digital borrowing quicker and easier.

    Please note, the Overdrive app phased out in early 2023 and fully transitioned to Libby. Both apps access the same digital collection and Libby provides even more features to explore. Libby allows for simple, customizable reading, the ability to export notes and highlights (perfect for book clubs), tags to track your favorite reads, wish lists, and more.

    Visit our Stream & Download page for links and descriptions. 

    Freading 

    No, Freading does not accept recommendations.  

    Hoopla 

    No, Hoopla does not accept recommendations. 

    Libby (Previously Overdrive) 

    While you can't recommend titles to your library in Libby quite yet, Libby is working on a feature that will let you express interest in any title in the OverDrive catalog. If a title you're interested in is purchased by one of your libraries, you'll receive a push notification in Libby.

    This feature will be released in 2023.

    Recommending physical titles for purchase 

    The Library accepts up to 20 physical title purchase requests per month, per customer account. (You also may request eBooks and eAudiobooks through the Library’s website.) Please visit this FAQ page for more details. 

    No, you will not accumulate overdue fines on digital titles. Digital titles are returned automatically. 

    See the Frequently Asked Questions, opens a new window section of the Freading website. You also can contact the Library's Virtual Information Center by phone, at 513-369-6900, or email.

    Titles can be renewed once during the original checkout period.

    Freading eBooks are always available; you don't have to put holds on them.

    14 days

    Customers have a checkout limit of 12 books per week. Unused checkouts roll over to the next week, and up to three subsequent weeks.

    Yes, and your PIN.

    A list of supported devices is available here, opens a new window.