The Library debuted a new and improved library application for mobile devices (commonly called an app) in December 2020. The app is free to download for devices using iOS or Android operating systems.
Download on iOS, opens a new window | Download on Android, opens a new window
App Features
This app is a way to keep track of your library account and is not a replacement for our other digital borrowing apps , opens a new windowlike Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy.
- Find out when your materials are ready to pick up, due, or overdue.
- See if you owe any fines on your materials.
- Search our catalog and check out digital books and resources or place holds on physical materials for pickup.
- Browse books, audiobooks, movies, and TV shows that are new to the Library.
- Learn about events at your home library and other library locations.
- The app defaults to your home library location, but you can change the settings for any location you prefer or even multiple locations. (You may also change this setting on our website, under Holds and Pickup Location.)
- Any shelves you’ve created in your account on the Library website also appear on your shelves on the app.
- Read through the newest staff recommendation lists and check out materials on those lists.
What's New
- The new app updates in real-time, using the login credentials you created on the website. No more delays in important messaging because everything updates from one spot.
- The app showcases the most important information — like holds, returns, and even displays your digital library card — right on the app’s landing page. The main navigation of the app is at the bottom; “My Borrowing,” catalog search, shelves, and locations are always accessible.
Our new app replaces our old app which is no longer supported.
Library App FAQs
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Online resource and research database access is not a feature of CHPL's mobile app.
To access these resources, visit https://chpl.org/online-resources/ on your web browser.
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We are aware that customers using the iOS version of our app are currently unable to place holds on titles with multiple volumes (books), multiple issues (magazines), or multiple episodes (TV shows). We are working to fix the issue.
In the meantime, you may place a hold on these items on our website using your web browser or via the Android version of our app.
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The Library's app was built specifically for iPhone (iOS 11 and above) and Android devices (7.0 Nougat and above.)
The app is not currently designed to support iPads. We regularly monitor device usage and may revisit support at a future point. Instead, we suggest visiting our website, CincinnatiLibrary.org, through your iPad's web browser.
If you still prefer to use the Library's app on your iPad, you may do so through the iPad's compatibility mode. Compatibility mode mimics the iPhone app experience on the iPad by stretching the screen to 1x or 2x the size of the iPhone screen. Running the app through compatibility mode means that you might experience some issues that we are not able to actively support, which include layout, scanner, and other related issues.
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After downloading the app, open the app for the first time. The first time you use the app, you will be be asked to enter your library login and password.
To log in to the app, you must first create an account on our website, CincinnatiLibrary.org. To do so, click "Log In/My CHPL" in the upper right corner of any page on the website.
Once you are logged in to the app, you will be able to see the status of your checkouts, your holds, any fees, and other account information.
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No, our new app is not currently available on Kindle devices. To access your account information on a Kindle, visit CincinnatiLibrary.org in a browser then click "Log in/My CHPL" in the top right corner of any page.
It is also possible to borrow library books, magazines, and other digital items on your Kindle using our vendors' apps. These apps include the Overdrive app, opens a new window to access library eBooks.
If you have further questions about accessing library books on your Kindle, please contact us 24 hours a day.
