Our Collection

Cloud Library FAQ

To see the Library’s main Cloud Library page, including instructions on how to use it, go here

What is Cloud Library?

Cloud Library is the home of the Society Library's circulating e-book collection, and enables members to browse, borrow, and read a collection of e-books selected by Library staff. Books can be read on personal devices, such as iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Nook, Kindle Fire, PC, and Mac OS.

Cloud Library asks for my Library Card ID to login. Where do I find my Library Card ID if  I do not have a library card?

Although we do not issue library cards, you do have a Library Card ID, which is your membership’s unique identification number. Login to our website, and you will find the Library Card ID under your name in the “My Tab” sidebar. If your ID includes a hyphen, you must include it when logging into Cloud Library. 

There is only one Library Card ID per membership. Individual household members share the same number just as they share the same account.

Can I change my Library card ID number?

No. 

What kind of e-reader can I use with Cloud Library e-books?

Apple devices (iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch), Android-based tablets and smartphones, Nooks, Sony eReaders, Amazon Kindle Fire, PCs, Mac OS, and more not specifically listed.

Can I read Cloud Library e-books on my Amazon Kindle?

Cloud Library only works with the Kindle Fire. Amazon requires that e-book platforms have a contract with them to offer standard Kindle compatibility. Cloud Library is currently in negotiations with Amazon. Instructions for downloading the Kindle Fire app are available here

I use Overdrive to read e-books from another library. Can I read Cloud Library books using Overdrive?

No. Overdrive and Cloud Library are separate programs with separate cloud libraries, and you can only access NYSL e-books from the Cloud Library app on your device.

I also use the Cloud Library collections at other libraries. Is there a way to move between libraries that offer the same platform without putting in the barcode each time? Is there a way to view and access all my e-books borrowed via Cloud Library from multiple libraries at one time, on one listing?

No. You must log out and log in to switch among Cloud Libraries. In the same way that you would not be able to borrow books from the Society Library's print collection using your Brooklyn Public Libary card/barcode, you must use the unique Library card number associated with each library. 

How long can I borrow e-books?

14 days. The e-books will disappear automatically from your account on their due date. 

Can I return my e-books early?

Yes—if you use an iPad, iPhone or Android device. Go to My Books and click on "List View" to select the book you want to return. Please remember that if you have a book checked out, no one else can read it. If you finish a book before its due date, as a courtesy you may check it in early.

Do I pay fines for e-books?

No. E-books you have checked out will disappear automatically from your account on their due date, so they will never be overdue and you will never have to pay a fine.

Can I renew my e-book?

No, but you can check it out again if there are no holds on it.

How many e-books can I check out?

Five e-books per membership may be checked out at one time.

Will the e-books I have borrowed affect the number of print books I can check out? 

No.

How many Library members can read a single e-book at once? 

Only one. Cloud Library e-books are just like books on the Library shelves. While checked out, the book is unavailable to other members: one copy, one user. 

Can I place holds on e-books?

Yes. Using the app, you may place a hold on an e-book that is currently checked out to another patron. When you place a hold, you will see the scheduled number of days until the e-book will be available. Do not use the Library catalog to place a hold on an e-book. 

How many e-books can I have on my 3M holds list?

Five. 

Will I be notified when an e-book I have on hold becomes available for check out? 

When the e-book is returned to Cloud Library, a message will appear in your Message Center telling you the book is available for downloading. You will have three days to download the book before the hold is removed. You may also sign up to receive an e-mail notification when a book on hold is available by entering your e-mail address in the “Email notification” tab of “Account Profile” settings:

Can I cancel a hold?

Yes. Go to the My Books page and click on "Show All." This will take you to a new page that will display a "Remove from Hold List" button next to each book on hold. Simply click on the button next to the hold you wish to delete.

Are e-books listed in the Library’s online catalog? 

Yes. If you search the catalog by author or title or subject, e-books in our collection will appear in search results alongside printed books, identified by the following note: "Availability: 1 copy available at Online Resource." If you click on the URL link in the e-book’s catalog record, you will be taken directly to that book's listing in the cloud library.

The Society Library’s online catalog says the e-book (“Online Resource”) is available for borrowing, but when I open my Cloud Library app, it says I can only put it on my hold list. Why is that?

Circulation of our Cloud Library e-book collection is not serviced directly by our Library system. You must verify the availability of e-books by checking your Cloud Library. 

Why don’t you have the digital version of my favorite author’s newest book or a latest best seller?

Terms for libraries to purchase e-book content are often different than the terms for consumers. These terms vary widely from publisher to publisher, and sometimes even title to title. Some restrictions are prohibitive, and the Library may decide not to purchase the electronic edition of a book that is popular in print format. 

May I suggest an e-book to add to the collection?

Yes. Use the online Suggest a Purchase form and indicate your preference for the book in digital format. 

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

You can ask circulation or reference staff for assistance or contact our help desk: help@nysoclib.org | 212-288-6900, ext. 241.

 

 
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