Watch movies or TV shows, get e-books or audiobooks, listen to music, read popular magazines and comics with hoopla

Start streaming instantly or download something to enjoy later, offline. To get started, download the free hoopla app or create an account on hoopladigital.com. Provide your email address and library card information, then create a password for your hoopla account. Hoopla is available on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, and the web.

Tip - before you try to sign on with your smart TV, be sure to create a hoopla account on a computer first. Your TV will direct you to the hoopla website to complete your sign-in. 

Borrowing
Each library account can borrow 10 items per month. There are no wait lists and no limit on how many customers can check out a specific title at any given time. All titles are available all the time.

Each of your items will have an expiration date and be automatically returned once that date passes. Movies and TV shows are available for 72 hours, e-books and audiobooks, comics and graphic novels for 21 days, and music for 7 days. 

Kids Mode
Looking for kid-friendly media? Turn on “Kids Mode” to browse content designed for children 12 years and under. Toggle Kids Mode off again when you’re ready to browse for yourself. Note: movies in this section range in rating from G (General Audiences) to PG (Parental Guidance Suggested). Parents and guardians must decide whether a specific title is appropriate for their child.

Cards from Other Libraries
If you're already using hoopla with another library's card, you can use more than one card with your hoopla account by accessing “Settings” by tapping the gear icon in the hoopla app. In Settings look for “Library Settings” or “Library” (depending on whether you’re using Apple or Android). In the box to search for your library enter “st lucie” and you should see "St. Lucie County Library." Select us as your library, then enter your library card number lower down in the Library Card box. Hoopla will remember how many checkouts per month you have on each card, and you can switch between them at any time. 

Questions? Visit the hoopla support page.

Access hundreds of movies on your computer or mobile device through Kanopy's collection of independent, international, documentary, and early films from providers like Criterion, PBS and Kino Lorber. You must be 18 or older to create a Kanopy account. 

Each month you have 18 "tickets" and each title costs from 1 to 5 tickets. Kanopy Kids titles are free and won't count against your 18-ticket limit. (Learn more about Kanopy Kids here, and how to use Kanopy's parental controls here.) The Great Courses packages cost 5 tickets each, with 21 days to view.   

1. Go to this page, click on "Add a Library Card" and enter the number on the back of your library card.  On the next page create a Kanopy account with your name, email address and password, or click one of the links below to log in with your Google or Apple account. You'll need to confirm you're 18 or older.
2. At some point go to the confirmation email sent to you and click on the link that confirms your email (you can skip this if you logged in with Google or Apple).
3. You're all done!

How to watch Kanopy films on your TV

Roku

Apple and Apple TV

Android and Chromecast

Questions? Visit the Kanopy support page.

How can I access the Library's free ebooks and online audiobooks? 
A St. Lucie County Library card is required. If you don't have a card, please call any of our branches during open hours and our staff will be happy to create a new account for you. Please have your contact information handy when you call, along with a pen and paper you can use to write down your account number if you’d like to use it immediately to check out ebooks. Your new card will be mailed to you.

The Library's free ebooks and online audiobooks can be enjoyed on a phone, tablet, computer or e-reader. We have three sources for online books, Overdrive, CloudLibrary and hoopla. To see how they differ please see the answer to the next question below. If you need help getting started please call any of the branch libraries listed below and staff will be happy to assist.

Overdrive has information on how to access their content on specific devices here.  For CloudLibrary, get the Android app here, the Apple app here. CloudLibrary has online help videos here. 

What's the difference between Overdrive, Cloudlibrary and hoopla?
Overdrive is where you'll find the most recent, most popular ebooks, including all of our books for Kindle readers (a Kindle Fire can access ebooks and audiobooks from both places). However, there are also plenty of ebooks in hoopla and CloudLibrary, actually more than in Overdrive, but generally not recent best-sellers. If you're looking for older titles from your favorite author they'll most likely be found in hoopla or CloudLibrary.

Most audiobooks are in hoopla and CloudLibrary, including recent best-sellers, though at this time there's a small collection of audiobooks in Overdrive.

In Overdrive we have access only to content we've purchased. Hoopla has the largest collection of e-books and audiobooks, and they're always available for checkout, no waiting. In CloudLibrary, in addition to content we've purchased, we have access to ebooks and audiobooks owned by other libraries in the state, as long as they're not currently checked out by users from the owning library. Because priority is given to the owning library, when an item is checked out by someone from the owning library you won't be able to find it in a search. That's why some titles will seem to disappear from time to time.

In hoopla you're limited to 10 checkouts of any kind per month. Items in CloudLibrary and Overdrive check out for 14 days, and you're limited to 6 checkouts at one time and 6 holds. Please note, if you want to be notified by email when a CloudLibrary hold becomes available, you will need to go into your CloudLibrary settings and turn on email notifications. After you log in on a computer click on "Settings," and on the app click on "Account," then "Notifications." You'll need to turn that setting on and enter your email address. When a hold becomes available in CloudLibrary you'll have 3 days to check it out. If you haven't checked it out after 3 days the item becomes available to the next person.

A book I checked out once in CloudLibrary isn't there anymore. Why did it disappear?
We have access to items owned by other libraries only when they're not checked out. When someone else has one of those items checked out it becomes unavailable to us, and you won't find it in a search. If you do a search for it periodically it should show up again eventually. The items we've purchased will always show up in a search, and if they're checked out you'll be able to put a hold on them. 

Why do I have to wait so long for some books?
We routinely purchase one copy per six holds of the most popular titles, but some publishers are beginning to limit the number of copies we can purchase. For instance, Macmillan allows us to purchase only one copy of their best-sellers for the first eight weeks they're available. If you believe there's a problem with a hold please contact us and we'll be happy to check on it. 

Can I use CloudLibrary books on a Kindle?
Kindle Fire yes, Kindle Reader no. You can find instructions for installing the CloudLibrary app on a Kindle Fire by clicking here. Ebooks for a Kindle reader are available in Overdrive. We do not have audiobooks for a Kindle Reader, which only allows audiobooks from Audible.com. 

Can I listen to Overdrive (Libby) or CloudLibrary audiobooks on my MP3 player?
Only if your MP3 player can connect to the internet and install the Libby or CloudLibrary app on it. With Overdrive's switch to the Libby app they have discontinued the use of MP3 files that can be transferred to an MP3 player, due to licensing issues with publishers who objected to making their audiobooks available in a format that can be shared with anyone on the internet. Currently both vendors require use of their app to listen to their audiobooks. 

You can listen to audiobooks from either source on your phone when it's not connected to the internet, or any device that uses a recent Apple (iOS) or Android operating system and lets you install apps on it, like an iPod Touch or an MP3 player like this one. You can also use an Android phone that's no longer on a phone plan. Even if it's not on a phone plan an Android phone with a recent operating system can use a wifi connection to download the Libby or CloudLibrary app and audiobooks, and it will play audiobooks when it's not connected to wifi. There are detailed instructions on how to use an old phone for this purpose here. You will need to make sure your device meets the current specifications for the Libby or CloudLibrary app. Current specifications for Libby are available here. The CloudLibrary app currently requires Android 5.0 or later, or iOS 11.4 or later.  

Step 1:  Download the CloudLibrary App. Get the Android app here, the Apple app here.

Step 2:  Set Up Your Account

• Select your language
• Select US, Florida, and St. Lucie County Library and click Next
• Accept the Terms and Policies
• Enter your 14-digit card number
• Check out the brief tutorial

Step 3:  Get Familiar with the App

• Tap SEARCH to browse featured items, FAVORITES to see items you’ve saved, or ALL to browse all items. You can search by author or title using the search box at the top.
• To the right of the search bar are 3 lines on Android, a funnel symbol on Apple. Tap it to narrow your results by format, etc. After tapping it, push the slider to the right for formats you want to see, then tap Apply at the top right (don’t forget to hit Apply).
• At the bottom of the screen you’ll see Home, which takes you to the main page, My Books to see items you’ve checked out, Search to search or browse by category, and Account, where you can access notification settings and other useful information

Step 4:  Download a Book or Audiobook

• Search for something specific, or browse collections on the search page
• When you find something of interest, select Borrow or Place Hold. As soon as you borrow an item it will start to download to your device. It may take a minute or so to fully download, but you can start listening almost right away.
• You can also click the Save for Later button to add to your list for future downloads
• Books are returned automatically on their due date, but to return a book early, select My Books and click on Return.

Keep in mind that in CloudLibrary you have access to books owned by other libraries around the state, as long as they’re not checked out. When they’re checked out you won’t find them in a search, so some items will seem to disappear, but eventually most will become available again. Titles owned by us are always accessible to borrow or put on hold.

CloudLibrary is best for audiobooks and older e-books by all authors. CloudLibrary titles do not work with Amazon Kindle readers (though it does work with Kindle Fire tablets).

Overdrive (on the Libby app) is best for recent best-sellers in e-book format, including books for Kindle readers.

Step 1:  Download the Libby App, available on both Android and Apple devices.

Step 2:  Set Up Your Account

• Open the app and answer "yes" to "do you have a library card?"
• Search for St. Lucie County Library System
• Select Sign in With My Card and enter your card number

Step 3:  Get Familiar with the App

• At the bottom of the screen you’ll see a magnifying glass on the left—tap it to search for specific titles or authors. Look for filter buttons below the search box.
• You’ll also see a building icon you can tap to browse categories; 3 lines (or the Libby icon) to manage your library cards and notifications (tap Settings when you get there); a books icon to view your shelf of loans & holds; and a clock icon to view a timeline of your actions in the app

  Step 4:  Download a Book or Audiobook

• Search for something specific, or browse collections on the main page
• When you find something of interest, select Borrow or Place Hold
• When you borrow the item, select reading it in Libby or send it to a Kindle device
• If you send it to a Kindle device, Libby will take you to Amazon – just follow the instructions
• You’re all set - happy reading!
• Books will automatically return after their due date, but to return a book early, select Manage Loan next to the title and then Return Early

 Libby is best for recent best-sellers in e-book format, including books for Kindle readers. CloudLibrary is best for audiobooks and older e-books by popular authors.

What is Freegal?

Freegal® is a free music service from your library, and all you need is your library card. Freegal offers access to over 15 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists, and more than 40,000 music videos. In total the collection includes music from over 40,000 labels with music from over 100 countries. There is no software to download, and there are no digital rights management (DRM) restrictions. Artists include AC/DC, Adele, Alicia Keys, BTS, BB King, Barbara Streisand, Beyoncé, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, BTS, Cage The Elephant, Michael Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Céline Dion, Dave Matthews Band, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Fiona Apple, Harry Styles, Hozier, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Johnny Cash, John Legend, Khalid, Leonard Bernstein, Leonard Cohen, London Symphony Orchestra, Maren Morris, Meghan Trainor, One Direction, P!nk, Pearl Jam, Pitbull, Pink Floyd, Prince, Sara Bareilles, Santana, Shania Twain, Usher, Walk The Moon, Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma, Zay and many, many more. 

How do I get the Freegal mobile application?

Apple users can find Freegal's mobile app in the App Store by doing a search for "Freegal Music," while Android users can find it in the Google Play store by using the same search terms (not all Android devices are compatible). You can download the Freegal Music app for your Kindle Fire through the Amazon Store. Freegal Music is supported on Kindle Fire 3rd generation and up. Barnes & Noble tablet devices are not compatible with the Freegal Music app. 

How much music can I download at a time?

You can download up to five songs per week and stream 24 hours a day. Music videos, which are considered premium content, account for two downloads instead of one.

How long will I have access to my downloads?

Songs and music videos are yours to keep after they have been successfully downloaded. In the case of a download/installation error you are allotted three chances to download a song to your computer or mobile device. This download must occur within two weeks of the original download attempt. Re-downloads do not count against your download total. 

In what format do songs and music videos download?

All songs are in MP3 format while music videos are in MP4. There are no DRM restrictions on either format.

How do I stream music using Freegal?

When you put your cursor over an album, you will see a “stream now” button come up. If you press that button on an album, the whole album will play in order. You can stream all day long for free. Freegal also offers genre specific playlists of pre-selected songs for your enjoyment. You can also create your own playlists at your leisure by clicking this link and following the directions under "What are the basics of streaming?"

Why does the counter say I've downloaded more songs than I actually have?

You may have started a download then changed your mind and canceled it. Once you click the "download now" button, it can't be reversed. It will count towards your download limit even if you cancel or choose "play" instead of "download." To avoid this, please use the song samples to ensure you are downloading a song you want in your music library. We cannot credit a download.

Are the songs really free?

Freegal Music and the music you download are free in the sense that most things in your library are free to you as a patron of the library. The service is underwritten by your local library.

What can I legally do with downloaded or streamed music from Freegal?

The music you access via the Freegal Music site is for non-commercial purposes only. It comes with a license for personal use only. This means that you cannot duplicate it for others, or play it in public, other than for the intended enjoyment of a normal circle of family or friends.