Downloadables & Streaming

Online Resource Tutorials

The Garland Libraries offer video tutorials on how to use many of our online resources.  Learn how to use Value Line, Mango Languages, Testing and Education Reference Center, Chilton Auto Repair and many more. Also included are tutorials on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Gmail, Google Photos, and Goodreads.

Hoopla logo


hoopla Digital


With your library card, you can borrow:

  • Comics
  • Music
  • Movies
  • TV shows
  • Magazines
  • BingePasses 

For free - anytime, anywhere via hoopla’s mobile app or www.hoopladigital.com!

What do I need to sign up for hoopla?
To sign up, you'll need a valid Garland library card and your PIN, as well as a computer, smartphone or tablet. During registration, hoopla will ask you to enter an email address. This will be your username to log into our service. Now you are able to set a password for your account as well.

Are there any fees to use hoopla?
No, hoopla is a free service provided to library patrons by the Nicholson Memorial Library System.

What are borrows?
Borrows work like credits that allow you to enjoy content. Garland Library patrons are allotted 4 borrows each month. These borrows will reset every month and you can borrow more than one title at a time.

How long are titles available after borrowing?
Videos 2-3 Days
Magazines 7 days
Music 7 Days
Binge passes 7 days
Comics 21 Days

What is a hoopla BingePass?
A hoopla BingePass makes it easy to stream collections of premium content with just one click. It’s the ultimate boredom buster — giving you unlimited access to stream interactive, educational, and engaging collections of content online. Whether you want to listen to a podcast, or dive into a new documentary, there’s a BingePass for you. Plus, it’s all for free with your public library membership. Once you make your selection, you will have access to your BingePass borrow for seven days. Some BingePass borrows let you explore content directly within a partner’s platform, while others give you access to whole collections right on hoopla.

What are Bonus Borrows?
For one month out of every quarter, Bonus Borrows content—which is free to your library and doesn’t count against patron borrow limits—is made available on hoopla. When Bonus Borrows are available, promotions and recommended titles for each format will appear on the home page. hoopla works closely with publishers to select titles for the program, with each BingePass period featuring fresh, quality content. When Bonus Borrows are not available, patrons can still take advantage of hoopla BingePass, which allows unlimited streaming of entire collections for seven days with just one borrow.

To provide the best experience your device will need to be running Android version 8.1 or higher, or for iOS, version 15 or higher. If you have an older OS, you will continue to be able to borrow and read content, but updating your device will ensure you receive best features, increasing stability and decrease issues.

kanopy logo: Films that Matter

https://nmls.kanopy.com

Kanopy streaming video offers instant 24/7 access to a wide selection of crowd-pleasing comedies, fun and entertaining documentaries, popular classic cinema, and family-friendly videos. Kanopy Kids streaming videos promote empathy, critical thinking, and help build STEM skills. Enjoy Kanopy’s carefully curated titles from Weston Woods, Sesame Street, Jim Henson Productions, Highlights for Children, Signed Stories, Vooks storybooks and more!  All you need is your library card to view films on Kanopy! 

Unlimited, all-you-can-watch access for Garland Library cardholders!  Each card holder will need to use their individual email address.  Users cannot have multiple cards under one email address.

  • British Cinema & TV: A unique blend of intriguing mysteries, addictive dramas, and big-hearted comedies for Anglophiles who relish proper British movies and TV series.
  • Favorites: Staff and patron picks featuring crowd pleasers and acclaimed actors. These dramas, comedies, thrillers, documentaries, and television series will please a range of audiences.
  • Easy Watching: Crowd-pleasing comedies, fun and entertaining documentaries, popular classic cinema, and family-friendly films. These stories will entertain and charm.
  • Diversity: A broad range of popular and compelling films and documentaries that focus on diverse stories and storytellers. These powerful titles broaden viewpoints and help enrich understanding.
  • Kanopy Kids: Over 2,000 titles for kids and families, ranging from beloved characters like Paddington Bear, Madeline, Blippi, Sesame Street and PBS Kids, to read-along story books by Vooks, Highlights, and Signed Stories. Kanopy Kids is the safe, educational, and parent-trusted streaming platform with children at the center.

With Kanopy, users can enjoy films on all their favorite devices—from desktop computers to mobile devices and Smart TVs, including Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, and more.

Kanopy Website Features https://help.kanopy.com/en-us/4168.htm
TV & Mobile Apps https://help.kanopy.com/en-us/categories/mobile-tv-apps.htm
Kanopy Help https://help.kanopy.com/en-us/home.htm

What are "play credits"?  Kanopy offers several different subscription models for libraries and you may see reference to play credits in the help menus.  We did not subscribe to the model that uses those.  The packages we subscribed to allow unlimited viewing by our cardholders.

OverDrive logo

OverDrive Digital Library

Downloadable audiobooks, eBooks, magazines and streaming videos for Garland Library card holders

  • Listen to audiobooks 
  • Read eBook, PDF, Kindle and/or graphic novels
  • Read magazines
  • Audiobooks and eBooks can be used on a PC or Mac through the Libby app in a browser.
  • Libby app is available for iPhone, Google Play devices and Amazon Fire tablets.
  • Libby is also compatible with Apple CarPlay, androidauto, SONOS, amazonkindle, Google Home and Amazon Echo.

OverDrive Libby iconLibby - the OverDrive app!


Meet Libby
Libby Instructions (313 KB)
Libby app in a browser 

OverDrive Help & Support links:

OverDrive Help - Search for answers and/or watch how-to videos
Libby Help - Learn about Libby and how it works
Device Resource Center - A snapshot of how popular devices can be used with OverDrive
OverDrive status - A site for determining if OverDrive is experiencing performance issues

Niche green arrow graphic #1 OverDrive Downloadable Books Tutorial

OVERDRIVE UPDATES

OverDrive will be sunsetting the legacy OverDrive app. This will enable OverDrive and libraries to focus on Libby as the primary app for users to enjoy and engage with our digital library. 

How this initial change will impact users:

  • OverDrive app users can continue to use the app until it stops working for them.
  • New users looking for the OverDrive app will be directed to Libby. 
  • All users can continue to use, borrow, and open titles from your library’s OverDrive website via a browser. 

There will be no updates for the OverDrive app.  Once it stops working you will have to download and use Libby.

OverDrive Magazines  

Unlimited access to over 3,000 titles, including top titles like:

  • US Weekly
  • National Geographic
  • Good Housekeeping
  • Vanity Fair
  • Rolling Stone
  • Cook's Illustrated

Magazines - OverDrive website https://nmls.overdrive.com/library/magazines
Magazines - Libby App in a browser: https://libbyapp.com/library/nmls

Magazines can be checked out for 7 or 21 days and can be renewed.  Digital magazines have no wait lists or holds and do not count towards your 10 checkout limit.  

The magazines can best be accessed through the Libby app or Libby app in a browser. Readers can browse lists of magazines within the app and search to find available titles.

If you aren't able to use the Libby App on your device (such as a Kindle Fire), you can access the Libby app in any browser at https://libbyapp.com/library/nmls. This alternative has the same titles as Libby, but offers slightly different features and device compatibility.  The article view feature is only available in Libby.

PressReader words in green on a black background



PressReader Newspapers and Magazines
Access thousands of newspapers every day, along with 90 days of back issues from national, provincial, and global leading publications. Check out and access all the newspapers in an easy-to-read page view or text view format in a PressReader display. Search articles and publications and set preferences for your daily newspapers. Over 100 countries in 60 languages provide must-have newspapers, and with a press of a button, you can translate your favorites from their original language into more than 16 languages.

Local papers include:

  • The Dallas Morning News

Other major papers:

  • Los Angeles Times
  • Chicago Tribune
  • New York Post
  • Daily Mail
  • Philadelphia Enquirer

How to access PressReader Newspapers and Magazines:

  1. Download the PressReader app or go to www.pressreader.com 
  2. Click "Sign In" and choose "Library or Group" to get to the unlimited access for Garland Library cardholders.
  3. Search for Garland Public Library and select it from the list.
  4. Enter your library card information and PIN to begin reading.

Niche green arrow graphic #2PressReader Video Tutorial