Changes to OverDrive & Libby Access

We want to let you know about an important upcoming change to our digital collection. Beginning February 1^st, 2026, access to OverDrive and Libby will be limited to Coquitlam residents only.

This was a difficult decision, but it’s an important step to ensure that we can continue to offer a strong, sustainable digital collection for our community. Below, you’ll find more information about why this change is happening, how digital licensing works, and what you can do to help keep our eBook and eAudiobook collection thriving.

Why We're Making This Change

Demand for digital books has grown rapidly, and the cost of maintaining our digital collection has grown with it. Unlike print materials—where one purchased copy can be shared indefinitely—libraries must license digital books. These licenses are far more expensive and often expire after a certain number of checkouts or a set period of time, therefore requiring us to repurchase popular titles again and again.

Most BC library systems already limit digital access to their residents or charge non-residents fees. By following their lead, we can ensure that the Coquitlam taxpayers who fund our services receive priority access to the digital collections they support.

The Challenge for Libraries

Popular books like The Black Wolf by Louise Penny show the financial challenge of maintaining a strong eBook collection.

Here are how the costs compare:

Due to the ease of access, and wide adoption of eBooks, physical copies of popular titles like this have shorter waitlists, which means fewer copies need to be purchased. Digital titles, however, require multiple licenses to keep wait times reasonable—and each copy comes at a high cost. When thousands of readers place holds on the same book at the same time, those costs escalate quickly.

Small Ways You Can Help Make a Big Difference

Readers play a big role in helping us stretch our digital budget. Here are a few simple ways to help keep our collection strong:

• Pause before placing that hold. If you can wait a little longer for a popular title, use Libby's tagging feature to save it for later. Fewer early holds means fewer costly licenses.
• Return titles early. If you finish a book before it’s due, returning it helps the next person in line right away.
• Use "deliver later" or suspend your hold. If you’re busy and won’t get to a book in time, suspending your hold prevents wasted checkouts.
• Enjoy magazines freely. Libraries pay one flat fee for magazine access in Libby—read as many as you’d like!

These small actions add up and help us direct our budget where it’s needed most.

What This Means for Your Account

If you’re already a resident of Coquitlam, and your address is up-to-date on your account, there is no action needed. If your account reflects an address outside of Coquitlam, the following may answer some of your questions:

What happens to my holds after February 1^st?
If your account address is not in Coquitlam, you may still receive hold notices, but you won’t be able to check out the items. Holds will expire over time, and you won’t be able to place new ones.

If you’ve recently moved to Coquitlam, bring a piece of mail or ID with your current address to any branch and we’ll update your account so you can continue borrowing.

Can I move my existing holds to another library?
No. Holds can’t be transferred between library systems. We’re providing advance notice so you can plan ahead and place requests with your home library, if needed.

Need More Information?