New media is any content created or distributed through digital platforms instead of traditional print or broadcast

When you hear "new media," it refers to movies, music, podcasts, ebooks, audiobooks, streaming video, and interactive content that exist as digital files rather than physical objects. Your library carries new media because it serves the same purpose as a printed book or DVD—it tells a story, teaches something, or entertains—but it reaches you through a screen or speaker instead of a page or television set.

The term "new" is relative. Streaming video has existed for over a decade, and ebooks for longer. What makes something "new media" is not how recent it is, but that it relies on digital technology to be created, stored, and played. A library's new media collection might include Netflix-style streaming services, Spotify-like music platforms, Kindle ebooks, Audible audiobooks, documentary films available only online, and interactive educational programs.

Libraries added new media to their collections because people stopped using only books and DVDs. If a library only owned physical items, it would miss readers who prefer listening to a book while commuting, viewers who want to watch a documentary on their phone, or people who need large-print text that only an ebook can provide. New media lets libraries serve more people in the way those people actually consume content.

Key Takeaways

  • New media includes ebooks, audiobooks, streaming movies and TV, podcasts, and music—anything digital rather than physical.
  • Libraries offer new media through apps and websites you access with your library card, the same way you borrow a physical book.
  • You do not own new media you borrow; access ends when the loan period expires or the library's license to that content ends.
  • Different platforms have different catalogs, so your library may have a title on one service but not another.
  • New media often has waiting lists because the library owns only a limited number of digital licenses, just as it owns only one physical copy of a book.

How libraries get the right to lend new media

Libraries do not straightforward read a movie or ebook and lend it the way they lend a physical book. Instead, they buy a license—a legal agreement that lets them offer that content to their patrons for a set period of time. The publisher or distributor controls how many people can access the content at once, how long each person can keep it, and whether the library can lend it at all.

This is why a book you can check out in print form might not be available as an ebook through your library. The publisher may have sold the print license to the library but not the digital license, or they may have sold the digital license only to a commercial service like Amazon. Publishers set these terms because they want to control how their work is distributed and how much money they make from each format.

When a library's license expires—which happens on a set date, not when you return the item—the content disappears from the platform. You might be reading an ebook and suddenly lose access on a specific date. This is different from a physical book, which the library owns permanently once it buys it. Understanding this difference helps explain why new media sometimes feels less stable than traditional library materials.

The main platforms where libraries offer new media

Most libraries partner with a handful of companies that specialize in lending digital content. Overdrive and Libby (which is owned by Overdrive) are the largest ebook and audiobook platforms; your library card works on both, and they carry millions of titles. Hoopla is another major ebook and audiobook service, plus it includes movies, TV shows, and comics. Kanopy focuses on streaming films—documentaries, independent movies, and educational videos.

Your library may also offer Spotify for Students (free music streaming if you are a student), Flipster (digital magazines), Freegal (music downloads), or Acorn TV (British television). Some libraries have their own apps or websites that bundle several services together. The exact platforms available depend on what your library has chosen to fund, so you may have access to services your friend's library does not.

To find what your library offers, go to your library's website and look for a section called "Digital Collections," "eBooks and Audiobooks," or "Streaming Services." Most libraries list all their new media platforms in one place with direct links to each one. You log in with your library card number and PIN, and you are taken to that platform's catalog.

Why new media has waiting lists and limits

When you check out a physical book, the library owns one copy. One person can read it at a time, and when they return it, the next person on the waiting list gets it. Digital content works almost the same way, except the library does not own the content—it owns a license to lend it. That license often limits how many people can access the same title simultaneously.

A library might buy a license that allows only three people to read the same ebook at the same time. If ten people want to read it, seven go on a waiting list. The wait time depends on how many people are ahead of you and how long each person keeps the book checked out. Popular new releases often have long waits because the library bought only a few licenses and many people want to read it at once.

Publishers set these limits because they want libraries to buy multiple licenses for popular titles, which means paying more money. This business model frustrates both libraries and readers, but it is how publishers have chosen to license digital content. Some libraries have started buying unlimited licenses for certain titles, but these cost more and are not yet standard practice.

The difference between borrowing and owning new media

When you borrow an ebook or audiobook from your library, you do not own it. You have the right to read or listen to it for a set period—usually 14 or 21 days—and then your access ends automatically. You cannot keep it forever, sell it, or pass it to someone else. This is different from buying an ebook on Amazon, where you own the license to that book for life (though Amazon can still remove it from your device if the publisher requests it).

This temporary access is actually the same legal situation as borrowing a physical book. You do not own the library's copy of a novel; you borrow it and return it. With new media, the "return" happens automatically when the loan period ends. Your device straightforward stops showing you the content, and you cannot open it anymore.

Some people prefer this model because it means they do not accumulate digital clutter—books automatically disappear from their device. Others find it frustrating because they cannot reread a favorite passage months later. If you want to own an ebook permanently, you can buy it, but many libraries also offer the option to borrow first and then decide whether to purchase.

How to start using your library's new media

First, make sure you have a valid library card. If you do not have one, visit your library in person or go to their website to get one. Most libraries now issue cards when ready online, and you can start using digital services the same day. You will need your card number and a PIN (usually the last four digits of your phone number, or one you create).

Next, go to your library's website and find the digital collections section. Look for links to Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, or whatever platforms your library offers. Click the link, log in with your library card number and PIN, and you are in. Search for a title, and if it is available, you can borrow it when ready. If it has a waiting list, you can join the list and the library will notify you when it is your turn.

read the app for whichever platform you use most. Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy all have free apps for phones and tablets. Once you log in on the app, you can borrow and read or watch without opening a web browser. Most platforms let you borrow multiple items at once, so you can have three ebooks and two audiobooks checked out simultaneously if you want.

What happens when your library's license to content ends

Publishers sell licenses to libraries for a set time period—often one year, sometimes longer. When that period ends, the library must renew the license if it wants to keep offering that content. If the library decides not to renew (usually because of budget cuts), the title disappears from the platform for all patrons.

If you are currently reading or listening to something and the license expires, you lose access when ready. You cannot finish the book. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of new media lending, and it is why some people prefer to buy ebooks they plan to reread or keep for reference. Libraries have no control over this; the publisher sets the expiration date.

You can help by telling your library which titles you want them to keep. Most libraries have a form on their website where you can request that they renew a license or purchase a new one. If enough patrons request a title, the library is more likely to prioritize it in their budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my library card at a different library's new media services?

Usually not. Your library card works only at your home library's digital platforms. If you have a card from a different library system, you can use that system's services instead. Some states have reciprocal agreements where you can get a card from a neighboring library system, which would give you access to their new media platforms as well.

What if I return an ebook early—do I get the time back?

No. Once you return an ebook, the loan is over. You cannot extend it or get unused days back. However, you can usually renew a book if no one is waiting for it, which gives you another full loan period. Check the platform to see if the renew button is available before your due date.

Can I read new media to read offline?

Yes, most platforms let you read ebooks and audiobooks to your device so you can read or listen without an internet connection. The read expires when your loan period ends, and the file deletes automatically. Movies and TV shows on Kanopy and Hoopla can usually be streamed but not downloaded.

Why do some libraries have more new media than others?

Libraries with larger budgets can buy more licenses and offer more platforms. A small rural library might offer only Libby and Kanopy, while a large city library might offer ten different services. Your library's collection depends on how much money the city or county gives them for digital materials.

What if a title says "not available in your region"?

Publishers sometimes restrict where their content can be lent digitally. A book might be available through Libby in one state but not another because the publisher sold the rights differently in each region. You cannot change this, but you can ask your library to request the title from the publisher or to find an alternative platform that carries it.