Frequently Asked Questions

There are three interfaces in the Overdrive READS via a PC - click on Kids or Teens to switch to either of them. Each interface displays the titles marked as appropriate for the age groups by the books’ publishers.  The option to return to the Main Collection is under the Collections option at the top.  Each interface is a different website and can be bookmarked in the web browser.

The Libby app can be limited using the blue Filter button on the home Library screen.  It is located at the top and the button has three lines on it that get narrower from top to bottom.  Cick on it.  Scroll down to  the Audience filters to limit the types of content seen while browsing and searching your library’s digital collection: 

1. Click on the blue Filter button at the top of the home Library screen.
2. Scroll down to the Audience filters to limit the types of content displayed while browsing and searching your library’s digital collection.
3. Under Audience, select the type of content you want to be seen. You can choose one or more of these filters:

• Juvenile: Fiction and nonfiction titles for children 
• Young adult: Fiction and nonfiction titles for young adults (teens)
• General adult: General fiction and nonfiction
• Mature adult: Fiction and nonfiction for readers over the age of 18

Another way to limit is from the Home Library page on either the website or app.  Choose the appropriate Guide for the youth.  This is a prefiltered collection. 

You can 'pin' the filter in the Libby app after making your audience selection.  Once you have selected the filtered audience via the filter button or guide and clicked on show titles, the filter button for juvenile and/or young adult will be at the top of the screen.  Press and hold the left side of the filter button with an 'x' on the right.  Pinning it will make it apply to all the listed books, and a thumbtack will appear in place of the x.  When you go back to the home library screen, it will be a the top with the other filters under 'Welcome to Tennessee READS.'

Pinning filters and sorts  and Video: https://youtu.be/QP7CoczMekI?si=4piMQj3YB-5msc6n

hoopla Kids Mode is a multi-format, digital media experience designed especially for kids (up to age 12). All the content, eBooks, audiobooks, comics and manga, music, movies, TV, and BingePass, has been curated and brought together in this one family-friendly place.

Kids Mode is a feature that should be used with parental guidance. Different age ranges can use this feature, and the titles available range from G-General Audiences to PG–Parental Guidance Suggested. Parents or guardians must decide whether a specific title is appropriate for their child.

“Kids Mode” can be turned on at the hoopla website and apps with the flip of a switch.  Go to "Settings" in the website or app and toggle “Kids Mode” on. Until the mode is switched off, only children’s materials will be offered in all of the hoopla formats.

Four (4) Flex and four( 4) Instant items may be borrowed from Hoopla per library card account per month.  

Flex items may be returned (checked in) and exchanged for a different item during the month. Flex items operate more like regular library item borrowing, and holds may be placed on them.  

When our budget limit for Hoopla items to be loaned per day is reached, none may be borrowed until 12:01 a.m. the next day. Please request your items on the following morning if you are prompted that your limit has been reached.

With hoopla Flex—signified by revolving arrows—you can borrow titles marked Available or place a hold with just a click for a title marked Wait List. hoopla will notify you when it becomes available. You now have five hoopla Flex borrows to use at any given time. If you ever run out of hoopla Flex borrows, simply return one Flex title and select a new one.  Items available for hoopla Flex borrowing have an icon with two arrows in a circle or loop in the top left.

hoopla Instant offers audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, music, television, and more—all in the same app. hoopla Instant titles—identified by a lightning bolt—are always available to immediately stream or download with no wait. You can use five hoopla Instant borrows each month.  These items have an icon with a lightning bolt in the upper left. 

The Library has a monthly budget for Hoopla.  It has been divided up to a set amount per day by Hoopla.  When the daily amount is reached, no matter the time of day, it doesn't reset or restart until 12:01 am the next day.  This may limit patrons even if they haven't reached their allotment of borrows for the month.

Effective September 4, 2019, OverDrive ended the ability to download audiobooks to Mac computers. The previous software OverDrive for Mac is no longer be available for download.  Mac users cannot view the option to download audiobooks from the OverDrive website. Mac users will see the option to stream audiobook titles in their web browser.  Learn more.

If downloading audio to your Mac is your preference, try our audiobook collection RBdigital, which allows you to download via the RBdigital Media Manager for Mac. Downloaded titles may be listened to on your Mac or transferred to an MP3 player. Learn more about RBdigital.

UPDATE 9.30.2019: Overdrive apologizes and is working to fix it! https://company.overdrive.com/2019/09/25/important-update-on-the-overdrive-desktop-app-for-mac/

It is the last four digits of your library card number. 

You can call any Branch or the Main Library and staff will reset it if you are having issues with logging into your account.

READS can be accessed with your computer's browser at the Tennessee READS website or with the web version of the Libby app.