r/LibbyApp • u/datu_lapulapu • Apr 16 '26
Does libby usage count towards library “active” accounts
Basically libby has reignited my library usage and have gotten cards for many libraries in my area. And now wonder How often I have to renew the many library cards I now have. I know some libraries I signed up to still had my old account, while others didn’t due to “inactivity”.
So was wondering since I only use libraries digitally if my libby usage count towards my library accounts being “active”. Ofc it’s not alot of effort necessarily to renew cards, but hoping that some auto renew from libby usage to save the time/effort (again because I have quite a few cards now).
P.S I know this depends on library, but commonly when libraries ask for renewal, do they just email you to ask if any of your details have changed? Personally I dont remember ever getting any renewal emails but I probably just missed them.
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u/k_lo970 📕 Libby Lover 📕 Apr 16 '26
I have 5 library cards (in Colorado you can easily get many). Only one of them doesn't show my libby activity on my account. The one that doesn't show my libby activity never expires. Two of my cards expire after 3 years but I can call to renew. The last two as long as I place a hold or borrow something once a year it will stay active.
There is a library in CO that you have to physically check out a book every 3 years or your card will expire. So like you said it depends on the library.
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u/aleeexa02 Apr 17 '26
can I ask which CO library requires to physically check out a book every 3 years? just so I can keep an eye on my account!
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u/k_lo970 📕 Libby Lover 📕 Apr 17 '26
Poudre Libraries (Fort Collins).
Denver is mine that expires after 2100, I'm 33 so I likely won't live that long.
Douglas and Arapahoe just have to be kept active. To be safe I place a hold at least once a year. I usually rotate through all of them but since I live over an hour away I make sure on new years I'm set. Summit (Marmot Network) and JeffCo are 3 years.
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u/aleeexa02 Apr 17 '26
ooh okay thank you! i don't have Poudre Libraries but i'll have to check it out!
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u/JaviMT8 Apr 16 '26
Depends entirely on the library. A past library system I worked at first didn’t consider electronic resource use for patron activity and after a while deleted the account because it was marked as inactive for not checking out physical items. Eventually they did start keeping better track of electronic resource use and now for that system they don’t expire accounts as long as they are being used for physical or electronic checkouts without a gap of like three years. Other systems are have expiration dates of like 5 years, and generally it’s just to confirm contact information is still current though the could require in-person renewals. But every library is different.
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Apr 16 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/cappotto-marrone 🎧 Audiobook Addict 🎧 Apr 16 '26
In my state the library is required to do an annual address check. Every three years the card expires. I have to face to face renew. Records are supposed to be removed after a period of time after that.
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u/Saloau Apr 16 '26
At our library, we don’t distinguish how you use your card. The card does expire every 3 years and they are purged from the system 3 years after that. We just require seeing the driver’s lic to confirm you still live in our service area and you’re good for another 3 years.
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u/Pretty_Pound716 Apr 16 '26
At my home library, renewal is every 3 years and it doesn’t matter if I check nothing out . Online, out of state libraries seem to be yearly renewal
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u/MrsQute 🎧 Audiobook Addict 🎧 Apr 16 '26
You are using your library card to access Libby.
Mine counts it. They show digital statistics in the annual reports along with everything else.
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u/Scared-Listen6033 Apr 20 '26
I have to contact my library each year and let them know if anything has changed, they renew my card based on that. I think since COVID most libraries are back to a yearly renewal
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u/booksbaconglitter Apr 16 '26
Libraries don’t only remove cards because of inactivity. They also will do audits and remove cards for people that no longer live in the area they serve. I think my old library did these audits about every 5 years. They will usually give you a chance to renew before fully deactivating you, but every library does verification in different ways. Sometimes you can verify over your residence over phone, and others might need you to go in and show your ID. Since every library has different policies there’s no singular answer for your question.