Hoover Library launches app

Want to renew a book or place one on hold? There’s an app for that.

Library hours or locations? There’s an app for that. Download an ebook?

Find information fast? There’s an app for that, too.

The Hoover Public Library has launched a mobile app that enables patrons to instantly tap into library resources anytime and from anywhere. You can search the library catalog, check your account, find events and more.

To access the library’s mobile app, search Hoover Public Library in your phone’s market and download the app.

The app provides easy, powerful searching of the catalog. You can type the first few letters of two or three words and search results will begin to appear.  For example, if you’re looking up Janet Evanovich in the catalog, just type “ja ev.” You can then request the item that you find right from your phone.  The app also provides access to the library's events, Facebook page, Twitter feeds and downloadable ebook and audiobook services.

Another feature is BookLook that scans ISBN barcodes on items anywhere you are to see if the library owns the title.  If you’re at a bookstore, you can just scan the ISBN, see if the item is available anywhere in the Jefferson County library system, and if it is, place a hold on it right from your phone and select the library where you want to pick it up.

The library’s mobile app was developed by Boopsie Inc. More than 2,500 libraries and universities use Boopsie to increase community visibility.

For more information on the library’s new mobile app, visit hooverlibrary.org/apps or call 444-7747.