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Access Even More Digital Content with Your Library Card

If you enjoy downloading or streaming digital content with your library card, we have great news for you. The available selection on OverDrive/Libby just got bigger! The Upper Hudson Library System (UHLS) and the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) have decided to partner up and share resources. Members of both library systems have access to both digital catalogs with a single library card number.

UHLS members can continue to use OverDrive/Libby as they always have, but now they have an additional option to search the MHLS collection and borrow from there, as well. Don’t worry – this won’t make wait times longer for popular items in either digital library. Only items available for immediate checkout are available to the members of the guest library system.

How to Access Additional Content

Using the Libby App

Go to the Libby menu and select “Add library.”

Screenshot of search results with Mid-Hudson Library System available

Search for and select “Mid-Hudson Library System.”

Select “Upper Hudson Library System Cardholder” under Partner Libraries and sign in with your card number.

Screenshot showing library selection screen

Once you have activated both systems, you can toggle between the two from the menu.

Using the OverDrive Website

Screenshot of https://uhls.overdrive.com sign in screen

Toggle between the partner libraries by selecting the desired system from the Partner Libraries dropdown menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will UHLS users see everything from the MHLS catalog?

No. Titles that are not available for checkout will not be visible.

Can guest users place holds?

No, users can only place holds in their own library system’s digital catalog.

Can guest users renew their loans?

Yes, as long as there are no other users are waiting for the item.

How many items can be borrowed at a time?

Both UHLS and MHLS each allow users to borrow up to 10 items at once. The limits set by each system will function independently. Items borrowed from UHLS will not count against the MHLS 10 item limit. Likewise, items borrowed from MHLS will not count against the 10 item limit set by UHLS.

Can guests recommend titles for purchase?

No. Users can only make recommendations of titles to purchase to their own library system.

Will settings applied to a UHLS account carry over to the MHLS collection?

Any settings you configure in the Libby app (accessibility options, notifications, etc.) will be applied to all library systems linked to your account.

Settings that you apply on the website version (default lending period, display options, etc.) will only apply for the specific collection associated with them. If you want the same settings on both collections, you will have to configure them separately for each site.

Will students accessing the UHLS collection through Sora’s Public Library Connect feature have access to the MHLS collection?

No, Public Library Connect users will only have access to their home library system’s collection at this time. They will not see options to access additional content from other systems.

Conclusion

Thanks to the partnership between our library systems, more digital content is available for all library users. Everybody wins! Let us know how you like this new feature in the comments. Got questions? We’re happy to help.

Free Tools to Precisely Match Any Color on Your Computer Screen

Sometimes when creating visual content it’s important to match colors exactly, but how do you do that if you didn’t create the original image? The answer is to get a color code – either hex or RGB – that makes the color unique. That code can be used to match the color in other locations. Even if you are familiar with these terms, it can be difficult to guess these codes, even if you have a key to compare to. If you have a Mac, there is a built-in tool to help. And sure, expensive image manipulation tools include an “eyedropper” feature that can identify the color, but what about the rest of us on a PC using free or low-cost tools, or those who want to match colors outside of image editing software? Luckily, there are free color matching tools that can help. Today I will highlight a browser extension for matching colors when the internet is involved, as well as a downloadable tool that can match any color you see on your screen.

ColorPick

ColorPick icon

ColorPick is a browser extension that is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers. After it is installed, it will appear as an icon in your toolbar. To capture the code for a color displayed in your browser, click the ColorPick icon and then hover over the color to reveal the hex and RGB codes.

If you are interested in step-by-step directions, Tech-Talk has written a great article with a video and screenshots outlining all of the steps using the Chrome browser. Operation of the tool works the same no matter which browser you are using.

Instant Eyedropper

There are some situations in which a browser tool will be unable to capture the color you want to copy. For instance, if you have an existing image saved on your computer that you want to pull a color from, the browser tool won’t help. This comes up often for me as a web editor. Library staff will give me an image associated with an event or service, and I need to make it a clickable image for the website. Without added text, it can be unclear whether the image is clickable. But I want to make sure any text I add blends seamlessly with the existing image. This is the perfect use case for Instant Eyedropper. It should be noted, however, that this tool will only supply hex codes.

Instant Eyedropper is available in both portable and installed varieties. To start the program, open it from your portable drive or the start menu. After you do, the Instant Eyedropper icon will appear in your taskbar:

Eyedropper icon in the taskbar

If you don’t see the icon, try clicking the arrow to reveal hidden icons. You can drag the icon down to the taskbar to make sure it stays visible.

Click the icon in the taskbar to activate the eyedropper, and your mouse cursor will become crosshairs. Hover over a pixel with the desired color to reveal the hex code. The display magnifies the coverage area to allow for the most accurate selection:

Screenshot showing eyedropper display of hex codes — *Hex code display*

Notice that the area appears to be white, but white would show hex code FFFFFF. This tool is sensitive enough to pick up even the subtlest shade differences. Click to copy the code when it is perfectly placed. After you click to copy the code, your cursor will return to its normal shape and deactivate the eyedropper. Use any pasting method to transfer the code to its destination.

Please note that some apps will not support the copy/paste action. In that case, simply copy the displayed hex code and enter it manually in its destination.

Conclusion

There are a number of free eyedropper tools, and we have only highlighted two of the most popular. If you have a favorite tool or a question about the tools discussed here, let us know in the comments.

Helpful Trick: What Happens When You Tap Your iPhone’s Back?

Did you know that the back Apple logo on your iPhone is not just for decoration? By accessing certain settings, you can have your iPhone perform certain functions with just a double or triple tap. Please note that this applies only to iPhones and not iPads.

To get started, go into the Settings app and then tap on Accessibility.

Next, scroll down to Touch, which is under the Physical and Motor heading.

Once you’re on the Touch screen, scroll to the bottom and tap on Back Tap.

Next, you’ll have the option on what action is taken when you double or triple tap. Double tap or triple tap means tapping the phone twice or three times in quick succession. Tap on either double tap or triple tap.

Once you’ve selected double or triple tap, you’ll get a list of possible actions.

You’ll get a decent sized list of system actions, including activating Siri, volume down, going to the home screen, and more. If you scroll down, there are also more accessibility features, scroll gestures, and custom Shortcuts you can make with the built-in Shortcuts app.

Have you tried out this feature? Let us know in the comments.

Meet the Best Free Browser Tool for Removing Backgrounds

Have you ever wished you could take that great photo of yourself and change the surroundings? Removing people or unsightly background items from your favorite pictures could be very useful, for example. Many folks think you need an expensive tool like Photoshop to make this happen. The good news is, there are several free/low-cost tools that can be used for this purpose. You may even already have access to some of them without knowing it! Today we are going to focus on a tool that can be used in any modern browser without creating an account or downloading software: remove.bg.

The interface couldn’t be simpler. To upload your image, you can drag and drop an image, search your computer files for an image, or copy/paste an image or image URL.

When your image is uploaded, the program gets to work removing what it thinks is the background. This car image was spot on.

When I used a more complicated image, the remove.bg took off the falling snow that I wanted to keep above the cat’s head.

Notice the edit button in the top right of the image with the background removed. Clicking that leads to options for setting a new background or editing how much background is removed.

*Add another background or download the image without one*

Click the erase/restore tab in the upper-right to get a resizable “brush” to remove more background or restore something that the tool took out. In this case, I restored some snow with a wide brush here. I can go back and erase with a smaller brush to cut a finer line around the snow.

*Fine-tuning what to keep from the original*

I went back to the background tab and chose a dramatically different color for the new background, but I could have downloaded the image without adding another background if I wanted to use it in another image editor. Or I can download this version with the new background:

The Fine Print

Anytime a tool is free, we should be skeptical about what we are agreeing to in exchange for the service. If you are concerned about your privacy, you can check out their privacy policy, but I didn’t see anything there that I was concerned about. In this case, remove.bg is free for low resolution (up to .25 megapixels or around 625px x 400px) images. If you want your downloads to be at a higher resolution, you will need credits. One (credit) per month is allowed on the free plan. Credits can be used in the downloadable version of remove.bg.

If you need to work with larger images more often you can go with a paid plan. Plans are available as subscriptions (credits per month) or pay as you go (credits to be used within two years of purchase). More about credits on their website.

Conclusion

Remove.bg is a great free browser tool for removing image backgrounds. Have you used remove.bg? If so, let us know in the comments. Stay tuned to this blog for more tools to remove image backgrounds and other Tech Tips.

Virtually See the Libby App in Action

In April 2023, the library held a virtual program via Zoom called Libby 101. The program was a basic intro to the Libby app, which is the app created by OverDrive to read and listen to e-books, audiobooks, and magazines. If you were unable to attend the virtual program, you’re in luck! The presentation was recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel.

To watch the entire presentation, please view the playlist on our YouTube channel.

Part One: Getting Started With Libby: Getting started with the app and the steps to take after downloading the app and opening it for the first time.

Part Two: Browsing and Searching: Browsing and searching for content on the Libby app.

Part Three: Borrowing and Placing a Hold: Borrowing an item and how to place a hold on an item.

Part Four: The Shelf: Loans: The loans section of the Shelf section of the Libby app.

Part Five: The Shelf: Holds: The Holds section of the Shelf on the Libby app.

Part Six: Reading and Listening Settings: Adjusting the settings used while reading and listening to digital content.

Part Seven: Settings: The settings section of the Libby app.

If you have any questions about the Libby app, please call the library or ask a librarian when you’re in the library.

Do you use the Libby app? Let us know in the comments.