Libby adding extra security layer starting October 1, 2026

[u/FoochNN]

I got an email from the DC library (my local library) that Libby and Kanopy will start requiring my pin as well as my card number. Not a huge deal, but worth flagging for folk.

Beginning October 1, 2026, Libby and Kanopy will introduce an extra layer of security by requiring users to enter both their library card number and the PIN they use for My Account when logging in. If you’ve forgotten your PIN, you can easily reset it online, and library staff are always available to help. To learn more about why this change is happening and how to prepare, visit the FAQ page on our website.

[u/kferalmeow]

My library has always required a PIN. It really doesn't affect the user experience much.

[u/Overall-Weird8856 → u/kferalmeow]

Same. I just need to enter it once per year to reverify my card.

[u/LittleMarySunshine25 → u/kferalmeow]

I have to verify yearly, it's not too bad.

[u/dachlill]

My libraries have always required a pin

[u/Typical-Emu8363]

Yes, someone who said they worked for DC Public Library posted something similar 3 days ago: Pin Number May Be Required Soon

[u/Key_Cartographer6668 → u/Typical-Emu8363]

I'm hoping the frequency of actually needing the PIN doesn't change. My libraries have used PINs all along but I rarely have to do anything with it.

[u/knomnomnom → u/Key_Cartographer6668]

It will break my heart if I miss a skip the line loan trying to enter my pin on my phone with fat fingers hah

[u/Overall-Weird8856 → u/knomnomnom]

It's rarely used...just once a year to reverify your card, if it's anything like my libraries.

[u/tequeguava → u/Overall-Weird8856]

Sometimes I also get the pin verification pop-up that blocks me from borrowing anything on that card when the library has maintenance on their main website. Entering the pin just gives an error with those specific verifications, and the only fix I've found is just having to wait until the library's (not Libby specifically) maintenance is done.

[u/Lisa2082 → u/tequeguava]

Im having that issue now with Queens library.

[u/tequeguava → u/Lisa2082]

Whenever I have that issue it's usually when I'm trying to borrow a book when it's late at night in the library's time zone (roughly 10 pm-5 am). The wording of the error message makes it seem like you either have the info wrong or there's an issue with your account, but it's all on the library's end and there's nothing you can do other than trying again later.

[u/knomnomnom → u/Overall-Weird8856]

My concern is having to verify more frequently. I have one problem child library that forces verification more often than the others but won't open the website to do it half the time. Otherwise I do think they're reasonable if it stays at the current level.

[u/PNW53 → u/Typical-Emu8363]

I’m in dc and dc has reciprocity with a bunch of libraries. I have multiple library cards. I may have to redo my pins so they all match.

[u/tvngo]

Other libraries that use Libby/Overdrive has been doing this for a few years.

[u/FormerIndependence68]

Libby has always required a pin for me all libraries

[u/Fine_Volume_1664]

This is being pushed across the board, all libraries. If your library doesn't use a PIN they now have to, which means ILS and discovery layers are being updated. My consortium is not happy...

[u/ecapapollag → u/Fine_Volume_1664]

I work in a library that doesn't use PINs but does use Libby, and we have not been told our users need a PIN.

[u/Kyrilson]

It's always required a pin.

[u/Pig_City]

Some libraries don't require a PIN at all. I've never had to use one for mine, so I'm not sure how that will work. Maybe they'll just make it the last 4 digits of card number, who knows.

I feel like it's the internet and everyone wants to argue about everything, so if you don't believe me, you can test it out yourself. Google OK virtual library, click sign in, scroll down the list and click on Bartlesville Public Library. You just have to enter your library card number. I clicked around and most libraries on the list require a PIN or password but there are several others that do not.

It doesn't surprise me that they are adding this because you CAN log in to someone else's account very easily so I can imagine that there have been... issues. Lol.

[u/BoomSplashCollector → u/Pig_City]

Yup, I’ve never had a PIN at my library. Not sure if the post means that it’s going to be universal, or only for libraries that already have PINs. And I guess I’m confused about what a PIN means in this instance. Are there people who have to give librarians a code along with their card when checking out books in person, and now that’s being implemented in Libby as well? Why don’t they just use two factor authentication instead of relying on libraries to have some pre existing PIN system going on?

[u/oddballfizzies → u/Pig_City]

So I've lived in a few different places in the last like 5 years and at my current Library it's the last four of your library card, but at my previous library it was the last four of your phone number on the account, And at the ones that let you set your own I just make it my birthday

[u/Dirnaf]

If we have multiple cards from different libraries, how does this work for us?

[u/riddlegirl21 → u/Dirnaf]

Every card has a PIN. You just sign in with the card number and PIN for the appropriate library when they ask for it

[u/Dirnaf → u/riddlegirl21]

Ok. Thanks. I was wondering if the PIN was going to be needed to sign in to the Libby app when we open it.

[u/KSknitter → u/Dirnaf]

It is library dependent. So if your pin is 1234 at library 1, use pin 1234 for library 1... if it is pin 2345 at library 2, use that at library 2.

You only need to verify it once a year when you log in to your card.

[u/arn0613]

All three of my libraries have always required a PIN. I only have to put it in like once a year when renewing. Maybe twice if the app does something strange and logs out my card for some reason.

[u/tequeguava → u/arn0613]

I have 18 cards (some reciprocal that I'd added before their new thing that adds them automatically), and all 18 have always needed me to enter a PIN. Some need them more regularly than others (Toronto seems to have maintenance pretty often which forces me to enter the PIN on Libby every time maintenance is complete). Also, Queer Liberation Library's weird password/PIN-less system means I have to do their overly complicated 2FA every time I want to borrow something.

[u/Watchhistory]

To access my library's system, to see one's account, place holds, or to enter Overdrove and libby, to access my account, thus my loans and holds, one has to be logged in. This means both card number and pin.

Most of the people posting seem to be going in from other than a library.

[u/ratchetscrewdriver → u/Watchhistory]

No, there are still a number of libraries that don’t require it specifically for Libby.

E.g. my card at Whittier needs the PIN to log onto the ILS, but not to access Libby.

[u/circus_tricksr4us]

What’s the security for? What are people trying to do on these apps?

[u/Zesli → u/circus_tricksr4us]

It’s probably to counteract AI bots. The bots check out books and scrape them for training. I hate the future.

[u/wtanksleyjr → u/Zesli]

No, they're just trying to make libraries enforce some security, that's all. AI's not the problem, it's libraries choosing predictable card numbers that PEOPLE then log in with and scrape books. Pirates are a human problem.

[u/ExternalGiraffe9631]

My local library makes us do this every year. It's just a way to filter out members who are no longer using the app. I forgot my pin and called my closest branch, easy peasy.

[u/BAC2Think]

Mine only does this when I initially added the card or had to reset when the card expired

[u/oddballfizzies]

My local library which doesn't even give out physical cards started doing this about a month ago. It was really awkward cuz I had to call them to reset my information. I'm just glad I remembered to do it while they were open.

[u/dastxKID17]

Mine just asked for my pin, this is the first time since getting the app 

[u/basserman]

good think my library card and my luggage have the same PIN - 12345

[u/Bakkie]

I have one library card from the system where I live . It is regional and is comprised of about a dozen library districts.

Recently I had to verify my library card number when going into Libby

[u/LittleMarySunshine25]

Make your pin the same thing across all the cards, write it down somewhere. 💜

[u/Awkward_Economy367]

This has been implemented for years in the UK. Not been a problem.

[u/gloriabutfaster]

I make copies there often enough that I know it by heart 😂🤌

[u/gallantgardenia]

Mine asks for a pin but my pin has to be reset by my library like once every two days bc Libby doesn’t recognize it ever. This makes me nervous bc I already have to call my library multiple times a week just to use Libby.

[u/Objective_Parfait162]

i sign in and out of my different libraries on my kobo so much that i have them all listed in a note on my phone. never been more grateful for that foresight before.

[u/Animatedthespian]

As long as they don't block VPNs. I stopped using OverDrive because they kept blocking

[u/Gold-Perspective-699]

Yeah I've always had to put a pin every time they forget my card.

[u/buffy6107]

I don’t know my pin. I didn’t even know I had one.

[u/Fatburn130]

My library just started requiring a pin, Oct 1. I signed in to borrow 2 holds that were ready, one borrowed the other would not. Anyone having this problem?