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Library ebooks, library audiobooks and ebook availability

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Find ebooks and audiobooks at public libraries.

Check library availability

Check library availability

Find ebook and audiobook editions a public library owns, with copies, holds, and estimated wait when unavailable. Searches public catalog listings; results may omit titles beyond the first ten title-search pages.

Your information

Book title, for example Lessons in Chemistry.

Optional author name, for example Bonnie Garmus.

Public library name or city, for example New York Public Library or Seattle.

More options

Choose any, ebook, or audiobook; for example audiobook.

1 credit per completed run

The same inputs also work from your code or an AI assistant. See For developers.

Example results

Library availability

New York Public Library

  • Lessons in Chemistry
    ebook
    Available now
    No
    Copies available
    0
    Copies owned
    17
    Holds
    72
    Estimated wait (weeks)
    8.7
  • Lessons in Chemistry
    audiobook
    Available now
    Yes
    Copies available
    1
    Copies owned
    81
    Holds
    1

Choose an action

About the OverDrive tool

OverDrive, also known as Libby, finds ebook and audiobook editions in a public library catalog using a title and library name.

Check library availability can also use an author and format to return copies owned, current availability, holds, and estimated wait.

Built from overdrive.com. Last checked Sep 29, 2026.

Actions

Check library availability

1 credit

Find ebook and audiobook editions a public library owns, with copies, holds, and estimated wait when unavailable. Searches public catalog listings; results may omit titles beyond the first ten title-search pages.

What you provide

FieldTypeRequiredDescription
TitletitleTextRequiredBook title, for example Lessons in Chemistry.Example: Lessons in Chemistry
AuthorauthorTextOptionalOptional author name, for example Bonnie Garmus.Example: Bonnie Garmus
FormatformatTextOptionalChoose any, ebook, or audiobook; for example audiobook.Example: Audiobook
LibrarylibraryTextRequiredPublic library name or city, for example New York Public Library or Seattle.Example: New York Public Library

What you get

FieldTypeDescription
EditionseditionsListMatching editions in the public catalog.
Titleeditions[].titleTextExample: Lessons in Chemistry
Authoreditions[].authorTextExample: Bonnie Garmus
Formateditions[].formatTextExample: Ebook
Catalog Linkeditions[].catalog_linkTextExample: https://nypl.overdrive.com/media/6384649
Copies Ownededitions[].copies_ownedNumberExample: 17
Available Noweditions[].available_nowYes or noExample: No
Number of Holdseditions[].number_of_holdsNumberExample: 72
Cover Image Linkeditions[].cover_image_linkTextExample: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/0111-1/{66227E65-A2C4-42E1-883A-43B8272BB…
Copies Available Noweditions[].copies_available_nowNumberExample: 0
Estimated Wait Weekseditions[].estimated_wait_weeksNumberExample: 8.7
Library Namelibrary_nameTextPublic library collection name.Example: New York Public Library

Example result

For Title: Lessons in Chemistry, Author: Bonnie Garmus, Library: New York Public Library

JSON
{
  "editions": [
    {
      "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
      "author": "Bonnie Garmus",
      "format": "ebook",
      "catalog_link": "https://nypl.overdrive.com/media/6384649",
      "copies_owned": 17,
      "available_now": false,
      "number_of_holds": 72,
      "cover_image_link": "https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/0111-1/{66227E65-A2C4-42E1-883A-43B8272BBE13}IMG400.JPG",
      "copies_available_now": 0,
      "estimated_wait_weeks": 8.7
    },
    {
      "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
      "author": "Bonnie Garmus",
      "format": "audiobook",
      "catalog_link": "https://nypl.overdrive.com/media/6397003",
      "copies_owned": 81,
      "available_now": true,
      "number_of_holds": 1,
      "cover_image_link": "https://img2.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/1191-1/{5AC0CB3C-7696-490C-9FBE-9D2E53167A7F}IMG400.JPG",
      "copies_available_now": 1,
      "estimated_wait_weeks": null
    }
  ],
  "library_name": "New York Public Library"
}

For developers

Call it from your code with one request. Change the values in input to run it on new data. To get an API key, open Developers at the bottom of Studio, turn on Developer mode and go to API keys.

cURL
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@overdrive",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "check_library_availability",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
    "author": "Bonnie Garmus",
    "library": "New York Public Library"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'

What you can do with it

  • Check whether a library has a book available now
  • Compare ebook and audiobook editions at a public library
  • Estimate the wait for an unavailable title
  • Review holds and copies owned for matching editions

Questions about OverDrive

Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

Can I call this OverDrive tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

Do I need a OverDrive account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from overdrive.com when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

Does my library have this book available?

Use Check library availability with the book title and library name to find editions and whether copies are available now.

How long is the wait for an unavailable book?

Check library availability returns an estimated wait in weeks when an edition is unavailable.

Can I find audiobook editions at a library?

Use Check library availability with the title, library name, and audiobook format.

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