Southgate Electronic Collection
Books, audioboooks, music, movies, and more, all available from the comfort of home!
You can find books, audiobooks, and magazines through Download Destination, or through its app, Libby, available on both the App Store and Google Play. To sign in, all you need is your library card number and PIN! If you have trouble logging on, let us know, we'll be happy to help. You can read or listen with desktop computers, tablets, phones, Kindle, and more; there are instructions and guides on how to use several popular devices with Download Destination or Libby.
The Library Network now partners with other consortiums around the state to share access to our Overdrive collections. This reciprocal lending agreement lets you borrow from tens of thousands of titles that are not available through our Download Destination collection. To get started browsing these other collections, please review the instructions for doing so using Download Destination or Libby.
Hoopla offers access to a wide variety of content, including books, audiobooks, music, movies, and more. Every month, Southgate patrons receive 6 play credits, that can be used to borrow any Hoopla title. Hoopla offers a few things our other services do not, and it broadens access to books and audiobooks.
With Hoopla, the library only pays when an item is borrowed. Because of this, we ask that, if you are searching for titles that may be available through our other platforms (Download Destination, Kanopy, Blackstone Unlimited, and Comics Plus), you check there for it first. Also, please avoid borrowing items you’re not sure you want; this will help us manage the cost of Hoopla, and prevent you from wasting one of your limited monthly play credits.
Kanopy is a video streaming platform, with over 30,000 titles! Every month, Southgate card holders gain 15 'tickets', used to borrow titles. Different videos use different amounts of tickets; most will need 1-2 tickets, while up to 5 tickets could grant you access to an entire season of a show, documentary, or instructional series! Once you spend the tickets, you will have access to the video(s) for at 3 days, and even longer for seasons/series with more content, so you can take your time in enjoying it!
In addition to the regular catalog, Kanopy has a section for Kids videos, with unlimited access. Included are shows from PBS, storybook readalongs, educational videos, and of course, movies! No tickets required, watch to your hearts content!
Kanopy can also be accessed on mobile devices and smart TVs by downloading the Kanopy app.
Similar to Hoopla, the library only pays when something is borrowed. Before spending your tickets, please be sure that you want to borrow the movie, series, etc. This helps us manage our costs, and saves you from wasting any of your limited monthly tickets.
Having a problem with Kanopy? Try the Kanopy Support form, check out the Kanopy Tutorials, or contact the library.
Blackstone Unlimited is a new platform offering access to a catalog of over 6,000 audiobooks. More are added all the time, and since this service launched in 2024, we expect the offerings to grow substantially!
Blackstone Unlimited offers simultaneous, unlimited borrowing of all titles. Unlike Download Destination, for example, there is never a hold list; if 100 people want to listen to the same audiobook, they all can, with no waiting. There are also no monthly credits like Hoopla or Kanopy, so you can listen to Blackstone Unlimited audiobooks 24/7!
Blackstone Unlimited can be accessed on mobile devices by downloading the app, available on the Google Play and App Store.
Comics Plus is a huge collection of comics, graphic novels, and manga for all ages! Like Blackstone Unlimited, Comics Plus offers unlimited simultaneous access, there's never a wait to enjoy. With over 27,000 current titles, and more added weekly, there's something for everyone here!
Comics Plus offers catalogs for specific age groups.
Children's Collection
Teen Collection
Full Collection
Comics Plus can also be accessed on mobile devices by downloading the app, available on the Google Play and App Store.
Read Michigan
A cooperative effort between Library of Michigan and the presses of University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University has recently launched a unique collection of regional eBooks available to all residents of Michigan. Read Michigan is a statewide eBook collection consisting of eBooks published by local university presses about Michigan and the Great Lakes region.
The homegrown collection includes winners of the prestigious Michigan Notable Books award as well as other important books published by Michigan presses and authors. Residents and visitors to the state of Michigan can access these eBooks (with no wait lists or holds) via geolocation.
MelCat eBooks
There are also subject specific eBook databases available through MEL and Ebsco