The Freshman 5: Five Ways to Get Incoming Freshmen Engaged with Your Digital Library This Fall

The start of the fall semester brings a wave of eager—and sometimes overwhelmed—freshmen. And navigating a new academic environment includes figuring out where to find reliable, accessible resources to help them succeed. Your library’s digital collection through Libby and Kanopy is a powerful starting point, offering eBooks, audiobooks, streaming video, and more, available anytime, anywhere.

The challenge? Getting students to discover and actually use these resources before midterms—and panic—hit. Here are five practical, proven ways to introduce incoming freshmen to your digital library from day one.

1. Make It Part of Orientation

New students are bombarded with information during orientation. But that’s exactly when you can plant the seed about resources like Libby and Kanopy.

• Offer a quick demo during library tours or orientation sessions showing how to download apps, browse your collection, and borrow materials.
• Highlight benefits beyond class requirements and leisure reading. Showcase study aids and research support, so students see it as more than just “books I gotta read” or “books I wanna read.”
• Bonus tip: Provide a one-page “Getting Started” handout with a QR code that links directly to your OverDrive site.

2. Create a Freshman-Only Reading Challenge

Tap into friendly competition to get students exploring your digital shelves.

• Launch a September Reading Challenge exclusively for first-years, with categories like “Read one eBook,” “Listen to an audiobook,” or “Find a title by a faculty-recommended author.”
• Use small incentives—library swag, bookstore gift cards, or even early library room booking privileges—to encourage participation. Or take a page from their childhood—who didn’t love a personal pizza? 
• Track progress through social media shout-outs or a leaderboard in the library.

3. Integrate Libby and Kanopy Into First-Year Courses

Many universities have a first-year seminar, writing course, or intro-to-research class. These are ideal vehicles for embedding Libby and Kanopy.

• Partner with instructors to select readings directly from your digital collection—everything from required texts to supplemental materials.
• Provide faculty with short instructions they can share with students on accessing assigned materials via Libby and Kanopy, making the digital library part of their regular study workflow.

4. Showcase Subject-Specific Collections

Freshmen might not realize your Libby collection isn’t just fiction or required materials—it’s a wealth of subject-based resources.

• Curate discipline-specific digital shelves for intro classes for popular majors—like “Intro to Psychology,” “Engineering Basics,” or “Business Foundations.”
• Feature textbooks, scholarly titles, and skill-building resources alongside engaging non-fiction and biographies to support academic and personal growth.

5. Bring It to Where They Are—Digitally and Physically

Freshmen won’t necessarily wander into the library, but they will check their phones, social feeds, and campus gathering spots.

• Post short, engaging videos on Instagram or TikTok showing how easy it is to borrow digital titles.
• Set up “OverDrive Pop-Up” stations at high-traffic campus spots—student centers, dining halls, dorm lobbies—where staff or student workers can help freshmen install the app on the spot.
• Use QR code posters around campus linking to curated collections for easy, instant access.

Why It Matters

Libby and Kanopy’s ebooks, audiobooks, and streaming media are tools that can boost reading comprehension, support research, and help students balance academic demands with personal interests. By weaving digital resources into the freshman experience early, you’re setting students up for success from the very first week.

Looking for some ready-made help? The OverDrive Resource Center offers a wealth of free, professionally designed materials—from printable posters and bookmarks to customizable social media graphics—making it easy to spread the word.