DC Public Library vs BKLYN Library
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DC Public Library
Access a vast collection of books, DVDs, and digital media from your local library. Manage your account, place holds, and discover nearby branches and events.
- Search library catalog
- Manage library account
- Place and cancel holds
- Renew checked-out items
- Find nearest library branch
- Access digital library resources
- Browse library events
Read full descriptionHide full description
All DC Public Library has to offer -- in your hands! The DC Library app is your portal to enjoying DC Public Library services on your mobile device. With it, you can quickly search library resources, find information and materials and get full access to your library account -- wherever you are! With the DC Library app, you can: - Search the catalog for books, DVDs and more - Access your account and pay fines - Place or cancel holds on items - Renew checked-out materials - Find the library nearest to you in the District - Access ebooks, eaudiobooks, music, classes and more from our Digital Library - Browse events at your nearest library - Interact with DC Public Library social media
BKLYN Library
Access and manage your library account from your mobile device. Browse physical and digital collections, manage checkouts and holds, and utilize mobile checkout features. The app also supports managing multiple library cards.
- Browse physical and digital collections
- Manage checkouts and holds
- Mobile checkout
- Manage multiple library cards
- Create booklists
Read full descriptionHide full description
-Browse the library's physical and digital collection -Manage your checkouts, holds, and booklists. -Mobile checkout -Manage multiple library cards
Screenshots
Verdict
DC Public Library and BKLYN Library both sit at 4.2 stars, but that hides the real split: 61% of BKLYN Library's written reviews are positive against 18% of DC Public Library's. BKLYN Library also leads on chart position (#207 vs unranked) and ratings volume (104 vs 19). DC Public Library's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.5). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for DC Public Library against 4.2 for BKLYN Library. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BKLYN Library has 104 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 18% of DC Public Library's written reviews are positive against 61% of BKLYN Library's.
DC Public Library ships an update every 2 months, BKLYN Library every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | DC Public Library | BKLYN Library |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (19 ratings) | 4.2 (104 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 17.6% of reviews | 61.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 19 | 104 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #207 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | District of Columbia Public Library | Brooklyn Public Library |
Customer experience
DC Public Library
BKLYN Library
Bugs and requests
DC Public Library
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
BKLYN Library
Reported bugs
13 issues- App broken, page blank, books overdue
- App stops working after a while, needs re-download
- Mobile checkout involves buffering
- Constantly signing out, need to re-enter details
- Added accounts disappear after re-login
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- App doesn't load, says not connected to internet
- App stuck on blank screen, no sign-in option
- Books disappear under Checkouts and Holds
- App is super slow and glitchy
- App doesn't load, gets stuck, can't change accounts
- App stops working after a few days, kicks user off
- Cannot get app to work on library WiFi
- Age restricted to 17+
Requested features
4 requests- Bring back location finder with hours
- Keep users logged in
- Improve branch hours/closures display
- Allow offline access to library card
In-app purchases
DC Public Library
No in-app purchases
BKLYN Library
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DC Public Library free?
Is BKLYN Library free?
Which has better reviews, DC Public Library or BKLYN Library?
Do DC Public Library or BKLYN Library have ads?
Which is updated more often, DC Public Library or BKLYN Library?
Other comparisons
