I have learn masses of unfastened Kindle books with Libby. Here is how. by way of NewsFlicks

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If I had to shop for each e book I learn, I would not have the ability to pay hire. Studying without spending a dime is not laborious; I am all the time exchanging books with pals, scouring my community’s little unfastened libraries, buying groceries Stuff Your Kindle Day, and naturally, I really like my native library. Alternatively, as an e-reader knowledgeable and fanatic, I am virtually all the time the usage of a tool for studying. However as I use and take a look at e-readers, I nonetheless want so that you can use my library card and browse without spending a dime. That is the place Libby is available in.

Libby is the most efficient app on my telephone. It connects you with library networks (of which you are a card-carrying member) so you’ll be able to borrow and browse e-books at the Libby app or an e-reader, like Kindle. Having used Libby for a number of years, it is a the most important a part of my content material vitamin and a useful useful resource for staying well-read.

How does Libby paintings?

Felt like hitting the jackpot to seek out Emily Henry’s “Nice Giant Stunning Lifestyles” as in a position to borrow.
Credit score: Screenshot: Libby

After a number of weeks, my replica of “Stag Dance” by way of Torrey Peters used to be in the end in a position to borrow and be added to my library.
Credit score: Screenshot: Libby

Libby, which is a part of the OverDrive device, connects you along with your library’s virtual assortment. To make use of Libby, check in the usage of your library card data. Have more than one library playing cards? You’ll connect as many playing cards on your account as imaginable. As soon as logged in, you’ll be able to browse your library’s virtual assortment. Some books will likely be in a position to borrow immediately, which you’ll be able to take a look at and can robotically be added on your library.

Different books would require you to position a grasp. New and common books will frequently require lengthy waits, however a professional tip: Having more than one library playing cards means that you can evaluate wait instances at other libraries, so you’ll be able to get within the shortest line.

As soon as a grasp is able to borrow, it’s going to seem to your library, permitting you to test it out. Libby means that you can borrow books for 2 weeks. Some books may also be renewed, whilst others that experience folks ready to borrow them cannot be renewed.

A significant 2025 Libby replace

On Sept. 18, 2025, Libby made a significant exchange to its grasp device that disenchanted some customers. Now, as an alternative of having the ability to extend holds for a definite period of time, customers will wish to droop holds till they are in a position to obtain them.

Customers complained in regards to the exchange, announcing they may not take note to unsuspend their holds. In reaction, Libby defined by means of Instagram that the brand new device: “is helping libraries serve extra readers by way of preserving books shifting and decreasing expired holds.”

The place are you able to learn books with Libby?

While you borrow a e book on Libby, it will provide you with more than one choices on find out how to learn.
Credit score: Screenshot: Libby

You’ve a few choices on find out how to learn your Libby books. You’ll do it throughout the Libby app on a smartphone or pill. You’ll additionally learn on a browser during the Libby website online. The most efficient phase about the usage of the Libby app or website online is that it syncs your development throughout all units. That manner, when you go away your iPad at house, you’ll be able to learn to your iPhone and select up proper the place you left off.

Libby additionally means that you can learn its books as ePUB information. One of the simplest ways to take action is by way of the usage of Adobe Virtual Editions, so in case you have a tool with Adobe get entry to however now not Libby get entry to, like Boox e-readers, you’ll be able to nonetheless get entry to your borrowed books.

To learn on an e-reader, you’ll be able to additionally ship your books at once to a Kobo or Kindle tool. Kobo has the smoothest Libby integration. You’ll log in by means of Overdrive (Libby’s mum or dad corporate) to your tool, and while you borrow books, they’re going to auto-populate to your library.

For Kindle customers, there are a few additional steps within the procedure.

The way to learn Libby books on Kindle

To learn Libby books with Kindle, you will have to manually ship it on your Kindle library.
Credit score: Screenshot: Amazon

When you ship your Libby mortgage to the Kindle, it’s going to robotically populate on your library. Alternatively, you continue to wish to obtain it on your tool.
Credit score: Screenshot: Kindle

To learn Libby books on a Kindle, make a selection the “Learn With Kindle” possibility throughout the Libby app. That’ll take you to Amazon, the place you can click on the “Get Library E-book” button. The e book will then robotically seem within the library of your Kindle app and units. Simply take note, as soon as the e book is to your library, you can wish to obtain it to your Kindle to begin studying.

What is the perfect e-reader for Libby?

The Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra Color are simply the most efficient e-readers for Libby.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The most efficient e-readers for Libby are both the Kobo Libra Color or the Kindle Paperwhite. Which one you opt for is dependent upon how you utilize Libby. In the event you simply have one library card, the Kobo is the most efficient e-reader for Libby. Your entire borrowed Libby books robotically populate at the tool with no need to press any additional buttons. The drawback is that you’ll be able to handiest have one Libby account connected on your Kobo at a time.

When you’ve got more than one library playing cards, the Kindle Paperwhite is the most efficient e-reader for Libby. Whilst it calls for one additional step to get your books at the tool, you’ll be able to borrow with more than one playing cards concurrently.

If you do not want to shop for an e-reader, you’ll be able to get began with Libby in an instant by way of studying on a smartphone or pill that you just already personal. If you’ll learn on a pill, I like to recommend the iPad mini, which is smaller than different fashions, combating wrist pressure whilst protecting the tool. The display screen of an iPad is infrequently too shiny for studying, and if that hurts your eyes, you’ll be able to upload a paper-like display screen quilt.

Steer clear of the Barnes & Noble Corner and Boox e-readers for studying with Libby, as each require tedious steps to get your library books at the units.

Downsides to Libby

There don’t seem to be many downsides to Libby — I would argue there technically are none. However as a phrase of caution, I feel you have to view Libby because the library that it’s and now not as an ebook retailer. With an ebook retailer, you’ll be able to purchase just about any name you need, however with a library, infrequently books don’t seem to be to be had.

It will infrequently be as a result of libraries have restricted copies, so it’s important to wait weeks and even months for a e book to change into to be had to borrow. The exchange to the Libby grasp device will with a bit of luck reduce on lengthy wait instances.

Every so often your library simply may not have a e book in its assortment in any respect. One of the simplest ways to keep away from this factor is to get more than one library playing cards since other networks have various catalogs.