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    4 min read 6 stepsAugust 6, 2026Verified August 2026

    Borrow Free eBooks and Audiobooks From Your Library With Libby

    Your library card gives you free eBooks and audiobooks through the Libby app. Here is how to set it up and borrow your first book on a phone or tablet.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Apps & Services
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    4 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    libby
    library
    ebooks
    audiobooks
    reading
    free resources

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Install the Libby app
    2. 2.Find your library
    3. 3.Sign in with your library card number
    4. 4.Search for a book and borrow it
    5. 5.Open the book and set the text size
    6. 6.Let books return themselves
    1

    Install the Libby app

    ~19s
    On an iPhone or iPad, open the App Store. On an Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Store. Search for Libby and install the app with the orange icon and the white letter L. The app is free.

    Quick Tip

    You can also use it in a web browser at libbyapp.com if you would rather not install anything.

    2

    Find your library

    ~15s
    Open Libby and answer yes when it asks whether you have a library card. Let it find libraries near you, or type your ZIP code or library name. Pick your library from the list.
    3

    Sign in with your library card number

    ~24s
    Type the number printed on the back of your card, then the PIN or password your library gave you. If you do not know the PIN, call the library front desk. They reset it in a minute and this is a common question.

    Warning

    Libby asks for a library card number and PIN only. It never needs a Social Security number or a payment method. Any screen asking for those is not Libby.

    4

    Search for a book and borrow it

    ~15s
    Use the magnifying glass to search by title, author, or subject. On the result, tap Borrow and confirm. If the button says Place Hold instead, the copies are all out. Tap it anyway and Libby will notify you when your turn arrives.
    5

    Open the book and set the text size

    ~25s
    Tap Shelf at the bottom, then Open Book. While reading, tap once in the middle of the page to bring up the controls, then choose the letter A to change text size, brightness, and background color. Cream or black backgrounds are easier on the eyes at night.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: In an audiobook, tap the speed control and try 0.9 if the narrator talks too fast. Small changes are more comfortable than large ones.

    6

    Let books return themselves

    ~15s
    A borrowed title returns automatically at the end of the loan, so you cannot owe anything. If you finish early and want to free up a slot, go to Shelf, tap Manage Loans, and choose Return Early.

    You Did It!

    You've finished reading: Borrow Free eBooks and Audiobooks From Your Library With Libby

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    Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

    Most public libraries in the United States lend eBooks and audiobooks the same way they lend printed books. The app that handles it is called Libby, made by a company called OverDrive. If you have a library card, you already have access. There is no charge and no subscription.

    An eBook is a book you read on a screen. An audiobook is a book read aloud to you. Libby handles both in one place. You borrow a title, it stays on your device for two or three weeks depending on your library, and then it returns itself. Nothing is ever overdue and there are no late fees.

    Two features matter for anyone whose eyes get tired. In an eBook you can make the text as large as you want, which no printed book allows. In an audiobook you can slow the narrator down or speed them up. Libby also remembers where you stopped, in both formats, even if you switch between them.

    Popular titles have waiting lists, exactly like the physical shelf. When you place a hold, Libby emails you when your turn comes. A useful habit is to keep three or four holds going at once so something is usually arriving.

    If you do not have a library card yet, many libraries let you sign up online with proof of address, and some let you start borrowing the same day. Your library's website will say. This is one of the few genuinely free things left in tech, and it is paid for by taxes you already pay.

    (Sources: Libby help — help.libbyapp.com; your local public library)

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    libby
    library
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    audiobooks
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    free resources

    Official Resources

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