How do I download libby and add your library card?

Search for "Libby" in the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) and install the free app. Open Libby and tap "Yes" when asked if you have a library card. Search for your library by name or let the app detect your location to find nearby libraries. Select your library from the list and enter your library card number — this is the long number on the back of your physical library card. If you have forgotten your card number, contact your local library branch.

How do I browse and search for books?

Once connected to your library, the main Libby screen shows featured titles and categories. Tap the search icon (magnifying glass) to search for a specific title or author. You can also browse by genre — tap "Browse" and then filter by Fiction, Mystery, Biography, Large Print, and many other categories. Look for the "Available Now" filter to see only books you can borrow immediately without waiting.

How do I borrow a book or place a hold?

Tap on any book cover to see details about it. If it is available, you will see a "Borrow" button — tap it to check the book out immediately. If it shows a waiting list, tap "Place a Hold" instead. Libby will tell you roughly how long the wait is. When your hold becomes available, Libby will send you a notification and you will have a few days to accept the loan before it moves to the next person on the list.

How do I read in the libby app or send to kindle?

After borrowing an ebook, tap "Open in Libby" to read it right in the app. Tap anywhere on the page to bring up controls for adjusting font size, background color, and brightness. If you prefer reading on a Kindle device or the Kindle app, tap "Send to Kindle" instead. You will need to be logged in to your Amazon account to use this option. Audiobooks always play directly in Libby — tap the cover art and then the play button.

How do I return books early or let them return automatically?

Borrowed books return automatically when the loan period ends — usually 14 or 21 days depending on your library. You never have to worry about late fees. If you finish a book early and want to free up a slot, go to your Loans shelf in Libby, tap on the book, and choose "Return Early." This also lets the next person on the waiting list get the book sooner, which is considerate when popular titles have long holds.

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Libby is a free app made by a company called OverDrive. It connects to your local public library and lets you borrow digital books — both ebooks you can read on a screen and audiobooks you can listen to — completely free, using your existing library card. There are no late fees because borrowed books return themselves automatically when the loan period is up.

Libraries across the United States participate in the Libby program, and most major public library systems are included. All you need is a library card from a participating library. If you do not have one, most libraries let you sign up for a card online or in person.

You can read ebooks directly in the Libby app, or you can send them to a Kindle device or the Kindle app on your phone. Audiobooks play in the Libby app with a simple listen button — you can speed up or slow down playback, set a sleep timer, and bookmark where you left off.

Popular new releases often have waiting lists, just like physical books at the library. You can place a hold on a book and Libby will notify you when it is your turn. Most libraries let you have multiple books checked out at the same time, and you can borrow from more than one library system if you have cards for multiple libraries.

Libby works on iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire tablets, and most web browsers. Your reading progress syncs across all your devices, so you can start reading on your phone and pick up where you left off on a tablet.

Borrow Free Ebooks and Audiobooks with the Libby App

Download Libby and add your library card

Browse and search for books

Borrow a book or place a hold

Read in the Libby app or send to Kindle

Return books early or let them return automatically

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