Have you ever heard of Libby? No? Well, me either up until about a year or so ago… we both must have been hiding under a rock for quite a while then! This must have FREE app is the best kept secret for book lovers alike! Libby requires a free download, a county library card and boom!… you are on your way to popular free books, magazines and audiobooks! If you’re an avid reader and book lover keep on scrolling down to find out just how easy it is to get your free books and audiobooks with Libby.
This must have free app will change your book budget for life! No more spending bookoo bucks on books that you read once and have sit on the shelf for the next 10 years!
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Where to Read Your Free Books
Before you scroll down and find out where you can get this magical free app, here are a few devices that I love to use. The great thing about making your books digital is that this FREE app will sync across all these devices. You won’t have to choose just one!
Except for that new book smell (and I do love that smell!), these devices give you that book in hand feeling:
The New 8.3 inch Apple iPad Mini
Ya'll...the latest, greatest and sleekest of the iPads. So small and light in your hands. It's like your physical book got a virtual upgrade! You won't be physically turning pages with this device but the iPad is absolutely my go-to device. If you typically read magazines or colorful picture books, I would highly recommend an iPad as first choice. Bonus points for this device because of the size- it'll fit easily in your purse or backpack!
10.2 inch Apple iPad
Just a bit bigger than the iPad mini with pretty much similar functions, this 10.2 inch iPad is definitely a great runner up. If you are looking for a more budget friendly option compared to the mini, this is it!
Kindle Oasis {Waterproof!}
This Kindle is the holy grail of all Kindles! And yes, the free app we'll talk about below works on a Kindle! The best features of a Kindle compared to the iPads is the glare-free, waterproof design. Read on the beach, in the sun with your sunglasses on with this little guy... I dare you!
Kindle Paperwhite {Now Waterproof!}
The Kindle Paperwhite is the budget friendly version of the Kindle Oasis. A few less features and slightly smaller. This Kindle has a 6 inch glare-free screen and is now waterproof! It doesn't have the same lights, sensors or buttons as the Oasis, but being the book lover you are, you won't even miss them!
Download the Free Libby App NOW!
- Head over to libbyapp.com or search “Libby” in your phone’s app store. You’ll either use Google Play or Apple’s App Store to find the free app.
- If you already have your town or county’s library card on hand…congrats!… your ahead of the game! If not, head to your local library and go get yourself one of those free little laminated cards! (Btw, you may have to show proof of address to get a card so make sure your prepared with a light bill, apartment lease, etc.).
- Open up the Libby by Overdrive App on your phone or the web app and enter in your library card and follow the prompts to set up a Libby account with your card.
- Boom! Your all set! Seriously…it’s that simple! Now get ready to search for your next listen or read FOR FREE!
Books in the Library
Just like a normal library, you are free to search books, audiobooks and magazines at your leisure.
Click on the word library or a picture of the library in the app and it will take you to Libby’s main screen. The “feed” on this main screen changes every now and then to show recently added titles to the library, popular titles, summer titles and the like. Click on a book you see or explore others that are available in your E-Library.
Finding Your Next eBook
You can also explore the search function within the app. You can filter by a bunch of different categories including subject, format, date added and type of audience. What’s great is that there are so many to choose from! Unless you just flat out hate books…(and then I have no idea what you’re doing here in the first place!)… there’s no way you won’t find something to read or listen to!
Borrowing Your eBook
Once you found a title you think you may enjoy, play a sample or borrow it! Read within the Libby App or use the Kindle App.
To play a sample, click “Play Sample”. This sample will show up on your Libby shelf allow you to read or listen to a snippet of the ebook.
If you want to borrow a book, click on the title, hit borrow and you will see your library card pop up. The number of loans you can have at any one given time is right around 10. As long as you don’t go over the allotted amount of loans, hit that borrow button!
Some popular, newer titles only have a set amount of copies available at your particular library. And just like a normal library, if you want to read that book, you need to wait for a copy to be available. Same deal with Libby. If you find a book that isn’t available right now, you can “hold” it until a copy becomes available. Like your borrows, you have a set number of holds on the app. Once you hit hold on a title, the app will let you know when it becomes available- just turn on your push notifications for the app!
On the other hand, if you find a book you would love to read or listen to but you just have entirely too much to read at the moment (what a great problem to have but probably not reality at all!) then you can tag that book for later. You can even categorize your tags to easily find a book you “saved”.
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I hope you loved the run down on this free book lovers app that I love so much! This app is budget friendly and fuels your knowledge at the same time! I call that a winnnn!
Tell us if you love this app just as much in the comments below!
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