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If I had to buy every book I read, I can’t pay the rent. It’s not difficult to read for free. I always trade books with friends and search for small, free libraries in my neighborhood. Of course, I love my local library. However, as an e-reader expert and enthusiast, I almost always use my device for reading. However, when testing using an e-reader, you need to be able to read for free using a library card. That’s where Libby comes.
Libby is the best app on my phone. It connects to the library network (the member you carry your card), so you can borrow and read the e-books from an e-book reader such as the Libby app or Kindle. I’ve been using Libby for several years, so it’s an important part of my content diet and an invaluable resource to keep reading carefully.
How does Libby work?
I felt like I was ready to hit the jackpot and rent Emily Henry’s “Big Big Beautiful Life.”
Credit: Screenshot: Libby
A few weeks later, I finally borrowed a copy of “Stag Dance” by Torrey Peters and was ready to be added to my library.
Credit: Screenshot: Libby
Libby, that’s part of it Overdrive systemconnect to the library’s digital collection. To use Libby, sign in using your library card information. Do you have multiple library cards? You can attach as many cards as possible to your account. Once you’ve logged in, you can view the digital collections in your library. Some books are ready to borrow immediately. You can check this out and it will be automatically added to your library.
Other books require you to put the hold. While new and popular books often require long waits, here are some pro tips: Multiple library cards allow you to compare latency times across different libraries, allowing you to reach the shortest line.
When you’re ready to rent a hold, it will appear in your library and you can check it out. Libby allows you to borrow books for two weeks. Some books can be updated, but others cannot be updated by those waiting to borrow them.
Where can I read the book with Libby?
When you borrow a book from Libby, you will receive multiple reading options.
Credit: Screenshot: Libby
There are several options for how to read Libby’s books. You can do that within the Libby app on your smartphone or tablet. It can also be read in your browser via the Libby website. The biggest part of using the Libby app or website is syncing progress across all devices. This way, if you leave your iPad at home, you can read it on your iPhone and pick it up from where you left off.
Libby also allows you to read the book as an epub file. The best way to do this is to use Adobe Digital Editions. So if you have a device with Libby access, like the e-book reader from Boox, you can access the books you borrowed.
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To read the e-book reader, you can also send the book directly to your Kobo or Kindle device. Kobo has the smoothest Libby integration. You can log in via Overdrive (Libby’s parent company) on your device. When you rent a Book, it will automatically populate your library.
For Kindle users, the process has several additional steps.
How to read Libby’s books on Kindle
To read Libby books on your Kindle, you will need to manually submit them to your Kindle library.
Credit: Screenshot: Amazon
When you send a Libby loan to your Kindle, it will automatically populate your library. However, it must be downloaded to your device.
Credit: Screenshot: Kindle
To read Libby Books on your Kindle, select the “Read on Kindle” option within the Libby app. It takes you to Amazon, where you click on the “Get Library Book” button. Books will automatically appear in your Kindle app and in your device’s library. Remember that if the book is in your library, you will need to download it to your Kindle to start reading.
What is the best e-reader for Libby?
Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra colors are easily the best e-book readers for Libby.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
The best e-readers for Libby are either Kobo Libra Color or Kindle Paperwhite. Which way you go depends on how you use Libby. If you only have one library card, Kobo is the perfect e-book reader for Libby. All borrowed Libby books will be automatically populated onto your device without the need to press any additional buttons. The downside is that you only have one Libby account on Kobo at a time.
If you have multiple library cards, Kindle Paperwhite is the perfect e-book reader for Libby. Getting books on your device requires one additional step, but you can borrow multiple cards at the same time.
If you don’t want to buy an e-book reader, you can start Libby right away by reading your already own smartphone or tablet. If you’re reading a tablet, I recommend the iPad Mini, which is smaller than the other models. This prevents wrist strain while holding the device. The iPad screen can be too shiny for reading, and if it hurts your eyes, you can add a paper-like screen cover.
Avoid Barnes & Now nook and Boox e-readers to read on Libby.
The drawbacks to Libby
Libby doesn’t have many drawbacks. I argue that it’s technically nothing. But as a warning, I think it’s important to consider Libby as a library. E-book store allows you to purchase almost any title, but with the library, the books may not be available.
This could be due to limited copies in the library, so you will have to wait weeks or months for the book to be available to borrow. However, your library may not have any books in its collection. The best way to work around this issue is to get multiple library cards as different networks have different catalogs.
