OverDrive

Libby
A digital reading app for borrowing ebooks and audiobooks from public libraries
107 people recommend this
Recommended by
BrookFirst to rec“Love the library and love this app! I can access books at the drop of a dime. Don't know how I lived my life before.”
10
Samantha Culp“Probably everybody knows this, but: countless free ebooks via your local library”
353203
AMB“Libby might just be the love of my life. Access to your library’s ebooks and audiobooks. Plus you can connect multiple library cards to the app.”
22791
Samin“Libby—the greatest app of all time. I use it CONSTANTLY, mostly for audiobooks, but also to download craft books and cookbooks to browse on my iPad. (I have a hard time retaining info I read digitally, so I still like to read on the page when I can.) A trick: get as many library cards as you can (I have 4); this is good for you (increased chances that one library will have the book you’re after available), but it’s also good for the library (more users equals more tax money for the library)!”
16471
Sarah“I quit social media months ago and now use my phone time to scroll magazines that drop in real time, for free, on Libby. I get an alert when they arrive! House & Garden, Bon Appetit, the New Yorker, the New York review of books, vogue, vanity fair, AD, Cooks Illustrated, etc etc. My love for this app is unmatched.”
13588
Aya C“Managing your Libby app and library holds like a hobby—checking, adding, researching, pining, (un)suspending holds, getting Lucky Day books, seeing that you’re 235th on the list for a book, requesting new purchases, monitoring….all to have five books become available at once.”
133134
Jim Biancolo“Gotta remember to go to my follow-up room to thank people when their recs pan out for me!”
6391
Allison“The app I cannot live without.”
381
Lisa“Airplane mode keeps your Libby book on your ereader AND returns it to the library for the next person. Win/win.”
22
Taylor“If you don’t have a library card, and I say this with love, what are you doing! If you have a library card and don’t use the Libby App, what are you doing! You can check out books and magazines digitally using your library card. I’m most excited about the magazines right now. You don’t have to wait for them to be available and you can keep them forever. You can also subscribe so the new issues come to your “rack” immediately. I’m currently subscribed to AD, W, Dwell, etc. So dope!”
10
Lisa“Put Libby on your phone and load a few books from your local library. When you pick up to scroll, read a little right in the app! Not the same as a paper book but better than no book.”
9
Vee“The tiniest bit of my DNA is in this.”
9
Maj“From my mom- connect to your local library using your LIBRARY CARD to borrow audio and e-books on kindle- This has been such a hack living abroad since I was able to link to the great NYPL.”
8
Lizbeth“My neighbors like to do book recommendations while I'm on my dog walks. Under no circumstances will I remember what they say by the time I get home. I request the physical book or the audiobook on Libby. Then a few weeks later when it shows up, I don't remember why and it's a lovely present. Sometimes, I don't read it, though. Sometimes it's life changing.”
7
Ashley“In my top 5 apps. Free ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines through the public library system. All you need is a library card. Hot tip: borrow library cards from people in different cities to access various catalogues (with different books, curation, and wait times).”
421
Jules“i assume i’m preaching to the choir but.. libraries. wow. society really ate with that one. it’s your right as a citizen to enjoy them. exercise it! Now for anyone who works with libby please do call because we GOTTA work on some shit but if you haven’t downloaded please do it, free books. and so many!”
7
grayaelc“If you find yourself having less time to read, and you really do not care about listening to music, might I suggest listening to audio books exclusively on your commute? I listen on 2x speed and get to "read" so many more books than just what I'm able to fit in physically or with my kobo. If you also enjoyed your lecture classes in high school and college, this is for you.”
7
Shimen“Preferably for e-books, sometimes for audiobooks. No better feeling than having your holds ready!”
7
Zoe B“What’s more punk than the public library? Nothing.”
7
Charley7
Ginny Branch“This is so smart”
5
Jules“it’s fun to just poke around and flip through a few pages of anything. could do it all day”
5
Sarah“My most useful life hack is Libby + kindle. On Libby, put a few books you'd like to read on hold. Once they become start become available, suspend them until you have a couple books built up. Then unsuspend, add to kindle, open the books so they download, and turn your kindle on airplane mode and return the books. Read them all at your leisure! Start the process over! Win the lottery every time you load up the kindle!”
41
gavone“Return a library book on Libby early and get the dopamine hit of a tiny bouquet.”
4
Nitabel“Libby single-handedly made me a reader again. Audiobooks (!!!). E-books. Cookbooks. Magazines. FREE. Plus, you’re supporting your local library. Best app on my phone.”
4
Spines, Flicks, and Wax“Brilliant idea!”
3
Alexa Stevenson“Everybody knows the Libby app is amazing, but might not know you can get like EVERY MAGAZINE.The New Yorker to Spanish Vogue to those super market mags devoted to like Bad Bunny or knitting miniature beanies for animals.”
3
Sara Jin Li“the libby app single handedly got me back into reading. it's an extension of public libraries everywhere (which we LOVE and SUPPORT), all you need is a free public library card and you have access to all of their e-books. i was initially very skeptical on reading on a device, but it is unfortunately very convenient. you can connect multiple libraries to your libby (i have LA, brooklyn, and NYC) and check out books from any of your destinations. i connected my libby to my kindle and borrow books on the regular, especially recent releases. idc idc i am a sl*t for libby and now i just open my libby app and read a book instead of doomscrolling. if i'm going to keep up my screentime, i might as well get through my reading list <3 did i mention it's FREE”
3
Casey Collins“Highly recommend this app-I use it to listen to audiobooks!”
3
abby z“the absolutely goated way to use a kindle is with libby.”
3
Sky Fisher3
Katie“Changed my whole dang life!”
2
Euroflection“Who needs Kindle Unlimited?!”
2
Swede“Libby is the BEST. You can join multiple libraries and download and read books for FREE!”
11
Cathay“An app that connects you digitally to your local library so you can borrow and read books on your phone or Kindle for free. There are sometimes weeklong wait times for the most popular books, but my favorite hack is adding multiple titles to my hold list and reading them in the order they become available. It’s like my present self is stacking book recs for my future self!”
2
bria“libby is my constant. my best friend, my nightly companion, my life partner. i'm too introverted (slightly agoraphobic) to frequent my local library in person -- libby is where it's at if you have similar issues as me but are an avid book girly on a budget and looking for your next fix.”
2
S.P.A. QUEEN2
Sofa2
annalise“Free! Supports your local library! Makes it easy to always have your book(s) with you!”
1
Amy“if you don’t have a library card what are you doing??”
1
Janine Henley“Genius”
1
Claire G“I tell everyone I know about Libby- link your library card/s/ to get access to audiobooks, ebooks, and magazines. Read on your phone, computer, or ereader. In general, take this as your sign to go give your library some love!!”
1
Aya C“Y’all know Libby. You love Libby. Read infinite books on your dad’s old kindle! Listen to audiobooks while you do laundry. Load books for your kid constantly. All while taking advantage of your amazing library from home.”
1
Yándary Chatwin“FREE audiobooks (and e-books, but I use it exclusively for audiobooks) right in my pocket! Just connect your local library card (any library card) to get started.”
1
Priya Elangovan“Get as many library cards as you can load in here! If you're anywhere in NYC can you get a BKPL, NYPL, and a QPL card and put holds based on the shortest wait.”
1
Ginger Stampley1
J1
Liz S C1
Casey Collins1
Kaylan1
Hilliary Bianca Salamanca1
Sarah C“Support your local library. Access ebooks, magazines, and audiobooks for free. No leaving the house. Pants optional.”
emma sanger-johnson“Brooklyn Public Library, you have my heart. Great for the trial and error of children’s books. Free programming! Child friendly third space!”
Susy Slais“Samin sent me down this rabbit hole! I hadn’t used Libby before, but the idea of borrowing books—especially cookbooks—to explore before deciding whether they deserve a permanent spot on my shelf really caught my attention.”
Beth“Library in your pocket.