How to Use Libby to Borrow Ebooks and Audiobooks (September 2026)

If you have a library card, you already have access to millions of free ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines. The key is learning how to use Libby to borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your local library without ever setting foot inside a building.

Libby is the free reading app from OverDrive that connects directly to your library’s digital collection. Once set up, you can check out books, place holds, and download titles for offline reading or listening. There are no subscription fees and no late charges, because loans simply expire automatically.

This guide walks through every step, from getting a library card to mastering advanced features that most readers never discover. Whether you want to read on a phone, tablet, Kindle, or Kobo, clear instructions are provided below.

What Is Libby (and How Is It Different from OverDrive)?

Libby is a free app created by OverDrive that lets you borrow digital content from your public library using just your library card. It works on iOS, Android, Windows tablets, Chromebooks, Kindle Fire tablets, and through a web browser at libbyapp.com.

Many people get confused about the difference between Libby and OverDrive. Here is the simple answer: OverDrive is the company and the underlying platform that libraries use to distribute digital books. Libby is the user-friendly app built on top of that platform. Think of OverDrive as the engine and Libby as the steering wheel.

In 2023, OverDrive retired the legacy OverDrive app, making Libby the sole app for borrowing digital library content. If you used the old OverDrive app, your loans, holds, and wish list transferred automatically to Libby. There is no reason to use anything else.

Libby gives you access to the same catalog that was available through OverDrive. The main advantage is that Libby has a cleaner interface, better search tools, and features like tags and deep search that the old app lacked. Everything is completely free, with no ads and no in-app purchases.

What You Need Before You Start

Before you can borrow anything, you need two things: a library card from a participating library and a compatible device. Here is what to know about both.

Getting a Library Card

Your library card is your ticket to Libby’s entire catalog. Most public libraries in the United States and many around the world participate in the OverDrive system. If you already have a physical library card, you are ready to go.

If you do not have a card yet, the process is straightforward:

1. Find your local public library’s website and look for a “Get a Library Card” page. Many libraries now offer online registration where you receive a digital card number within minutes.
2. You typically need proof of address and a photo ID for in-person registration. Some libraries accept digital applications with just your address and email.
3. Write down your library card number and PIN or password. You will need both every time you set up Libby on a new device.

If your local library is small or does not participate in OverDrive, you still have options. Many library systems offer non-resident cards for a fee, giving you access to larger collections. Some popular non-resident options include Brooklyn Public Library, Harris County Public Library in Texas, and Orange County Library System in Florida. These cards can dramatically expand your available titles.

Compatible Devices

Libby runs on almost everything. The app is available for free on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad, Google Play for Android devices, and the Amazon Appstore for Kindle Fire tablets. You can also use Libby in any web browser by visiting libbyapp.com.

For dedicated e-readers, the setup depends on the device. Kindle e-readers (like the Paperwhite) do not run the Libby app directly, but you can send borrowed books to them from within Libby. Kobo e-readers have built-in OverDrive integration, and newer models like the Kobo Clara BW support Libby directly. Both options are covered in detail later in this guide.

Step-by-Step: How to Set Up Libby

Setting up Libby takes about five minutes. The app guides you through the process, but here are the exact steps so you know what to expect.

1. Download Libby from your device’s app store or visit libbyapp.com in your browser.
2. Open the app and tap “Hi” to get started. Libby will ask if you have a library card. Tap “Yes.”
3. Search for your library by name or zip code. Libby will show matching libraries. Tap the correct one to select it.
4. Choose how to add your card. You can enter your card number manually, scan it with your camera if your device supports that, or sign in with your library’s online account if they offer that option.
5. Enter your library card number and PIN or password. Tap “Sign In With My Card.”
6. Libby will verify your card and load your library’s digital collection. You are now ready to browse and borrow.

If you have cards from multiple libraries, you can add them all. The Advanced Features section explains how. Switching between libraries is as simple as tapping the library name at the top of the screen.

One tip worth mentioning: if you get an error saying your card is not recognized, check that you entered the number correctly. Some libraries use spaces or dashes in their card numbers. Try entering just the digits without any separators. If problems persist, contact your library directly, as your card may need renewal.

How to Use Libby to Borrow Ebooks and Audiobooks

This is the core skill. Once you know how to borrow, everything else falls into place. The process works the same whether you are borrowing an ebook or an audiobook.

Browsing and Searching the Catalog

Libby offers two main ways to find books. You can browse curated collections on the home screen, or you can search for specific titles, authors, or subjects using the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen.

When browsing, you will see groupings like “Newly Added,” “Most Popular,” “Available Now,” and “Random.” Tapping any of these opens a larger list you can scroll through. The “Available Now” filter is especially useful if you want something to read immediately without waiting.

For searching, type a title, author name, or keyword into the search bar. Libby shows results from your library’s collection. You can refine results using filters like format (ebook or audiobook), availability, language, audience, and more. A key tip from experienced Libby users: pay attention to the format filter, because some titles are available as ebooks but not audiobooks, and vice versa.

Borrowing a Book Step by Step

Once you find a title you want, here is exactly how to borrow it:

1. Tap the cover of the book you want to borrow.
2. If the title is available, tap “Borrow.” If it is not available, you will see “Place Hold” instead, which adds you to the waitlist.
3. On the confirmation screen, tap the loan period to choose how long you want to borrow the book. Most libraries offer 7, 14, or 21 days.
4. Tap “Borrow” again to confirm.
5. Libby will ask how you want to read the book. For ebooks, you can choose “Read With Libby” to read in the app, or “Send to Kindle” if your library supports Kindle transfer. For audiobooks, the only option is to listen within Libby.
6. The book appears on your Shelf, which is where all your active loans live.

That is the entire borrowing process. The book downloads automatically when you open it, and you can start reading or listening immediately. No late fees ever apply because the book returns itself automatically when the loan period ends.

Reading Ebooks in Libby

Tap “Open Book” on your Shelf to start reading. Libby’s built-in reader supports adjustable text size, different fonts, background colors, and margin spacing. You can also set a custom reading ruler for easier tracking.

The reader supports bookmarks, highlights, and notes. Tap and hold any word to look up its definition, highlight a passage, or add a note. Everything syncs across your devices when you sign in with the same library card.

For offline reading, Libby downloads the book automatically when you first open it. You do not need an internet connection after that initial download. This makes Libby perfect for flights, road trips, or anywhere without Wi-Fi.

Listening to Audiobooks in Libby

Audiobooks work similarly. Tap “Open Audiobook” on your Shelf to launch the audio player. Libby’s player includes a sleep timer, adjustable playback speed, a skip button that jumps forward or backward by 15 seconds, and a bookmark function.

The playback speed control is particularly handy. You can speed up narration to 1.5x or even 2x to get through books faster. Many users on Reddit report finishing audiobooks in half the time using this feature alone.

Like ebooks, audiobooks download for offline listening. Once downloaded, you can listen anywhere without using data. The download typically takes a few minutes depending on the length of the book and your connection speed.

Managing Your Loans: Holds, Returns, and Renewals

Understanding how to manage your borrowed titles keeps your reading life organized and helps you avoid unnecessary wait times. Libby gives you several tools for this.

Placing and Managing Holds

When a title is checked out by someone else, you can place a hold to reserve your spot in line. Here is how:

1. Tap the book cover and select “Place Hold.”
2. Libby shows your estimated wait time based on the number of people ahead of you and the average loan period.
3. Tap “Place Hold” again to confirm.

You can hold your spot and continue browsing. When the book becomes available, Libby sends you a notification and automatically delivers the loan to your Shelf. You do not need to check anything manually.

One important detail: when a hold becomes available, you have a limited window (usually 3 days) to borrow it before it passes to the next person in line. If you are not ready, you can use the “Deliver Later” option to pass the book to the next person while keeping your place in line for the next available copy.

Delay Delivery vs. Suspending Holds

These two features often confuse new users, so here is the difference. “Deliver Later” postpones a single hold that just became available. You stay in the queue and get the next copy that opens up after your chosen delay period.

“Suspend Hold” is different. This freezes your hold entirely for a set period, meaning you do not move up in line during the suspension but you also do not lose your spot. This is useful if you are going on vacation or already have too many books checked out. You can suspend individual holds or use “Suspend All Holds” from your Shelf.

Returning Books Early

Returning books early helps other readers by shortening their wait times. It also frees up space on your loan limit if your library imposes one. To return a book early:

1. Go to your Shelf.
2. Tap “Manage Loan” on the book you want to return.
3. Select “Return Early” and confirm.

The book disappears from your Shelf immediately. If you had it sent to a Kindle, you may need to delete it manually from your Kindle library as well.

Renewing Books

If you are not finished with a book when your loan expires, you can often renew it. Libby shows a “Renew Loan” option on your Shelf a few days before the title is due. Tap it to extend your loan for another full period.

Renewals depend on availability. If other people have holds on the same title, the system will not let you renew because they are waiting in line. In that case, your best option is to return the book and place a new hold, which puts you back at the end of the queue.

Advanced Libby Features Most People Miss

After reading through countless Reddit threads on r/LibbyApp and comparing notes with library super-users, several features stand out that most casual users never discover. These can transform how you use the app.

Multiple Library Cards

Libby lets you add cards from multiple libraries. This is the single biggest advantage over other reading apps, because it multiplies your available catalog and dramatically reduces wait times.

To add another library card, tap the library name at the top of the screen, then tap “Add Library.” Search for the new library and enter your card details. You can add as many cards as you have.

When searching for a book, Libby searches across all your libraries at once. If one library has a long wait but another has the title available immediately, Libby shows you both options. This is why non-resident cards are so valuable, as they give you access to larger library systems with bigger budgets and shorter lines.

Deep Search

Deep Search is a hidden feature that changes how you find books. By default, Libby only searches titles your library owns. With Deep Search turned on, Libby searches the entire OverDrive catalog, including titles your library does not have.

To enable it, go to the search screen, look for the filters, and toggle on “Deep Search.” When you search with this enabled, you will see results that include titles marked with a “Notify Me” tag instead of a borrow or hold button.

A common frustration found in forum discussions is that Deep Search can override your “Available Now” filter. If you search for available books but see titles with “Notify Me” badges, that means Deep Search is pulling in titles your library does not own yet. Turn it off from the filter menu if you only want to see books you can actually borrow right now.

Notify Me: Request Books Your Library Does Not Own

When you find a title through Deep Search that your library does not have, you can tap “Notify Me.” This does two things: it alerts you if your library ever adds the title, and it sends a signal to your library that patrons want this book. Many librarians use Notify Me data to decide which books to purchase.

This is one of the most underused features in Libby. Instead of wishing your library had a specific book, you can actively influence what they buy. The more people who tap Notify Me on a title, the more likely the library is to add it.

Tags for Organization

Tags let you organize your reading life however you want. You can tag books as “Want to Read,” “Finished,” “Favorites,” or create custom tags for any category you like.

Tap any book cover and select “Tag” to add it. Your tags appear in the “Tags” tab at the bottom of the screen, where you can view all books with a specific tag. This works for titles you have already borrowed and for books you just want to track.

Many power users create tags like “Audiobook,” “Kindle Only,” “Currently Reading,” or seasonal tags like “Summer Reading List.” Tags sync across all your devices, so your system follows you everywhere.

Lucky Day / Skip the Line Copies

Some libraries offer Lucky Day or Skip the Line copies of popular titles. These are high-demand books that your library makes available with no waitlist, usually for a shorter loan period like 7 days.

You will see these titles flagged with a special badge in your catalog. If a book you have been waiting for shows up as a Lucky Day copy, grab it fast. These copies are first-come, first-served and do not count toward your regular hold.

Inspire Me

The Inspire Me feature is Libby’s recommendation engine. You can access it from your Shelf by scrolling to the bottom, where Libby suggests books based on what you have previously borrowed and rated. It is a great way to discover titles you might not find through regular browsing.

Borrowing Magazines

Many libraries offer digital magazines through Libby, but this feature often goes unnoticed. Magazines work differently from ebooks and audiobooks. Instead of borrowing individual issues, you can check out a magazine and keep it as long as you want, with no return date.

To find magazines, use the format filter when browsing or searching and select “Magazines.” Popular titles include Time, National Geographic, The New Yorker, and many more. Magazines download as full-color issues that look exactly like the print versions.

Reading Libby Books on Kindle and Other Devices

One of Libby’s biggest strengths is its flexibility with reading devices. You are not locked into reading on your phone screen.

Sending Books to Kindle

If your library supports Kindle transfer (most US libraries do), you can send borrowed ebooks directly to your Kindle device or app. Here is how:

1. When you borrow an ebook, select “Read With Kindle” instead of “Read With Libby.”
2. Libby redirects you to Amazon’s website, where you sign in and choose which Kindle device or app should receive the book.
3. Tap “Get Library Book” and the title appears on your Kindle within minutes, as long as your device is connected to Wi-Fi.

Books sent to Kindle work like any other Kindle book. You can adjust fonts, use the dictionary, and sync your reading position across Kindle devices. When the loan period ends, the book is automatically removed from your Kindle.

If you use a Kindle Paperwhite, the process is the same. Your Paperwhite shows up as a delivery option when you send the book from Libby through Amazon. For children’s Kindles, you can send books to a child’s device through Amazon’s Family Library sharing.

Kobo Compatibility

Kobo e-readers have built-in OverDrive integration. On newer models like the Kobo Clara BW, Kobo Libra, and Kobo Sage, you can browse and borrow directly from the device without needing the Libby app. On the device, look for the OverDrive section in your settings and sign in with your library card.

For older Kobo models, you may need to use Adobe Digital Editions on your computer to transfer borrowed ebooks. This is a USB-based transfer process that works but is less convenient than the wireless options available on newer devices.

Accessibility Features

Libby includes several accessibility tools that are rarely discussed but make a real difference for many readers. Within the ebook reader, you can enlarge text significantly, choose from multiple dyslexia-friendly fonts including OpenDyslexic, and adjust background colors to reduce eye strain.

For audiobooks, Libby is fully compatible with screen readers like VoiceOver on iOS and TalkBack on Android. You can also use Bluetooth headphones or speakers for private listening. The app supports Voice Control on both platforms for hands-free operation.

If you read on a Kindle device, you can use Whispersync to switch between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook version, picking up exactly where you left off in either format. Just note that your library needs to own both formats for this to work.

Pro Tips: How to Use Libby Effectively

After comparing notes with library super-users across Reddit and Facebook groups, here are the strategies that separate casual users from Libby power users.

Get multiple library cards. This is the number one tip from every experienced user. A non-resident card from a large library system like Brooklyn Public Library costs around $50 per year but gives you access to one of the biggest digital collections in the country. The reduced wait times pay for themselves quickly if you read regularly.

Browse like a librarian. Instead of only searching for specific titles, explore the curated collections and use the filter options to discover new authors. The “More Like This” button on any book page recommends similar titles your library owns.

Place holds early on upcoming releases. If a new book is coming out, search for it before publication day. Placing a hold early puts you closer to the front of the line. Combined with the Notify Me feature, you can sometimes get new releases within days of their launch.

Use the airplane mode hack carefully. Some users on Reddit report that if you turn on airplane mode before a Libby loan expires, you can keep reading past the due date on a Kindle. This works because the Kindle checks for loan expiration only when connected to Wi-Fi. This is an unofficial workaround and may not work on all devices, but it can buy you a few extra hours to finish a chapter.

Check your holds regularly. Libby will notify you when a hold is ready, but you only have a few days to act. Missing that window sends you to the back of a longer line, so keep notifications enabled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Learning how to use Libby to borrow ebooks and audiobooks opens up a world of free reading and listening. With just a library card and the free app, you gain access to millions of titles across ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines without spending a dime.

Start with the basics: download the app, add your library card, and borrow your first book. Then explore the advanced features like multiple library cards, deep search, tags, and Notify Me to get the most out of your digital library. The more you use these tools, the more value you unlock from a resource you already pay for through your local taxes.

Your next step is simple. Download Libby today, add your library card, and borrow something tonight. Happy reading.