Access Free Books
One of the best ways to read more without spending more is to make full use of your library. With the right apps and library cards, you can borrow ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more for free. Libby and Hoopla are two of my favorite tools for accessing digital library content, and each offers a slightly different experience.
Libby
If you regularly buy ebooks or audiobooks, Libby is one of the easiest ways to start reading for free. Libby connects to your public library and lets you borrow ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines right from your phone, tablet, or computer. You can stream with Wi-Fi or mobile data, or download titles to enjoy offline.
To get started:
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Download the Libby app from your phone's app store
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Find or apply for a library card
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Add your library card, or cards, to the app
One of the best things about Libby is that you can add multiple library cards, which gives you access to larger collections and better odds of finding what you want without a long wait. Tip below on searching across all libraries.
Hoopla
Hoopla is another excellent free library resource. With a library card, you can borrow audiobooks, ebooks, comics, movies, TV, magazines, and music on a wide range of devices. Hoopla also syncs across your devices, making it easy to pick up where you left off.
Compared to Libby, Hoopla is offered by fewer libraries, but it has one major advantage: titles are usually available instantly, with no waitlist. The tradeoff is that most libraries limit how many items you can borrow each month, and Hoopla’s catalog is different from Libby’s.
If your library offers Hoopla, it is absolutely worth exploring.
You may still have options. I’ve confirmed that Broward County’s non-resident card includes Hoopla access.
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh also offers out-of-state cards and has Hoopla. Pennsylvania residents can get a Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh card for free, which may make this an especially helpful option for readers in PA
Library Extension
Life Changing Browser Extension
Add to Chrome, Firefox, Edge
The #1 Browser Extension that lets you instantly see book and e-book availability from your local library. This extension is easy to install and SO worth it. As you browse books and e-books on sites such as Amazon, Audible, GoodReads, and more, the Library Extension can check your library's online catalog and display the availability of that item on the same page. This is so helpful when you have 12+ libraries on your Libby App.
