How to Borrow Library eBooks on an iPad in Australia

Here is one of the loveliest things an iPad can do, and hardly anyone knows about it. With your library card, you can borrow books and have them appear on the screen in seconds, for free, without leaving the house. No late fees, no heavy hardbacks, and the text grows as large as you like. For a keen reader whose eyes are not what they were, it is a quiet wonder.

Australian libraries lend eBooks and audiobooks through two free apps, Libby and BorrowBox. They work much the same way. This guide uses Libby, the most popular, and walks through the whole thing on an iPad, from joining the library to settling in with your first book. For the wider view, our guide to the best tablets for seniors in Australia compares the main options.

Step by step: borrowing your first eBook

1. Join your library, if you have not already

If you already have a library card, you are ready. If not, joining your local public library is free and quick. Whether you are with a city, council or state library, you can join, often online in a few minutes, or in person if you would rather. You will end up with a card number and a PIN, which is all the app needs.

2. Install the Libby app

On the iPad, open the App Store, tap the search box, and type “Libby”. Look for the one called Libby, by OverDrive, with a pink and white icon. Tap Get to install it. It is free. When it has downloaded, tap Open, or find the new Libby icon on your home screen.

3. Find your library and sign in

The first time you open Libby, it asks if you have a library card. Say yes. It will try to find your library, or let you search by name or town. Choose your library from the list, then enter your card number and PIN when asked. Libby remembers it, so you only do this once. If the number does not work, ring the library and they will sort it out.

4. Find a book to borrow

Now browse, just like wandering the shelves. Tap the magnifying glass to search for an author or a title, or explore the lists Libby suggests. When you find something, tap Borrow, then Borrow again to confirm. The book is yours for the loan period, usually about three weeks. If a popular title is already out, tap Place Hold and Libby will let you know by notification when it is your turn.

5. Open it and start reading

After you borrow, tap Open Book and it opens to the first page. Turn pages with a tap or a swipe. To make reading comfortable, tap the middle of the screen and then the small Aa button at the top. From there you can make the text bigger, change the background to a softer cream, and even switch to a clearer typeface. This is where the iPad earns its keep, since you can read at a size no printed book could match.

6. Borrow audiobooks too, if you like

Libby lends audiobooks as well, which are wonderful if your eyes tire or you like a story while you potter in the garden. They borrow exactly the same way. For an even bigger audiobook choice, install BorrowBox as well, the other app Australian libraries use, and sign in with the same card. Having both gives you the widest selection at no cost.

7. Returns look after themselves

This is the best part. You never have to remember to return anything. When the loan ends, the book simply disappears from your shelf, with no fine and nothing to do. If you finish early and want to free up a borrow, you can return it yourself by holding your finger on the cover and tapping Return. Otherwise, just let it run out.

How many books can you have at once?

Plenty. The limit depends on your library, but it is generous. Many Australian public libraries let you have somewhere between ten and thirty eBooks and audiobooks at a time, and some allow more. Most libraries also lend free eMagazines through the same apps, often with no limit at all, so you can keep up with your favourite magazines the same way. If you reach the limit, return one and borrow another.

Next steps

If the text is still hard to read, our guide on making an iPad easier to use helps, and the best tablets for reading and large text goes further. If you would rather have a dedicated reading device, see our best eReaders for seniors guide. All of our tablet advice lives on the tablets and iPads hub.