How to Borrow Free Library eBooks with Libby in Australia
Your local library lends far more than the books on its shelves. With a free app called Libby and your library card, you can borrow ebooks and audiobooks from home, read them on a phone, tablet or eReader, and never pay a cent or a late fee. The book simply returns itself when the loan is up.
Most Australian libraries use Libby, including major city and council library services across the country. Here’s how to set it up and borrow your first book. If you are choosing a new television too, our guide to the best smart TVs for seniors is a good place to start.
Quick answer
Install the free Libby app from the App Store or Google Play. Open it, find your Australian library, and sign in with your library card number and PIN. Search for a book, tap Borrow, and read it in the app. It’s all free, there are no late fees, and books return themselves automatically. You just need a library card, which is free to get.
What you need first
You’ll need a library card from your local public library, and the PIN or password that goes with it. If you don’t have one, joining is free. You can sign up at the library in person, and many libraries also let you join online. Have your card number to hand before you start, as you’ll enter it once to link the app to your library.
Step by step
1. Install the Libby app
On your phone or tablet, open the App Store on Apple devices or the Play Store on Android. Search for Libby, the one with a colourful circle and a tree, and install it. It’s free, made by a company called OverDrive that works with libraries.
2. Find your library
Open Libby and it asks for your library. Let it search using your location, or type the name of your library, such as City of Sydney Library or Brisbane City Council Library. Choose yours from the list.
3. Sign in with your card
Enter your library card number and the PIN or password. This links the app to your library account so it knows you’re a member. You only do this once, then Libby remembers you.
4. Find a book and borrow it
Use the search to look for a title or author, or browse the shelves on screen. When you find something, tap Borrow. If a popular title is out on loan, you can place a hold and Libby tells you when it’s ready, just like reserving a paper book.
5. Start reading or listening
Open the book and read it right in the app. You can make the text larger, change the background, and pick up where you left off. Audiobooks play in the same app. When the loan ends, the book returns on its own, so there’s nothing to remember and never a fine.
Libby works beautifully on a tablet, especially for larger text. If reading is your main aim, you might also consider a dedicated eReader. Our guide to the best eReaders for seniors and our pick of the best tablets for reading and large text both explain the options. Some libraries also use a second free app called BorrowBox, which works in much the same way.
Before you finish
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FAQ: borrowing library ebooks with Libby
Is Libby really free?
Yes. The app is free and so are the books. There’s nothing to pay and no late fees, because borrowed books return themselves automatically.
Do I need a library card?
Yes, a card from your local public library. Joining is free, and you can usually sign up in person or online.
What if the book I want is already out?
You can place a hold, just like reserving a paper book. Libby lets you know when it’s your turn.
Can I make the text bigger?
Yes. Libby lets you increase the text size and change the background, which makes reading much more comfortable.
Can I listen to audiobooks too?
Yes. Libby lends audiobooks as well as ebooks, and they play in the same app at no cost.
