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If I had to buy every book I’ve read, I wouldn’t be able to pay the rent. It’s not difficult to read for free; I always exchange books with friends, searching for small free libraries near me, and of course, I like my local libraries. But as an e-reader expert and enthusiast, I almost always use reading devices. However, when I use and test the e-reader, I still need to be able to use my Kuka and read for free. That’s where Libby came in.
Libby is the best app on my phone. It connects you to the library network (you are a card holder), so you can borrow and read ebooks on the Libby app or on the E-Reader (such as the Kindle). After using Libby for a few years, it was a key part of my content diet and a valuable resource for maintaining good reading.
How does Liby work?
It feels like a big prize and discovering Emily Henry’s “Great and Beautiful Life” can be borrowed.
Image source: Screenshot: Libby
A few weeks later, my copy of Torrey Peters’ “Bucks Dance” was finally ready to borrow money and added to my library.
Image source: Screenshot: Libby
Libby is part of the Everdrive system, which connects you to the library’s digital collection. To use Libby, log in with your Kuka information. Are there multiple library cards? You can attach as many cards as possible to your account. Once logged in, you can browse the library’s digital collection. Some books will be available for borrowing immediately, you can view them, and will be automatically added to your library.
Other books will be asked to be put on hold. New and popular books usually require a long wait, but pro tip: having multiple library cards can compare waiting times for different libraries so you can get into the shortest route.
Once ready, it will appear in your library, allowing you to view it. Libby lets you borrow books for two weeks. Some books can be renewed, while others are waiting to be borrowed and cannot be renewed.
Where can you read books with Libby?
When you borrow a book on Libby, it will give you a variety of options for how to read.
Image source: Screenshot: Libby
You have some options on how to read Libby books. You can do this in the Libby app on your smartphone or tablet. You can also read on your browser via the Libby website. The best part about using a Libby app or website is that it syncs your progress across all devices. This way, if you leave your iPad at home, you can read it on your iPhone and where it stops next.
Libby also allows you to read its books as EPUB files. The best way is to use Adobe Digital Editions, so if you have a device with Adobe access instead of Libby Access, such as Boox E-Readers, you can still access the borrowed books.
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To read an e-reader, you can also send books directly to a Kobo or Kindle device. Kobo has the smoothest Libby integration. You can log in on your device via Overdrive (Libby’s parent company) and when you borrow books, they will automatically populate in your library.
For Kindle users, there are several additional steps in this process.
How to read Kindle’s Libby books
To read Libby books using the Kindle, you have to send them manually to the Kindle library.
Image source: Screenshot: Amazon
Once the Libby loan is sent to the Kindle, it will automatically fill to your library. However, you still need to download it to your device.
Image source: Screenshot: Kindle
To read Libby Books on your Kindle, select the “Read with Kindle” option in the Libby app. That will take you to Amazon, where you will click the Get Library button. The book will then automatically appear in the library of your Kindle apps and devices. Remember that a book is in your library and you need to download it on your Kindle to start reading.
What is the best e-reader for Libby?
The colors of Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra are easily the best e-readers for Libby.
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The best e-reader for Libby is the Kobo Libra color or the Kindle Paperwhite. Which one you choose depends on how you use Libby. If you only have one library card, Kobo is the best e-reader for Libby. All your borrowed Libby Books are automatically filled on the device without pressing all the extra buttons. The downside is that you can only have one Libby account attached to Kobo at a time.
If you have multiple library cards, the Kindle Paperwhite is the best e-reader for Libby. While it takes an extra step to put the book on the device, you can borrow it using multiple cards at the same time.
If you don’t want to buy an e-reader, you can start using Libby now by reading on a smartphone or tablet you already have. If you’re reading on a tablet, I recommend your iPad mini (smaller than other models to strain your wrist when holding the device. The iPad’s screen is sometimes too shiny to read, and if your eyes hurt your eyes, you can add a screen cover for paper.
Avoid using Libby Reading Barnes & Noble Nook and Boox e-readers, as both require tedious steps to put your library books on your device.
The disadvantages of libi
Libby doesn’t have many shortcomings – I don’t think technically. But as a warning, I think it’s important to think of Libby as a library, not an e-book store. With an e-book store, you can buy almost any title you want, but with a library, books are sometimes not available.
Sometimes it can be because the library has limited copies, so you have to wait weeks or even months to borrow a book. But sometimes your library doesn’t have the books in it at all. The best way to avoid this problem is to get multiple library cards, as different networks have different directories.
