To use Libby, install the app, sign in with your library card, search for a title, and tap Borrow. Your borrowed items appear immediately on your Shelf, where mobile downloads happen automatically over Wi-Fi so you can read or listen offline.
The Libby app connects directly to your public library branch through OverDrive, giving you access to ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines without paying subscription fees or risking late charges.
The Steps to Borrow Books on Libby
Borrowing through Libby requires four sequential actions: getting the app, linking a card, finding a title, and opening your Shelf. Anyone with an active card from a participating public library can complete setup in one sitting.
You can read in a browser at libbyapp.com, which runs in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. If you use a mobile device, install the software directly on your hardware before starting.
Follow these steps in order to borrow your first title:
- Install the Libby app from the Apple App Store, Google Play, or the Amazon Appstore for Fire tablets.
- Open the app and follow the prompts to locate your public library branch, then sign in with your library card.
- Tap Search to find a specific author or title, or tap Library to browse curated lists and guides.
- Tap Borrow next to an available book, or tap Place Hold if all copies are checked out.
- Tap Shelf to open your Loans and begin reading or listening.
Finding Titles and Managing Holds
Libby separates title discovery into direct search and catalog browsing. Tap Search at the bottom of the screen to query a specific author, title, or series name. Tap Library to explore curated catalog guides, collections assembled by your local librarians, and genre categories.
Every library curates its own catalog, so available titles and formats differ between systems. If another patron has checked out the final digital copy of a title, the Borrow button changes to Place Hold. Tapping Holds on your Shelf displays your exact position in line and allows you to manage your reservations.
Use the Tag it feature to save titles you want to revisit later. A tag functions as an on-demand to-be-read list that keeps your browsing organized without cluttering your active loans. If you want to see how quickly you can finish that backlog, try our reading time calculator.
Understanding Your Shelf and Automatic Returns
Your Shelf is the central dashboard where your Loans, Holds, magazines, Timeline activity history, and Notices live. On mobile devices, borrowed titles download automatically over Wi-Fi for offline use.
Loans return automatically on their due date, which completely removes the risk of late fees. If you finish reading before the loan period ends, tap Manage Loan next to the title and select Return Early to pass the copy to the next person waiting.
You can manage your alert preferences by going to Menu and selecting Notifications. Loan durations, maximum checkout allowances, and wait times vary by library, so consult your local branch if you need exact lending rules.
Customizing the Reader and Audio Player
Libby includes built-in controls for page formatting, font sizing, and background lighting. You can insert bookmarks, highlight phrases, and attach personal notes directly within the text of any borrowed ebook.
The integrated audiobook player lets you swipe backward or forward on the cover image to skip through narration. Playback speed adjusts up to 3x, and an adjustable sleep timer pauses playback at the end of a chapter or after 5, 10, 30, or more minutes. For commuting, audiobooks stream over Bluetooth or through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Android Automotive.
Selecting between formats comes down to personal routine and travel habits. Our comparison on ebook vs audiobook walks through the practical differences if you are deciding how to tackle your reading goals.
Reading on Kindle and Kobo Devices
Kindle compatibility in Libby applies to United States libraries only. If your library is located outside the United States, you will not see the option to send books to Amazon hardware.
Patrons of US libraries can send eligible ebooks to an e-reader or continue reading inside Libby. To direct a single title, go to Shelf, tap Loans, select Manage Loan, tap Read With, and choose Kindle. Libby forwards you to Amazon to log in and select Get Library Book. To make this the default action, open Menu, tap Read Books With under Settings, and select Kindle.
Readers using dedicated Kobo hardware can borrow and read library ebooks directly on the device. For an in-depth hardware breakdown between these ecosystems, see our guide on kindle vs kobo.
Who Libby Does Not Suit
Libby does not serve readers who refuse to obtain a public library card. The platform relies on public library partnerships powered by OverDrive, which means you cannot purchase individual titles or bypass your library’s digital collection.
Readers who insist on owning permanent digital files or who live outside the service area of a participating public system will need commercial stores instead. If you have an active card and want more ways to build a daily routine, see our advice on how to read more.