I’ve saved hundreds of dollars borrowing library ebooks through Libby, and the setup takes maybe ten minutes. If you’re not using it, you’re leaving free books on the table.
What Libby actually is
Libby is a free app made by OverDrive that connects you to your public library’s digital collection. Instead of driving to the library and hoping the book you want is on the shelf, you browse ebooks and audiobooks on your phone, borrow them with a tap, and send them to an e-reader. The app handles everything: borrowing, returning, hold management, and reading progress syncing.
What makes Libby special compared to just using the OverDrive website is the polish. The interface is genuinely good — clean, fast, and designed like a modern reading app rather than a library catalog from 2008. You can sample books before borrowing, tag titles for later, and suspend holds so they don’t all arrive at once.
Libby works with thousands of public libraries across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and several other countries. If your local library participates, you already have access — you just might not know it yet.
Step-by-step setup
First, download the Libby app on your phone or tablet. It’s available on iOS and Android. There’s also a web app at libbyapp.com if you prefer a desktop browser, though the mobile experience is better.
When you open Libby, it asks if you have a library card. Say yes. Search for your library by name or zip code, sign in with your library card number and PIN, and you’re in. If you don’t have a card, most libraries let you apply for one online through a link inside the app. The whole process takes under five minutes.
Add multiple libraries. This is the single biggest tip I can give. Libby lets you sign into as many libraries as you want, and each one has a different catalog with different availability. I have three library cards: my local county system, a neighboring county that has a reciprocal agreement, and a non-resident card I paid $50 for annually that gives me access to a much larger metro collection. Three catalogs means shorter wait times and a wider selection. Some libraries — notably the Brooklyn Public Library, Houston Public Library, and Fairfax County Public Library — offer non-resident cards for an annual fee, typically $40–80. If your local library has a small digital collection, a non-resident card from a major system is the single best investment you can make as a reader.
Sending books to your e-reader
Kindle (US only)
Browse Libby, find a book you want, and tap Borrow. If the book is available, you’ll see a “Read With Kindle” option. Tap it. Libby redirects you to Amazon’s website, where you sign in and confirm the delivery. The book appears on your Kindle wirelessly within seconds. It works exactly like buying a Kindle book, except it’s free and it expires.
If the book isn’t available, you place a hold. When your hold becomes available, Libby sends a notification, and you have roughly 72 hours to borrow it before it passes to the next person. Once borrowed, the loan period is typically 14 or 21 days, configurable in settings. After that, the book disappears from your Kindle — but your highlights and notes are preserved on the Kindle and remain accessible after the loan ends.
Kobo
Kobo has OverDrive built directly into the device. On a Kobo, go to Settings → OverDrive → sign in with your library card. From that point, any book you borrow in Libby automatically syncs to the Kobo home screen. You don’t need your phone after the initial setup — you can even browse and borrow directly from the Kobo’s built-in store overlay, though the phone app is faster for searching.
This integration is one of the strongest arguments for choosing a Kobo over a Kindle if you read a lot of library books. It works in every country where OverDrive is available, not just the US.
Everything else (PocketBook, Boox, Android e-readers)
For devices without direct Libby integration, you download the EPUB from Libby and transfer it manually. Libby gives you the option to download the book as an Adobe DRM-protected EPUB. You’ll need Adobe Digital Editions on your computer — it’s free software that manages the DRM authorization. Connect your e-reader via USB, authorize both your computer and device in Adobe Digital Editions, and drag the EPUB file over. It’s an extra step, but it works reliably.
On Android-based e-readers like Boox devices, you can install the Libby app directly and read inside it, skipping the transfer entirely.
Formats and device compatibility
Libby supports EPUB, PDF, and audiobook formats. EPUB is the default for most ebooks and works on virtually every e-reader except Kindle — hence Amazon’s role as the intermediary for Kindle delivery. PDFs are less common but appear for graphic novels, cookbooks, and image-heavy titles. Audiobooks play inside the Libby app on your phone; they don’t transfer to e-readers.
Kindle integration is US-only. If you live in Canada, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, you cannot send Libby books to a Kindle. You can still use Libby — read in the phone app, or use a Kobo with OverDrive integration. This is a frustrating regional limitation with no announced plans to change.
Wait times, holds, and limits
Popular new releases can have wait times measured in months. I’ve waited 14 weeks for a buzzy new novel and by the time it arrived I’d forgotten why I wanted to read it. The workaround: place holds early and often. Libby lets you have multiple holds per library card — typically 5 to 10, depending on your library’s policy. Place holds on anything that looks interesting and let them trickle in.
Suspend holds. This is the feature that changed how I use Libby. When you place a hold, you can suspend it for up to 180 days. While suspended, you keep moving up the waitlist, but the book won’t be delivered until the suspension ends. This prevents five holds from becoming available during a week when you’re too busy to read.
Each library also limits how many books you can have checked out at once — usually 5 to 10. Return books early when you finish. It’s one tap in the app, it frees the copy for the next person, and it opens a checkout slot for you.
Tags are useful for organization. I keep three: “Want to Read” for books I plan to place holds on, “Active” for what’s currently borrowed, and a shared tag for my book club’s monthly pick.
OverDrive vs Libby: what’s the difference?
OverDrive is the company; Libby is their modern app. The old OverDrive app still exists but has been sunset in favor of Libby, which is faster, better designed, and actively maintained. If you hear someone talk about “OverDrive books” or “OverDrive integration,” they’re referring to the same library system that powers Libby. The terms are interchangeable in practice.
Kobo’s built-in library feature still uses the OverDrive name, but behind the scenes it connects to the same catalog you access through the Libby app on your phone.
Troubleshooting common issues
“Read With Kindle” doesn’t appear. The book might not have a Kindle edition available — some publishers restrict Kindle library lending. Try a different book to confirm. Also check that you’re in the US; Kindle integration is region-locked.
Book won’t download to Kindle. Make sure your Kindle is connected to Wi-Fi and registered to the same Amazon account you used to confirm the loan. Restart the Kindle if it still doesn’t appear.
Hold became available but I missed it. Libby holds can be set to auto-checkout, which automatically borrows the book when it becomes available and sends it to your device. Enable this in Settings under Holds to avoid missed deliveries.
EPUB transfer fails on non-Kindle devices. Confirm that both your computer and the e-reader are authorized in Adobe Digital Editions. If Adobe Digital Editions refuses to recognize the device, try a different USB cable — some cheap cables don’t handle data transfer properly.
Can’t find my library. Some smaller libraries don’t participate in OverDrive. Check if your state or province offers a statewide digital library system that you can access with your local card.
The biggest limitation is regional: Kindle integration only works in the US. Outside the US, you’ll need a Kobo for smooth library borrowing, or transfer EPUBs manually to other devices. For most people in the US with a Kindle, Libby is the single best reason to own a library card.
See also
- Libby on Kobo: getting started with a library card
- Free Ebook Site Directory
- Best Ebook Subscriptions Compared
Frequently asked questions
Is Libby free to use?
Yes, Libby is completely free. You just need a valid library card from a participating public library. There are no subscription fees or in-app purchases.
Does Libby work with Kindle?
Yes, in the United States, Libby lets you send borrowed books directly to a Kindle device or app. Simply choose Read with Kindle when borrowing a book, and it will open Amazons website where you confirm the delivery.
Can I use Libby outside the United States?
Libby works in many countries including Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the Kindle integration is US-only. In other countries, you can read books in the Libby app or send them to Kobo devices.