Library & Borrowing (Libby)

The single most underused free benefit in the world: a public library card unlocks Libby (ebooks + audiobooks), Hoopla (movies + music + audiobooks), PressReader (thousands of magazines), and more. Pair with reader apps and your e-reader. For self-hosted equivalents see Self-Host Photos & Media (Audiobookshelf, Calibre-Web).

Libby (OverDrive) — the killer app

• ★ ★ Libby — free with library card; iOS / Android / web; the OverDrive successor and the obvious default in 2026. Ebooks + audiobooks; sends ebooks to Kindle (US) automatically; Kobo has Libby integration baked in; "skip the line" tags + holds. Multiple library cards in one app.
  • https://libbyapp.com
• OverDrive (legacy) — sunset 2023; everything migrated to Libby.

Hoopla

• ★ Hoopla — free with library card; ebooks + audiobooks + comics + movies + TV + music; monthly per-card borrow limit (typically 4-10) but no holds (instant checkout). Comics catalogue is excellent.

Other library apps

• CloudLibrary — free with library card; ebook / audiobook lender used by libraries that didn't go OverDrive / Libby.
• Axis 360 — free with library card; smaller catalogue; some US libraries.
• ★ BorrowBox — free with library card; common in Australia / UK / Ireland / NZ where Libby has weaker presence.

Magazines via library

• ★ PressReader — free with library card at most US / Canada / EU libraries; ~7000 magazines + newspapers; pre-2024 layout but a phenomenal free benefit.
• Libby Magazines — free with library card; smaller catalogue than PressReader.
• Flipster (EBSCO) — free with library card; common in academic / public libraries.

Newspapers via library

• New York Times via library — many US libraries offer free 24h–72h NYT digital passes.
• Wall Street Journal / Washington Post via library — same; check your library's database list.
• ProQuest / NewsBank — historical newspaper archives via library.

Print-disabled / accessibility

• ★ Bookshare — free for US users with documented print disability; ~1.2M titles in accessible formats. See accessibility & TTS.
• Learning Ally — paid + free for qualifying students; human-narrated audiobooks for learning differences.
• NLS BARD (Library of Congress) — free for US blind / print-disabled patrons.

Patterns

• ★ Stack library cards. Most US states allow non-resident cards (Houston, Brooklyn, LA County, Free Library of Philadelphia have all been popular for digital-only patrons over the years). Many require a fee; many are free if you live / work / study in-system.
• Place holds proactively — Libby holds rotate fast; queue 5-10 books and let them land.
• Skip the line — Libby flags these (smaller selection but instant).
• Send to Kindle from Libby (US) is the path-of-least-resistance for Kindle owners.
• Kobo has Libby built in — sign in once, borrow on-device.

Pick this if…

• Default ebook / audiobook borrowing (US / Canada / EU): Libby.
• No-holds, instant access: Hoopla.
• Australia / UK / Ireland / NZ: BorrowBox.
• Magazines: PressReader.
• Print-disabled US reader: Bookshare.