You can have access to tons of audio and e-books for free from The Free Library of Philadelphia without even leaving your home.
If you are a resident of Pennsylvania you are eligible to get a library card through The Free Library of Philadelphia! Though you may not live near Philadelphia, this is still a very helpful tool. You can use your digital library card to borrow e-books and audiobooks on your smartphone.
Here is a guide to show you how to get reading and listening!
Step 1: Visit catalog.freelibrary.org
Agree to the terms and fill out the application. You will need to complete an additional verification step via email as well.
Once you have applied and verified your information, you will have an account on the website and a digital library card number that you can use to borrow e-books and audiobooks.
Step 2: Download the Libby app
The Libby app shows you which titles are available throughout your library system. Once you have borrowed an e-book or audiobook you can instantly listen right in the app or transfer them to a third party app such as a kindle if you wish to read on another device.
Step 3: Add your preferred library
Tap the stacked lines icon and then add library. Search for “The Free Library of Philadelphia” and add a branch to your libraries.
Step 4: Add your library card
Stay on the same stacked line icon page and tap manage cards, then tap add card. It will prompt you to type in your digital library card number and the PIN you created when you applied for your card.
Step 5: Search for titles or topics you want to read.
Tap the magnifying glass icon and then in the search bar and search for titles or topics you want to read and tap search on your keypad.
Step 6: Either borrow or hold depending upon availability.
Libraries only have so many digital copies of each title so there may be a wait to borrow it. If that is the case, you will see a little clock icon next to the library card icon to the right of the title. Tap the library card icon and you will be able to see how long the wait is for that title. From there, you can put it on hold and your digital copy will show up in your digital library once a copy becomes available to you.
If a copy is ready right away without a wait list, you will be able to add the digital copy to your library right away. In this case, you will see a plus sign next to the library card icon. Tap “Borrow” and your digital copy will show up in your digital library right away.
Step 7: Enjoy!
You can listen or read right in the Libby app. For e-books, you have the option to read in other apps or devices such as kindle. You can tap the option to transfer to Kindle and from there you will be prompted to log into your Kindle account if that is what you wish to do.
Happy reading and listening!
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