Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
As a kid, my library handed out tokens for every chapter kids read as part of a summer reading program. At the end of the season, those tokens turned into currency for spending at a karaoke BBQ, with games and toys up for grabs. I’ll never get over the trauma of singing American Pie (I had not realized just how painfully long that song really is), but I will always foster the same love for mass consumption of oversized chapter books. Fast-forward a few decades, and my reading rewards look a little different. No tokens, no karaoke mic, just me, my Kindle, and Libby, the app that lets me hoard library books without a single overdue fine.
Do you use Libby to read books on your Amazon Kindle? 2 votes Yes, of course! 50 % No, I prefer to own my books. 50 % Other (let us know in the comments) 0 %
A digital spin on a childhood obsession
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
The ritual of summer reading has aged right along with me, though now it’s a yearlong love affair. Where I once filled out paper logs, now I log into Libby and fill my digital shelf with novels I’ll probably still finish at a frantic pace. Instead of trading chapters for super soakers and bouncy balls, I’m trading hours of sleep for ebook swipes and hoping my battery doesn’t die before the plot twist.
Libby, for the uninitiated, is a free app by OverDrive that connects your library card to a vast catalog of ebooks and audiobooks. Once you’ve signed in with your card, you can browse, borrow, and place holds right from your Kindle (or Kindle app). When the title you want is available, you simply tap “Send to Kindle” and the borrowed book behaves just like a purchase from Amazon’s storefront, minus the bill.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
The workflow is straightforward. Your book shows up on your Kindle device or app, complete with your preferred fonts, adjustable margins, highlights, and dark mode. Your progress even syncs across devices. If I’m in the grocery store when a book becomes available, I can start it on my phone and sync up with my Kindle when I get home. Likewise, if I hear of a new book to read, I can search the Libby app from any device and borrow it or place a hold. Audiobooks work a little differently, since they stay in Libby’s own player. But for text-based reading, it’s nearly seamless. Not every title is Kindle-compatible, but the majority are, which means Kindle owners can keep their familiar reading environment while still tapping into the magic of the public library.
Libby lets you access your public library without leaving the house or abandoning your Kindle.
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