How to Read E-Books for Free Without Piracy
Getting a good book to read is as easy as hitting the borrow button on your tablet. If you are slowly getting started with the world of e-books, know that you can download thousands of e-books and their audio counterparts for free from your phone, computer or tablet. Here’s how to quickly and easily borrow an e-book from your local public library.
How to access the digital library
Depending on where you live, your library may already have an extensive collection of e-books. For example, the New York Public Library (NYPL) allows New Yorkers to subscribe to an electronic library card and check out available books. You can register online, create a username (usually your email address or member number) and enter a password. You will then have access to their ebook library through the SimplyE app. Other library systems around the country may have similar programs; visit your local library website for more information.
If an e-library card is not available in your area, Goodreads has also published a short list of e-books that are great for e-borrowing in the United States and Canada. The Libby online reader app makes it easy to get an e-loan and provides links to your e-book, Kindle, or Kindle app. OverDrive created Libby to connect public libraries with readers to facilitate online borrowing; roughly 90% of the libraries are reportedly linked to OverDrive and Libby, but you can search for participating libraries on their websites to make sure the resource is available in your region.
How to borrow e-books through Libby
You need a library card to work with Libby. You can use the information on your existing card or visit your local library for a new card. Once you receive your card, download the Libby app and follow the simple setup instructions. The app will ask you if you have a library card. If you choose no, you will be prompted for instructions on how to obtain a new card in your area. If you choose yes, the app asks if you know your local branch or if you want it to “guess your branch”. (The app uses your current location to find the closest library branch.) After confirming your branch, you’re ready to start borrowing right away.
How to link your e-book to rented e-books
After you have looked carefully and found the book (or audiobook) you want via Libby, select “Borrow” at the bottom. The app will direct you to the checkout page, where you can choose a seven-day, 14-day, or 21-day borrowing period (depending on your library).
After setting the crediting period, Libby will ask you to update your notification settings. You can get notified when a loan expires and get notified when the books you have pending are now available. You can also receive notifications when your favorite author has a new title or when the next installment of a series you like becomes available. This feature can help you keep track of how much time you have left to finish the current book and what to take for the next. At the end of the crediting period, the book will no longer be available on your account or on your device.
Now that you’re ready to read, you can access the book in your Kindle library along with all of your other e-books. When you click on a title, you will see the option to read it on your Kindle or e-book. Selecting “Kindle” redirects you to sign in to your Amazon Kindle account. After logging in, the Kindle app will ask you to send the book to your device. You have the option to choose which of your Kindle devices you want to use. When you open your e-library on your tablet, Kindle or iPad, all your books are in one place for easy reading.