Don't Forget About Your Local Library!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Don't forget about your local library!
As much as we all love to own (most/many/some of) the books we read, don't forget to check your library first for ebooks and audiobooks and save some $. You can always buy it if it's a keeper.

Here are some great apps and helpers to do your search easily:
~ Library Extension: As you browse books and e-books, the Library Extension can check your library's online catalog and display the availability of that item on the same page. (This extension only works with Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox)
~ OverDrive: One app, thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and videos from your local library and OverDrive's Libby: Did you know your local library has thousands of ebooks and audiobooks?
You can borrow them, instantly, for free, using just the device in your hand. (App available for Google Play, Apple, Microsoft; Libby is a combination of the book reader and audiobook player; you can sign up using multiple library cards w/in app)
~ Hoopla: Borrow books, audiobooks, movies, music, comics and tv from your library using Hoopla (App available for Google Play, Apple and web browser)
~ Flipster: Your library’s go-to resource for bestselling digital magazines.Flipster is an easy-to-use digital magazine newsstand for libraries and corporations. (App available for Apple, not sure about others)

I really like OverDrive's Libby app. I prefer it over OverDrive's main app. Hoopla is great if you're looking for free movies and TV.

We are constantly traveling, so I'm unable to pop into a library *sigh* but these apps do the job when I'm looking to save some money.

Do you use any library apps? Have any favorites? Any additional suggestions?

[Michelle]

i love my Hoopla it keeps me covered when i want to just grab a quick read.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

We’ve watched a movie using Hoopla, but I tend to use Overdrive or, now, Libby for books and audiobooks. My library isn’t listed with Flipster, so I can’t use that one for magazines.

[AliciaJ]

I love my Overdrive. I have three different libraries I can access through it, which is awesome.

[Lanelle]

I always check my library's Overdrive and Hoopla to see if they have the book I'm wanting to read. I haven't tried Libby yet. (I have to admit I'm not sure exactly what it is :)

I also look on gutenberg.org and LibriVox.org for free ebooks and audio books.

With all these resources, I don't buy very many books.

[Nerdy Werewolf]

I'm a fan of Overdrive. I absolutely love it for challenges. :)

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

No Overdrive or Hoopla for me!

I'm in the UK and my library (a citywide system of 10 local branches) use a dreadful system that I can't even remember the name of as it has no app to work on my kobo or my phone. The only way to read it's books that I have discovered so far is on my laptop, and I am years past this.

As I by far prefer ebooks, I only use my library for things that I can't get hold of to buy/are more expensive than I am willing to pay for or are better in hard copy (ie comics and stylized things like The Illuminae Files).

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Lanelle, Libby is offered by Overdrive. It’s their newer app and I find it more visually appealing. You can create custom wishlists or shelves to sort your books to borrow, etc.

kittykat, I found this, but not sure if it’s something that’d work for you and others in UK. You’ll have to check and see.

BorrowBox

From Bolinda Digital comes BorrowBox, a digital platform that enables you to connect with digital catalogs of public libraries across the United Kingdom.

The app is available in iTunes stores across the world, but you will have to be a registered member the library located in the British Commonwealth.

Borrow Box doesn’t provide a list of supported libraries, so you will need to find one online – the easiest way is to use a search phrase “library borrowbox.” Once you get the card, install the app and register it with your library membership.

From now on, you can browse ebooks and audiobooks by genre, borrow favorite titles instantly or reserve for later, or view current loans.

⇢ Find a Book

Benefits: Library ebook and audiobook platform for users in the UK and the British Commonwealth
Price: Free
Compatibility: iPad, iPhone

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

Thanks Steph, that's the one. I had forgotten about that app... because it doesn't seem to work on my Samsung phone no matter how many times I DL it! Let me try again for posterity...

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Hopefully it'll work now. :)