Looking for Free e-Books? Try your library!

Today we are talking about two of my favorite things – books and libraries.

We are talking about ways to access both during the “stay at home” measures we are all taking.

Here we go:

If you have a Kindle / Amazon Kindle Fire (some people just call them a Fire), you can download the OverDrive Library app from the Amazon app store for FREE and also on your smartphone download the Libby app for FREE. Both apps will prompt you to search for your library and then enter your library card information. Then, once that’s been entered, you can browse e-books and “borrow” e-books for limited time to read for FREE on your device.

The OverDrive app is available for Android, Chromebooks, iOS, Fire tablets, and Windows 8/10. Get info here: https://help.overdrive.com/en-us/1308.html

Libby app – Libby is available for Android, iOS, Windows 10, some Chromebooks, and in your browser at libbyapp.com. Get info here: https://libbyapp.com/welcome

Don’t have a library card?

Well, I can’t guarantee that this will work, but use Google to find the closest library to you in your county – look up their contact info and EMAIL them. Explain that you want to be able to download e-books for loan, but that you don’t have a card (yet). Can they help? Libraries (some of the most wonderful and magical places on earth), do their best to help.

(My card had actually expired and you have to renew in person. Well, being that the libraries are closed during the coronavirus public health crisis, that was impossible. I emailed the library. By the next day I had a reply and they had renewed my card for a year. WOW! Thank you awesome Pioneer Library System!)

If your library can’t issue you a card via email, there are other ways to get e-books via apps on your tablet and your smartphone. I’ve even borrowed audio books for my smartphone! Some cost though, so always read the “fine print.” Check to see what you can find via Google.

Are you a New York State resident? My wise, bookworm sister-in-law Kelly pointed me to this information when I asked her for input:

“New York residents can get a library card through the SimplyE app and gain access to an array of digital resources.”

If you do not have a library card and want to be able to borrow free e-books, go here to learn how: https://www.nypl.org/books-music-movies/ebookcentral/simplye

Problem Solving

Be curious when you have a problem or need to figure out a solution. Ask yourself, “how can I?” and then run with some brainstorming! Ask others what they are doing, too. Just make sure you ask the people who always seem to make the best choices – they are probably the most reliable! Ask the people who might have more experience. My sister-in-law is a voracious reader and uses her tablet a lot. I knew she would be a good “go-to” person to ask for advice.