If you love reading but haven’t quite gotten around to trying Libby, you’re missing out on one of the best free resources available to Australians with a library card. Here’s what it actually is, how to get started, and ten genuinely useful hacks to help you get more out of it.
Libby is a free app that gives you access to your local library’s entire digital collection, ebooks, audiobooks, and often magazines too, straight from your phone, tablet or computer. It’s built by a company called OverDrive, and most Australian public library services use it, meaning if you’ve already got a library card, there’s a very good chance you can start borrowing digital titles today, without ever setting foot inside a branch.
Download the Libby app (it’s available on iPhone, Android and as a browser version), then simply search for your local library and sign in using your existing library card number and PIN. If you don’t yet have a library card, most Australian councils let you sign up for one entirely online in a few minutes, and many now offer a digital-only membership specifically for services like Libby, even if you never plan to borrow a physical book.
Once you’re set up, you can browse by genre, search for a specific title or author, and borrow anything currently available with a single tap. If a book’s already out, you can place a hold and you’ll be notified the moment it’s your turn.
1. Add more than one library card. If you’re eligible for membership at a neighbouring council’s library, or one further afield that offers online membership, adding a second card in the Libby app gives you access to an entirely different collection, plus extra borrowing and hold limits. It’s a simple process done directly within the app’s settings.
2. Preview before you borrow, or while you wait. Even if every copy of a title is currently checked out, you can tap it and preview up to 10 per cent of the book or audiobook for free. It’s a great way to decide if something’s genuinely worth a hold, or to start a book you’re waiting on while your turn comes up.
3. Filter for “available now” to skip the queue entirely. If you don’t want to wait for a hold, use the filter options to show only titles that are ready to borrow immediately, a great trick when you just want something to read tonight rather than in three weeks.
4. Filter audiobooks by length. If you’re after something to fill a specific commute, gym session or road trip, Libby lets you filter audiobooks by duration, so you can find something that fits the time you actually have.
5. Adjust your audiobook playback speed. Tap the speed icon while listening to choose a preset speed or fine-tune it anywhere from 0.6x to 3x, whether you prefer a slower, more deliberate narration or want to get through a book a little faster.
6. Customise how ebooks look and feel. Tap the “Aa” icon while reading to switch between light, dark or sepia backgrounds, and adjust font size, spacing and style, including a dedicated dyslexic-friendly font option, making it genuinely easier on the eyes for longer reading sessions.
7. Delay a hold without losing your place in line. If a book you’ve been waiting for becomes available at an inconvenient time, say, the week you’re going on holiday, you can request the hold be delivered later while keeping your spot in the queue, rather than losing it entirely if you don’t act in time.
8. Don’t overlook magazines. Unlike ebooks and audiobooks, most magazines on Libby have no waitlists, no borrowing limits and no due dates, making them one of the most underused features in the entire app.
9. Connect it to your car. Libby works with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth, so you can listen to audiobooks safely and easily during the drive, without needing to touch your phone.
10. Use “Notify Me” for books your library doesn’t have yet. If a search comes up empty, scroll down to use Deep Search, and if you still can’t find what you’re after, tap “Notify Me” on the title. This alerts you the moment your library adds it, and also feeds directly into what your library chooses to purchase in future, meaning your request genuinely helps shape the collection for everyone.
Libby is one of the more genuinely useful, completely free apps available to Australians, and most people barely scratch the surface of what it can actually do. Whether you’re after your next great read, an audiobook for the car, or simply a magazine to flick through with your afternoon tea, it’s well worth spending a few minutes getting properly set up.
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