Introducing Libby!
For a long time, OverDrive has been the go-to for Wisconsin library patrons who want to check out eBooks and eAudioBooks. Now, OverDrive has released a new app to make it faster and easier than ever to check out electronic materials: Libby!
The Libby app is available for Apple and Android devices as well as devices and computers running Windows 10 – you can find more information about it by following this link.
Plus, Libby is integrated with the existing OverDrive system – if you currently use OverDrive and have a compatible device, you can switch over to Libby at any time! And if you use a device that is not yet supported, you can continue to use OverDrive as you have been – more information on the OverDrive app can be found below.
Borrowing eBooks Through OverDrive
Interested in eBooks? Then you’ll want to browse the Wisconsin Digital Library. You’ll need to sign up for an OverDrive account (or sign in if you already have one). We strongly recommend that you sign up with your email address, not choosing “sign up using library card” or “sign up using Facebook.” Information on signing up for an account can be found here; as you can see, accounts based on a library card have more restrictions than accounts based on an email address.
While it’s not required, you may also find the app OverDrive helpful – especially if you want to read books on a smartphone or tablet. OverDrive hooks into the Wisconsin Digital Library and can help you download and read both eBooks and digital audiobooks. You can find extensive tutorials on how to get started with OverDrive here.
If you’d prefer some in-person help, we’d be happy to! Stop by the library or contact us to make an appointment, and we’ll sit down with you one-on-one and get you and your device – whether it’s a phone, tablet, computer or e-reader – set up and ready to go.
Public Domain eBooks
In addition to borrowing titles through the Wisconsin Digital Library, it’s also possible to download many older books that are in the public domain through Project Gutenberg. Almost all of the titles will be pre-1923 (depending on the country of publication) – which means you can find many classics from Shakespeare’s plays to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories.