This app lets you get thousands of e-books and audio books for free
Being stuck at home may be the perfect excuse to tackle that pile of books you’ve been meaning to read. But you don’t have to be satisfied with whatever is on your shelf, there’s actually an app that lets you access thousands of books, comic books, audiobooks, magazines, and more for free, Thrillist reported.
An app called Libby connects local libraries’ ebooks, magazines, comic books, and audiobooks all with a touch of a button. You can use it for free, but you will need a library card. But if you don’t, you can still access books since some libraries will allow you to sign up for an instant, digital card through the app.
With bookstores and libraries closing across the U.S. due to coronavirus (COVID-19), many people are asking themselves how they intend to spend their downtime when they can’t leave the house. While online retailers like Amazon can offer lots of titles, the company recently announced that it will be shutting down its warehouses for all non-essential items, according to The Hill. Sadly, this could include books.
While Kindle and Audible are also good ways to get access to your favorite titles, the charges for owning these audiobooks and ebooks can quickly add up.
While not all libraries will be accessible through Libby, the company told Thrillist in a statement that 90 percent of libraries across North America are currently partnering with the app. Books can either be streamed on the app or downloaded for when you want to get away from the internet. And Libby can send titles directly to your Kindle, for more streamlined use.
According to Thrillist, Overdrive, the company that created Libby, is also helping local libraries get “simultaneous-use titles” for a fraction of the cost, so lots of people can check out the same book at the same time. Many organizations are looking for ways to help people still experience culture, education, and even national parks through virtual tours.
The Libby app is available on both the App Store and Google Play, and it’s totally free.
More information about Libby can be found on the company website.
This story originally appeared on TravelAndLeisure.com by Andrea Romano.
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