Looking to read or listen to all the latest and greatest books for free? The trick is to get a Kindle eReader and take advantage of your local library and its eContent app: Libby.
In this blog post, I’ll share the exact strategies I use to save over $780 a year while always having a great book to read and fuel my love of learning. If you don’t have a Kindle eReader (or prefer not to read on your smartphone or tablet), the strategies in this article also apply to audiobooks that you can listen to during your commute, on the road, or at the gym!
Start with a Kindle–or the Kindle App (free)
I love my Kindle Paperwhite. It’s a fantastic eReader that I enjoy much more than traditional books. With a customizable font, a variable backlight, a two-week battery life, and nearly unlimited book capacity, it was a no-brainer for me. It’s much more pleasant to read on this device than on a phone or tablet, and current Kindles are even (mostly) waterproof so you can take them with you to the pool or beach to mix up your reading experience.
By having a Kindle, you’ll have a device that will allow you to instantly borrow almost any book you would want to read for free through your local library. I greatly enjoy the reading experience on my Kindle (plus I can read in bed without keeping my wife up). But you can also go the 100% free route and simply download the Kindle app on your phone or tablet and read for free on there–there’s even a browser-based app if you want to read on your PC/Macbook.
Kindles have fantastic quality & durability/longevity
I’ve been on the same Kindle Paperwhite for over four years. Before that, my old Kindle (non-backlit) was kicking it for five years–it still works, even if I rarely use it.
The point is Kindles are incredibly well made and hold up very well to frequent, even daily use over the years. A couple of years ago on a beach vacation to South Padre Island, TX, I dropped my Paperwhite into the ocean. No problems.
Libby–a truly valuable eContent management solution
Libby by OverDrive has changed the game for local libraries and digital content. Past iterations of OverDrive were clunky and buggy, but they’ve really hit their stride with the latest release.
Libby makes it simple to borrow eBooks + Audiobooks with no more than a couple of clicks. You can enjoy audiobooks or eBooks on your smartphone with the free Amazon apps. No need to have a paid Audible or Kindle Unlimited subscription.
All you need is a local library card which you can get for free at your local city’s library just for being a resident. Usually, all you need is a driver’s license–but check your library’s website for any special requirements.
It’s important to note that some libraries may not have OverDrive or Libby, but the vast majority of U.S.-based libraries do support digital content and get brand new large-ticket book releases on day one or shortly after. Ask your librarian how you can check out eBooks or audiobooks.
📚 Looking for inspiration for your next read? Check out some books I recommend on my recommendations page!
I only had to step foot in my local library one time to get my library card and everything I needed to start reading digital eBooks on my Kindle by borrowing them through the library’s Libby app. I also enjoy the time savings of not having to travel to the library every time I want to read a new book, especially since I read a lot.
Build a reading backlog with Libby
With Libby, you can also create a reading backlog of books you’d like to read with holds. Libby will tell you your place in line as well as how long it expects your hold to take. Of course, the figures may not be 100% accurate.
See my strategy below. I maintain a giant reading list of books I’d like to read and try to build a reading backlog that is spread out in terms of when I expect to receive books. It’s not uncommon for me to read at least a book a week. Sometimes I will read 2-3. With this in mind, I plan on looking through the library catalog and looking for titles that don’t have a wait time if there is ever a lull in when my next library hold comes in.
Different libraries will have different maximums for the number of holds you can place on books, as well as how many digital titles (eBooks + Audiobooks) you can check out at once. Try to max out your holds list so you are more likely to have something to read at any given time.
Watch the savings roll in with Libby then put it to work by investing
New books (especially in nonfiction) run anywhere from $10-20. By reading at least a book per week and averaging $15–I save $780+ a year by reading through my local library. I don’t have to step foot into my local library, and I can take advantage of this incredible benefit that I’m paying for with my tax dollars.
$780/year is not a life-changing amount of money by any means, but over 20 years’ time, it will compound to over $35k. Every little bit counts when it comes to working on our financial goals.
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- Look for other opportunities or offerings at your local library–there are a lot of cool programs that may bring value to your life.
- Invest your savings and put them to work immediately every time you save money by borrowing from the library–little amounts add up.
- Don’t pass up using your local library–you are paying for it with your tax dollars.
- If you want a physical Kindle eReader, try to purchase one during Prime Day or Black Friday for a great deal.
- Explore other programs and opportunities for savings at your local library! For example, I also use my Library card to get unlimited access to the New York Times and reading news articles! The only caveat is that I have to manually refresh my subscription every three days with a quick, one-minute process.
💬 Reader suggestions for discussion
- Do you use your local library? What other cool things does it offer?
- Have any questions or comments? Join the discussion in the comments sections below!
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