Help with Ebooks and Audiobooks
I’d like to read books and listen to audiobooks on my smartphone or tablet.
Great! We recommend using the Libby app to check out materials from the library, read ebooks, and listen to audiobooks. Follow the steps below to get started!
Download and install the Libby app on your device by going to your app store and searching for "Libby" or using the links below:
For iphone or ipad: Apple App Store
For Android phones and tablets: Google Play
To add your library card to Libby, tap on the round icon in the upper right hand corner of the app.
Then tap Add A Library Card and follow the instructions to add your card.
Your library card number can be found on the back of your card. Your library card pin/password is the last four digits of the phone number you have on file with the library.
To explore the library's digital collection by subject in Libby, tap "Library" at the bottom of the screen.
Next, tap "Explore" in the gray bar beneath the library logo.
Choose from the browsing options. You can browse by what's available to borrow, what's new, genre, age group, subject, and more.
Within a browsing subsection, tap "Preferences" in the gray bar to filter results.
To search Libby for a specific title, tap "Library" at the bottom of the screen.
Next, tap in the search bar at the top of the screen, next to the magnifying glass icon.
Enter what you'd like to search for and either choose one of the auto-suggestions or click "search" at the bottom right corner of the keyboard.
To run an advanced search, tap the search bar at the top of the screen, then tap "More Options". This lets you search by subject, format, date added, and more.
Once you've found an item you'd like to borrow, tap "Borrow" to the right of the item's cover image in the search results.
At the top of the next screen, tap on the loan period to adjust it to 7, 14, or 21 days.
Next, tap the borrow button to take the book out.
On the following screen, you may be prompted to choose whether to read the book in Kindle or Libby. To learn more about reading with Kindle, see the last section of this page.
Once you've found an item you'd like to place a hold for, tap "Place Hold" to the right of the item's cover image in the search results.
On the next screen, tap the large green "Place Hold!" button.
Below the button, you will see the approximate time until the title will be available.
If you want to check on the approximate ETA of a title you've placed on hold, tap "Shelf" in the bottom right corner. For titles on hold, the approximate time to arrival will appear to the right of the cover image.
Tap on "Shelf" in the lower right corner of the screen.
To the right of the book, select from the following options:
- "Read With" - click this to choose whether you'd like to read your book in Libby or in Kindle.
- "Open in Libby" - this means the book can be read in the Libby app. Tap to read.
- "Read With Kindle" - this means you have previously selected to read this book with Kindle. Tap to be taken to your Kindle app.
Swipe left to advance the pages, swipe right to go back.
See this Libby help page to learn more about reading in the app.
Tap on "Shelf" in the lower right corner of the screen.
To the right of the cover image of the audiobook, tap "Open Audiobook".
Tap the play button at the bottom of the screen.
See this Libby help page to learn more about listening to audiobooks in the app or watch the video below.
Tap on "Shelf" in the lower right corner of the screen.
Next to the cover image of the book you'd like to return, tap "Manage Loan".
Tap on "Return Early".
Ebooks and audiobooks will be automatically returned on their due date.
Click here for a printable guide to using Libby on any device.
Click here to watch a video overview of all of Libby’s functions.
I’d like to read books and listen to audiobooks on my laptop or desktop computer.
Great! We recommend visiting the the Finger Lakes Library System Overdrive page, which houses the online catalog for digital materials, and then reading books or listening to audio books your preferred format. Follow the steps below to get started!
Visit https://flls.overdrive.com/.
Click the "Sign In" button in the upper right.
Your library card number is on the back of your library card. Your pin is the last four digits of the phone number you have on file with the library.
To search for items, click on "Search" in the upper right of the screen.
Type in the words you'd like to search for.
To search by specific fields, click the word "Advanced" under the search bar. This will allow you to specify title, author, subject, language, and others.
Click on "Subjects" in the upper left of the screen and then select a subject.
Use the links in the left hand sidebar to narrow your results by availability, publication date, and more.
Click on "Collections" in the upper left of the screen.
A drop down menu will appear, showing collections of ebooks and audiobooks.
Click on a collection of interest to you.
Use the links in the left hand sidebar to narrow your results by availability, publication date, and more.
Alternately, click "Select all" at the bottom of the drop down menu to see all collections of ebooks or audiobooks on a separate page.
Below the cover image of the item you would like to hold, click "Place a Hold".
If you have not entered an email previously, you'll be asked to do so.
If you have entered an email previously, you will be taken to a success screen.
You will receive an email when your hold is ready to borrow. Log in to Overdrive at that time and follow the instructions to check an item out from Overdrive.
Below the cover image of the item you would like to check out, click Borrow.
In the pop up window, choose a loan duration of 7, 14, or 21 days.
Click the "Borrow" button.
On the next screen, chose the format in which you'd like to read. More on reading options in the next section.
Click on "Shelf" in the upper right corner of the screen.
Next to the cover image of your book, you will be given up to three options for how to read a book:
"Read now with Kindle": This will take you to your Amazon account where you will be taken through a series of steps to download the book to your Kindle app or device. Learn more here.
"Read now in browser": Click this to read the book through Overdrive Read in your browser. Learn more here.
"Download EPUB ebook": This allows you to read your book on your computer when you are offline using Adobe Digital Editions. Learn more here.
Click on "Shelf" in the upper right corner of the screen.
Next to the cover of your audiobook, click on "Listen Now in Browser."
Click here to learn more about the listening controls in Overdrive.
Click here for a printable guide to listening with Overdrive.
Click on "Shelf" in the upper right corner of the screen.
Below the cover image of the book you'd like to return, click on "Return".
In the popup, click on "Return Title".
Your items will be automatically returned to the library on their due date.
Click here for Overdrive’s Help Pages.
Click here for a printable guide to overdrive.
I’d like to read ebooks on my Kindle.
Great! To read books on your Kindle, first follow the instructions above for checking out materials above, then follow the steps below. (If you need help setting up your Kindle, visit this help page from Amazon which has quick start guides for each model.)