OverDrive / Libby

Good to Know

• Checkout and hold a limit of 10 items. 

• There are never any fines and items return automatically. 

• Items can be renewed or requested again 3 days before the due date. 

• You will be notified by email or through the app when your holds are ready. You will then have 3 days to check out the item. Items not checked out will be automatically suspended until you choose to unsuspend them. Holds suspended for 365 days will be automatically cancelled.

• London Public Library has partnered with Burlington, Hamilton, Kingston Frontenac, Milton, Mississauga, and Ottawa public Libraries to offer more titles through OverDrive. 

Getting Started

To get started, you will need to have the following: 

• Your Library card number and PIN. 

• An internet connection. 

• A compatible device.

Please note that Kindle eReaders are NOT compatible with Canadian Library eBooks.

Reading on a Mobile Device

Using the Libby App

Libby is the easiest way to borrow and enjoy eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines on your mobile device. 

Download Libby for: 

• Apple iOS devices (iOS 10.0 or later) 
• Android devices (Android 7.1 or later) 
• Compatible Fire tablets 

The OverDrive app is no longer available. Libby is the recommended app for accessing OverDrive content on mobile devices. 
 

Sign in using your London Public Library card number and PIN to: 

• Browse and search the collection
• Filter results by format, availability, audience and more
• Borrow available eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines 
• Place and manage holds 
• Manage your loans and due dates 
• Create reading lists 

Customize Your Reading Experience

Libby includes accessibility and reading preference features that help make reading and listening more comfortable. 

Features include: 

• Adjustable text size 
• Customizable lighting and dark mode settings 
• Variable audiobook playback speeds
• Screen reader support 
   

Expanded Access Through Partner Libraries

London Public Library has partnered with Burlington Public Library, Hamilton Public Library, Kingston Frontenac Public Library, Milton Public Library, Mississauga Public Library, and Ottawa Public Library to offer you a greater selection of eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive and Libby. 

Partner libraries now appear automatically in Libby, making it easier to discover titles available through participating libraries.
 

Through the lending partnership network, Libby can help you:

• Access additional titles and copies 
• Compare availability and estimated wait times across participating libraries 
• Expand your borrowing and hold options 

Select the library card icon beside a title to compare availability and estimated wait times before deciding where to borrow or place a hold.

Wait times and loan periods may vary between partner libraries. Each library gives priority access to its own cardholders, so we recommend placing holds on London Public Library titles when possible. Partner libraries can provide additional access to titles that may not be available through London Public Library.

Tags and Notifications

Libby’s Tags feature helps you organize and keep track of books that interest you. 

Use Tags to: 

• Save titles for later
• Create reading lists 
• Organize books by topic, genre, or interest
• Keep track of books you’ve borrowed or sampled
• Follow favourite authors or series 

Tags can help personalize your Libby experience by organizing titles, tracking borrowed and sampled books, and following authors, series, and magazines.
 

Notify Me Tags

Notify Me Tags help you stay informed about titles and content you're interested in. You can use Notify Me Tags to receive notifications when new titles by a favourite author or series become available, when a new issue of a magazine is released, or when a title you've tagged is added to the digital collection. 

If you're looking for a title that isn't currently available in the digital collection, Libby may offer a Notify Me option. Adding a Notify Me Tag lets you express interest in that title and receive a notification if it becomes available in the future. Tagging a title with Notify Me does not guarantee that the library will acquire it, but it does share your interest with participating libraries and may be considered during future collection development decisions. If the title is added to the collection, Libby will notify you based on your notification settings.
 

Reading on a Computer

Using OverDrive 

You can browse, borrow, and enjoy digital content directly through the OverDrive website using your computer.

Visit https://lpl.overdrive.com, sign in with your London Public Library card number and PIN, and explore the collection. Borrow available titles immediately or place holds to reserve titles that are currently checked out.

Read borrowed eBooks and magazines directly in your web browser using OverDrive Read. No downloads or additional software are required. For supported titles, OverDrive Read includes features such as bookmarks, notes, highlights, adjustable text size, and customizable reading settings. 

Downloading eBooks 

Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) allows you to download compatible eBooks to your computer for offline reading or transfer them to a compatible eReader. For instructions, visit the OverDrive help guide: How to transfer library ebooks to an ereader using ADE. 

Please Note: 

• ADE no longer uses Adobe ID for sign-in. When prompted, you will now need to create a ByteBooks account
• Adobe’s eBook platform, including ADE, is transitioning to ByteBooks Digital Editions

Partner Libraries 

London Public Library has partnered with Burlington Public Library, Hamilton Public Library, Kingston Frontenac Public Library, Milton Public Library, Mississauga Library, and Ottawa Public Library to provide access to a larger collection of eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive.

To browse a partner library’s collection, select the Partner Libraries button in the top-right corner of the OverDrive website and choose the library you wish to explore. 

Wait times and loan periods may vary between partner libraries. Each library gives priority access to its own cardholders, so we recommend placing holds on London Public Library titles when possible. Partner libraries can provide additional access to titles that may not be available through London Public Library.

When borrowing or placing a hold through a partner library, sign in using your London Public Library card number and PIN.

Please note: Titles borrowed from a partner library are managed through that library's OverDrive collection. Partner library checkouts will not appear in your main OverDrive account or loans page. To view or manage these titles, sign in to the partner library's OverDrive collection using your London Public Library card number and PIN.
 

Reading on an eReader

Kobo eReaders

Most newer Kobo eReaders include built-in OverDrive access, allowing you to browse, borrow, and read library eBooks directly on your device.

Once signed in with your London Public Library card number and PIN, you can borrow eBooks directly on your Kobo or use Libby or OverDrive to borrow titles and sync them to your device.

Kobo Limitations:

• Audiobooks are not supported on Kobo eReaders 
• Magazines are not supported on Kobo eReaders
• Some titles may not be available for direct borrowing or syncing to Kobo and may require an alternative reading method

Borrowing and Syncing eBooks 

Compatible Kobo eReaders offer several ways to access library eBooks. You can borrow titles directly on your device, or borrow them using Libby or the OverDrive website and sync them to your Kobo using the same library account.

For Kobo models that do not include built-in OverDrive access, compatible eBooks can be downloaded to a computer and transferred to the device using Adobe Digital Editions (ADE).

For detailed instructions on setting up your Kobo, borrowing library eBooks, and synchronizing titles, visit the Kobo Help Guide: Borrow eBooks from the Public Library Using Your Kobo eReader.

Borrowing from Partner Libraries on Kobo 

Kobo eReaders can access eBooks available through London Public Library's partner libraries, providing additional borrowing options and access to titles that may not be available through London Public Library.

Kobo eReaders can only be signed into one library at a time. 

While partner libraries now appear automatically in Libby, Kobo requires you to sign into each partner library separately. To borrow or read a title from a partner library, sign out of your London Public Library account on the device and sign back in using the partner library.

For example, to access Ottawa Public Library content, select London Public Library (Ottawa Public Library) when signing in on your Kobo.

Other eReaders

Some eReaders require Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) to transfer EPUB eBooks from a computer to the device.  

Please Note: 

• Adobe Digital Editions now uses ByteBooks accounts for sign-in instead of Adobe ID. If prompted to sign in, you will need to create a ByteBooks account 
• Adobe’s eBook platform, including ADE, is transitioning to Bytebooks Digital Editions

Need Help?

For more help, please visit the OverDrive help page or the Libby help page.

Privacy and Terms of Use

OverDrive is a commercial service whose policies concerning privacy and user information differ from that of the London Public Library. For more information, please read OverDrive’s Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions of Use.