Not Just Books: All the Free Digital Stuff Your Local Library Might Offer

Author: Justin Pot / Source: How-To Geek

You might think of libraries as old fashioned, or irrelevant in the age of the internet. You’d be wrong.

Modern libraries offer books, yes, but they also provide internet access to people who can’t afford it, along with a bunch of excellent digital resources.

Many libraries offer ebooks, audiobooks, streaming video, and even access to paywalled newspapers.

All of these services are free to you, regardless of your income level, if you have a library card. Here are five digital services your local library might offer. You might be surprised.

Download Free Ebooks and Audiobooks

I know it’s weird, but I prefer ebooks to paper books. They’re portable, I can set the font size, and every book is in the same form factor. So I was thrilled to learn my local library offers ebooks—and there’s a good chance yours does too.

The best way to find out whether your library offers ebooks or audiobooks is to check the website of your local library or ask a librarian. You can also check online, depending on which service your local library users to offer ebooks and audiobooks. Rakuten Overdrive is a popular choice; you can check if your library uses Overdrive here. Another such service is hoopla, and you can check this map to see if a library near you offers the service.

Those are just two services, though: there are others, and we can’t cover them all. Ask your local librarian about ebooks; they’ll be happy to help. You’ll need a library card to sign up for such services, but once you’ve done that you can borrow books from home—no visits to the library required.