Your Library Card Is Worth More Than You Think

by Jen Ward

If you've been paying for ebooks or audiobooks, you may have been leaving money on the table. The Libby app, built by OverDrive, connects directly to your local public library and lets you borrow digital books, audiobooks, and magazines for free, with no late fees, on any device. All you need is a library card.

Setup takes about three minutes. Download the app, find your library system, enter your card number, and you're in. If you don't have a card, most Maryland libraries let you sign up online and get a digital card the same day.

The selection is bigger than most people expect. Libby carries current bestsellers, backlist titles, children's books, and a solid magazine catalog. Wait times on new releases can run a few weeks, depending on how many digital copies your library system holds, but for anything published more than a year ago, availability is usually good. You can place holds, set notifications, and keep a running list of what you want to read next.

The audiobook library is especially worth exploring. If you commute, walk, or spend time on tasks that keep your hands busy, listening to an audiobook is a great way to pass the time. Plus, an audiobook costs exactly nothing. The same title on Audible might run $15–$25.

But the app is really just the entry point. Your library card also gets you access to things most people don't know about: free passes to local museums and attractions (Baltimore County Public Library participates in this), access to databases and research tools, free language learning through apps like Mango Languages, and in many branches, free notary services and meeting room bookings. The library has been quietly expanding what it offers while most of us weren't paying attention.

Libraries are publicly funded, which means they depend on usage numbers to justify their budgets. When you check out a book, take your kid to a program, or attend an event, that gets counted. Using your library saves you some money while making the case that the library deserves its funding.

If you haven't touched your library card in years, the Libby app is a good reason to dust it off. The books are free. There are no late fees. And you can enjoy it all from the comfort of your home.

Download Libby | Find your library branch: Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Howard County