How do I borrow EPUB ebooks from my library for free?

Install the Libby app (iOS/Android) — it's OverDrive's official app. Sign in with your library card number. Search for a title, tap Borrow, then tap Read with... and choose your reading app. EPUBs open in Libby's built-in reader or can be sent to Kobo. Kindle users can borrow from OverDrive via a browser at overdrive.com and send to Kindle directly.

Does OverDrive lend EPUB files?

Yes. OverDrive and its Libby app lend EPUB files (with Adobe DRM) for most titles. The loan period is typically 14 or 21 days, after which the file expires automatically. You can borrow up to your library's hold limit. Titles in high demand have waitlists. Hoopla is an alternative with no waitlists but a monthly borrow limit (typically 10 titles).

Can I read library EPUBs on Kindle?

Yes, via OverDrive. Go to overdrive.com, sign in with your library card, find a Kindle-compatible title, and tap Borrow then Send to Kindle. Amazon converts the EPUB to their format and delivers it to your Kindle library. Not all titles are available in Kindle format — look for the Kindle icon on the title page. Libby app does not support Kindle transfers.

What do I do if my library only has the PDF, not EPUB?

Download the PDF from your library system, then convert it to EPUB using toolkit.bot/pdf2epub — free, 15–60 seconds. The EPUB opens in any reading app with full text reflow. This is especially useful for academic papers, reports, and government documents that libraries distribute only as PDFs.

How to Get EPUB Books from Your Library (OverDrive, Libby, Hoopla) — 2026 Guide

Your public library almost certainly offers free EPUB ebook borrowing — most US, UK, Canadian, and Australian libraries do. You do not need to visit the library, pay anything, or own special hardware. Here is how the main services work and how to start reading today.

The three main library ebook services

1. Libby / OverDrive (most common)

Libby is the mobile app for OverDrive, the largest library ebook platform. Most public libraries in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and many other countries use it.

Download the Libby app (iOS and Android) — free from your app store
Sign in with your library card number
Search the catalogue, borrow, and read immediately — no waiting for popular titles (well, sometimes there is a waitlist, but many titles are instant)
Books are EPUB format with Adobe DRM (see below)
Loan periods: typically 14 or 21 days, auto-return so no late fees
Kindle transfer: Libby lets you send ebooks to a Kindle device directly

2. Hoopla Digital

Hoopla is another library service with no waitlists — borrow immediately from a large catalogue. Supported by many libraries as a complement to OverDrive.

No holds or waitlists — borrow instantly up to your monthly limit (often 5–10 borrows)
Includes ebooks (EPUB), audiobooks, comics, magazines, and streaming video
Read in the Hoopla app or a browser — no sideloading needed

3. Borrowbox (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand)

Common in UK and ANZ libraries. Same model: library card → app → borrow → read. EPUB format with DRM.

What is Adobe DRM and does it matter?

Most library EPUBs use Adobe DRM (Digital Rights Management), which means the file is locked to your account and expires automatically at the end of the loan period. This is different from a DRM-free EPUB you might download from a publisher or convert yourself.

For reading in Libby, Hoopla, or Borrowbox apps: DRM is invisible — just read normally
For reading in Adobe Digital Editions (desktop): download via OverDrive, open in ADE with your Adobe ID
For Kobo e-readers: borrow via Libby and send to Kobo directly — the device handles DRM automatically
For Kindle: use the Libby → Send to Kindle feature for OverDrive books (not all titles available)

How to check if your library has OverDrive

Download the Libby app
Tap "Find Your Library" and enter your city, postcode, or library name
Sign in with your library card

If your library is not listed, check the library's own website — many smaller libraries use a different system or a regional consortium.

What if my library only has a PDF, not an EPUB?

Some library catalogues — particularly for academic papers, government documents, and older digitised books — only offer PDF downloads, not EPUB. PDFs are harder to read on phones and e-readers because the text does not reflow.

If you have a library PDF that you want to read comfortably on a phone, tablet, or e-reader, you can convert it to EPUB:

Go to toolkit.bot/pdf2epub — free, no account needed
Upload the PDF
Download the EPUB and open it in any reader app

This is most useful for academic and public domain library PDFs that are not DRM-protected. DRM-protected library ebooks cannot be converted — read them in the official apps instead.

Reading library books on a Kobo e-reader

Kobo has the best library integration of any e-reader. From the Libby app, tap "Read with Kobo" to send any borrowed EPUB to your Kobo device wirelessly. The book appears in your library, and when the loan expires it disappears automatically.

See our full Kobo guide →

Reading library books on a Kindle

Kindle accepts Libby transfers for most OverDrive titles. In the Libby app, tap "Send to Kindle" before borrowing and the book is delivered to your Kindle like a purchase.

If a title is not available for Kindle transfer (about 20–30% of OverDrive catalogues), read it in the Libby app on your phone or tablet instead.

See our Kindle reading guide →

Summary: library ebook formats at a glance

Service	Format	Waitlists	Kobo/Kindle
Libby / OverDrive	EPUB (DRM)	Yes (popular titles)	Both supported
Hoopla	EPUB, audiobook, comic	No waitlists	App only
Borrowbox	EPUB (DRM)	Yes	App only

Have a library PDF? Convert it to a readable EPUB in 30 seconds.

Convert PDF to EPUB →