Free eBooks, AudioBooks & Films From Your Library On Smartphones & Kindle

Did you know you can get free ebooks, audiobooks and films from your local library?

And that you can access these on your phone or Kindle?

11,000 UK Local Libraries offer this service, through OverDrive.

First I'll explain how to get it on your phone, then how to get it on your Kindle.

How do I get free books on my phone?

OverDrive is a free app available on iOS and Android. You can download and install it for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Once you have the app you can then search for your local library.

Not every UK library uses the service - but 11,000 do (apparently). Also, and this is important, each library offers different things. Some do books, some do audiobooks, some do films.

You must register in-person at your local library. That means walking there with proof of address and setting up an account. Once you have, you can connect it on OverDrive and borrow digital books straight to your phone.

You can search for participating libraries here

How do I get free books on my Kindle?

You may be able to get free library books on your Kindle with OverDrive.

It's a bit tricky as every library is different - some offer it, others don't.

You don't need to download the app for this - just use their website.

First you'll need to register at your local library in person. That means going to the library with proof of address and signing up. Once you have your library card and pin you can continue to the next step:

Search for your local library on OverDrive, then search for books available for Kindle.

As I said, some libraries offer Kindle format, others don't.

If they don't, it may still be possible to get the ebook in a different format such as PDF, and then send that to your Kindle. Also, if your Kindle device is capable of having apps, you can install the OverDrive app via the Amazon App Store and read it through that instead.