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E-Books

What is Libby? What is OverDrive?

A way to borrow e-books and audiobooks! Read or listen via the Libby app or on our OverDrive website. 

You can:

  • Check out up to 3 titles at a time
  • Borrow e-books for up to 7 days 
  • Borrow audiobooks for up to 14 days
  • Place up to 3 holds on titles that are currently checked out

How do I find titles to read?

  • Search or browse our collections using the Libby app. 

See the Libby tab for more information on setting up your account - it's very simple!

 

  • On your reading list

Where available, links to OverDrive e-books and/or audiobooks will appear on your reading list, e.g.

 
  • Library Search

All OverDrive e-books and most audiobooks are also discoverable via Library Search.

How do I use the Libby app?

1. Download the Libby app from Google Play or the AppStore.

2. Set up your library by opening the Libby app and following the steps:

Do you have a library card? Click on Yes
Click on Search For A Library
Type Exeter and find University of Exeter in the list.
Sign in with your email address and password, as you would for your email account.
You are now ready to borrow! 

 3. Browse or search for books and audiobooks:

  • From the homepage you can see newly added titles, audiobooks, and special curated lists relating to different topics, which will change throughout the year. You can also run a search across the collection.

  • Borrowed titles appear on your Shelf  and download to the app automatically.

4. Finding and tagging titles not available in your library

  • When searching in Libby, you may discover titles that aren't in our collection. These titles will have a Notify Me button (instead of Borrow or Place Hold). Selecting Notify Me sets up a smart tag in Libby that will alert you if one of your libraries purchases the title at a later date. There is more information about this feature here.

5. Read your books:

  • On your Shelf , tap loans at the top of the screen. From there, you can:

    • Open In Libby to start reading or listening in the app.

    • Manage Loan to see options like Renew and Return.

 

There is more guidance available here: https://help.libbyapp.com/en-us/index.htm

Multiple Libby accounts

If you already use Libby to borrow e-books and audiobooks from the public library, you can easily add another library card, and switch between collections. Find out more about adding library cards.

 

How do I use Overdrive?

if you prefer to use your web browser to find and read titles, then you can use the OverDrive website or Libby website.

To search for books and borrow items you need to sign in to Overdrive using your University email address and password. 

 

Click on your account or the bookshelf icon to view your loans, holds, and borrowing history.

Alternatively, you can do this in the Libby app. 

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