E-books

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who can check out e-books and e-audiobooks from OverDrive and Libby?

  To check out e-books or e-audiobooks in the Libby app or on the OverDrive website, you need:
  

  • a Saint Paul Public Library card, or
  • a library card from the Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington County Library that has been registered with Saint Paul Public Library.

• Can I get e-books for my Kindle?

  E-books for Kindles are available from OverDrive. Please note that note that not all titles are available in the Kindle format.

  The basics of borrowing an e-book from OverDrive for your Kindle are:

  • Log in to OverDrive using your library card number
  • Find a book and check it out.
  • Use the “send to Kindle” option to open up your Amazon account in a new window.
  • Choose your Kindle device and click the button to send it over wirelessly.

  More information from OverDrive about borrowing e-books for Kindles.

• How can I suggest e-books or e-audiobooks?

  Use "Notify Me" tags in the Libby app to express interest in titles and receive notification if they are added to the collection.

  Learn more about "Notify Me" tags.

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  Use "Deep Search" to Find Additional Titles Not Already in the Collection

  In Libby, there are two ways to discover titles that are not yet in the digital collection: 

  1 - If you search for a title, author, or series and it returns no results, Libby will automatically expand into a "deep search" to display relevant titles that are not yet in the collection. 

  2 - If you run a search that returns fewer than 100 results, you can tap the filter button to manually enable "deep search".

  The "deep search" filter adds titles matching your search that are not already in the library's collection to your results.

  Note: Some books have never been published digitally, and some digital titles may not be available for purchase by the library.

  Use "Notify Me" to Express Interest in Titles and Receive Notification if they are Added

  From the expanded search, you will see relevant results with a Notify Me option. Tap Notify Me to tag titles and be notified if they are added to the collection in the future. If the title is added, you will be alerted and given the option to borrow the title or place a hold.

• How do I return an e-book?

  E-books are automatically returned at the end of their check-out period, but they can be returned early.

  Return an e-book early using:

  • Libby
  • OverDrive

  Note: Kindle Books can't be early returned in Libby, but you can return them from Amazon's website, your Kindle ereader, or the Kindle app. More information about returning Kindle Books.

• How many holds can I place on OverDrive / Libby e-books?

  You can have up to 15 holds on e-books and e-audiobooks in OverDrive or on the Libby app.

• How long can I keep OverDrive / Libby e-books and e-audiobooks?

  E-books and e-audiobooks can be checked out for up to 21 days.

  Electronic items are automatically returned at the end of their borrowing period.