eBooks, eAudio, eMags & Streaming: Tech Help

The library offers free eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines through Libby. You may borrow 10 items at a time and there are no late fees. eMagazine checkouts are unlimited. While items can be returned early, they are returned automatically when the checkout period expires. Libby, by OverDrive and libbyapp.com can be used interchangeably.

Using a Kindle Fire that runs Fire OS 5.0+? You can now download the Libby app directly from the Amazon app store to use OverDrive on your Kindle Fire! See our instructions for Kindle.

What You Will Need

• Libby, by OverDrive App or libbyapp.com 
• Valid Fairfax County Library Card and password (PIN). Use the card’s barcode, not your username.
• Internet Connection
  • Android 7.1+ or iOS 10+
  • Latest version of Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge for libbyapp.com.

One-Time App Installation

1. Download and open Libby, by OverDrive from your app store or open libbyapp.com in any browser.
2. Do you have a library card? > Yes.
3. Tap Search For a Library: enter your zip code. Tap Fairfax County Public Library.
4. Tap Sign In With My Card, enter your library card number and password. Tap Sign In to use Libby.

Icons in Libby's Footer

Search

Tap to search. Then:

• Type a title in the search box, or
• Select options below Catalog Filters to browse or limit your search. Tap  for more filters. Tap  to return to the main search page.

Can't Find What You Want? 

Deep Search broadens your search and will include titles that your libraries do not have. You can make recommendations for purchase from these search results. 

• Deep Search is automatically applied when results are not found in any of your libraries.
• After searching for an item, you can enable Deep Search from the list of Filters  to see the enhanced list of results.
• If none of your linked libraries owns a title in the list of results, Notify Me appears next to the cover; tap it and on the next screen, tap the Notify Me smart tag.
• To see your Smart Tags, tap Tags in Libby's footer menu at the bottom of your screen. Tap Notify Me to see titles you have recommended for purchase.
• Libby will only notify you if any of your linked libraries purchase a title.

Borrow and Read or Listen

• Tap Borrow on available titles. Tap Borrow again to confirm.
• Tap Open In or Open Audiobook to read. You can also Keep Browsing or Go to Shelf. 
• If prompted, tap Read With… and choose between Kindle and Libby.
• Tap Shelfto open a list of your borrowed titles.
• Once an eBook is open, tap left or right to turn pages.
• Tap the middle of the screen and use the icons at the top to change font size and lighting or adjust playback speed and set a sleep timer.
• Tap < Back to return to your Shelf.

Holds

If all copies are out, place a hold on a title.

• Tap Place Hold. Tap Place Hold to confirm.
• Once notified, choose one of the following from within Libby:
• Borrow the title within three days.
• Deliver Later to stay at the top of the holds list and borrow later.
• Manage Hold to cancel. 

If no action is taken within three days, your hold will be automatically suspended one time for seven days. If no action is taken a second time, the hold will be automatically canceled.

Renew

• The option to renew becomes available three days before a title is set to expire.
• From Shelf or notification, tap Expiring soon. Renew? OR
• Tap Manage Loan, tap Renew Loan, then Renew. Place a Hold to request it again if others are waiting for it. 

Return

• Items are returned automatically.
• Items can be returned early from your Shelf when using Libby or libbyapp.com. Tap Manage Loan, tap Return Early, then Return. Kindle items can be returned from your Kindle device or Kindle app.

Libby's eMagazines are always available, have unlimited checkouts, and now you can subscribe to them! 

• Tap to search for an eMagazine title. OR
• Tap Magazines under Catalog Filters to browse all magazines.
  • You can narrow your search further by using Filters. 
• Tap Open Magazine next to a cover to open the issue or 
• Tap All Issues to show a list of past issues that you can access or
• Tap Subscribe, then tap the Notify Me smart tag to add a title to the Magazine Rack on your Shelf. Each subscription will update to show the latest issue on your device.
• Tap Shelf to view Magazine Rack and access issues of eMagazines you subscribe to.
• To Read, tap the middle of the screen to open and view a page of the eMagazine. Swipe left or right to turn pages. Tap the middle of the screen to return to the view with the navigation bar. Look for < Back in the upper left corner to return to Libby.
• To open a screen-friendly layout of a page or article, tap the middle of the screen to hide the navigation bar. Tap Article(s). If there are multiple articles on a page, tap the one you want from the list to view it. When you are finished reading the article, tap Done to return to the eMagazine.

Tips for Using Libby! 

• Check out and download titles from Libby rather than checking them out from our regular catalog.
• Tap Shelf to view Loans, Holds, Timeline and Notices; you can then tap Actions to Synchronize Shelf, Read Books With…, Change Download Rules and Suspend all Holds.
• In Shelf, means a title is downloaded on your device for offline use. Any item with  only streams when connected to the internet.
• Tap Menu  to add cards from additional library systems, manage your cards, check settings and manage your information. Scroll down to find a link to Libby's Help site.
• Accessibility tips: bit.ly/fcpllibacc.
• Go to Libby’s help page for more help: help.libbyapp.com/
• Returning an item early? Tap the image of a flower bouquet for a surprise!