How to Get Library Books on Kindle
After I wrote a post about how much I love my Kindle e-reader, I got a ton of requests for a tutorial on how to get library books onto your Kindle.
The good news is that it’s very simple!
And once you have your Kindle connected to your library account, you can have library books on you Kindle in 5 seconds flat after that.
I LOVE my Kindle reader and being able to get library books for my Kindle makes it even more valuable!
Here’s how to do it:
How to Get Library Books on Kindle
First, you’ll need to make sure your Kindle is registered on Amazon.
You can check if your Kindle is already registered by going to Amazon and under your account choosing “Content and Devices” and under the Devices tab, see if your Kindle shows up. It should say “default device” next to it, too.
If it’s not registered, here’s how to do that!
- On your Kindle, select the Menu icon and the press “Settings.”
- Choose “My account” (newer Kindles) or Registration (older Kindles).
- Enter your Amazon username and password.
Now you’re registered!
Time to start getting library books on your Kindle!
Open the Overdrive or Libby website or app on your computer or phone (I talked about those apps in detail here, if you’re new to them!).
Log in to your library system and find a book you want to read that’s available on Kindle (I find that MOST e-books through the libraries I’ve used are available as Kindle, but you can also filter for Kindle titles by clicking “More Options” when you type in the search bar and choose “Kindle” under the “Availability” tab).
Once you’ve chosen a book, click “Borrow” and then choose “Read with Kindle.”
When you click that, it’ll take you to Amazon (you may have to log in with your Amazon username and password) and it’ll say “Get Library Book.” Make sure the button below shows your correct Kindle and press “Get library book.”
As soon as your Kindle connects to your Wi-Fi, the book will appear in your Kindle library! Ta-da! (It may take a few minutes).
Happy reading!
And if you have more questions about how to download library books to Kindle, let me know and I’m happy to help you troubleshoot!
If you liked this post about how to get library books on Kindle, you might like these posts too:
- 5 reasons I LOVE my Kindle e-reader
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This got me excited, but I was sad to find that neither Kindle nor mobi is an option that shows up on Overdrive for me. According to Overdrive’s help file: Kindle Books are currently available for U.S. libraries only. Too bad for Canadian Overdrive users!
Yes it’s not available in Australia either. But the most recent Kobos have a similar link to Overdrive on them that works here, and you can manually transfer e-books from the Bolinda system. Perhaps it’s the same in Canada and you could look into a Kobo for your next e-reader?
This is super helpful – thank you!
I’ve done this for years with my kindle, but we recently got our 9 year old a kindle and so I decided to download a book for her through the app. I went through all the steps and it says it’s delivered to her kindle (on amazon) but it’s nowhere to be found. Her kindle is in “Kindle FreeTine” mode to keep her from buying books, seeing my content, etc. When I take it out of FreeTime mode it shows up and I download it, then put it back in FreeTime mode and it’s gone again. Any advice? I’m also searching kindle FAQs and forums.
Hi Megan,
I think the problem is that you have to send your daughter’s library books to her “Kindle Free Time” profile. Otherwise Amazon doesn’t know it’s safe to let her access these items and keeps blocking them, which is why they aren’t appearing in Free Time mode, even though they are loaded on the tablet.
First, use a desktop computer. I’m not sure you can do everything you need to do on a phone or tablet. Next, go to your Amazon parent dashboard. It’s at parents.amazon.com. You should see your child’s name along with a list of options regarding their online activity. Off to the right of their name, you’ll see a gear box, circle shaped thing – “settings” menu. Click on it. The first item listed is “add content.” Click it. Then click the “books” button. You should see all the library books you’ve downloaded. You should be able to click the check box on which items you want to share with her. You should also be able to see any Audible books you’ve bought or borrowed. Click on those to share with her as well.
Once you share the items with her in Free Time, Amazon says they will be delivered within 30 minutes of connecting to wifi. I’ve found they’re almost always immediately available.
Just remember that Amazon Free Time operates as a sort of fire wall around what your daughter is doing online. Unless you click through to let Free Time know that the apps, books, videos and apps you’re downloading are safe for her, Free Time will block them out, even if they are loaded on her tablet.
Hope that helps!
I love love love getting library books on my kindle, Thanks for this because people often ask me how and honestly, i have no idea how to explain it! A few months ago got my 10yo a kindle and started supplementing his library haul with ebooks too – its great! he loves it! The only problem is his books show up on MY kindle account, its driving me crazy that when i open my app I have to scroll through dozens of his books to get to mine and I cannot figure out how to stop it. I don’t download them but the book covers are there. I am able to keep my account separate from my husbands books but with the kids account it seems automatic. Any ideas??? He reads 20-30 books a month on the kindle alone and its clogging me up!
How do you delete books from my iPad kindle acct. there are several I would like to get rid of.
On my kindle how or where do I locate the unlimited books I choose that aren’t on my main library list??
I only see them when I’m asked to delete one of 20 to make room for new book but I can’t find where I can read the unlimited books please advise me
Thank you
i used to get my ebooks via Libby to my KIndle., now my Amazon shows that the book has been delivered to my Kindle but it does not load in it (KIndle paperwhite 6th generation), When I tried to update my Kindle software the option is not available. It has not worked either after restarting my Kindle. What happened? Thanks!
This is such a helpful post! I’ve always struggled with borrowing library books on my Kindle, but your step-by-step guide made it so much easier. Can’t wait to try it out! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this helpful guide! I always wondered how to access library books on my Kindle. Your step-by-step instructions made it so easy to understand. Can’t wait to try it out!
oh good!