You always wanted read Infinite joke, and now you finally have enough time to get through all 1,079 pages. Of course, you can buy it from a local bookseller or order it from Amazon. However, you may be able to read a digital copy for free by borrowing it from your local library. With a library card, an internet connection, and an e-book reader, you can start reading the novel immediately without ever leaving your house.
Get carded
First, you need a library card. If you don’t already have one, contact your local branch to get one. Some libraries will give you a pass without you having to show up. However, check your local branch’s website to see if you can have an electronic card issued online.
Get an app
Use your credentials to access your library’s eBook collection. Many libraries use Libby, a cross-platform service that lets you borrow and send digital versions of millions of e-books and audiobooks to your Kindle or Kobo e-book reader. You can scroll through Libby’s catalog in your browser or download the app (Android or iOS) to browse the selection on your phone. Most of the books listed are available immediately. Once you find the book you want, you should be able to click a button, check out the title, and send it to your Kindle or other e-book reader.
Other libraries use Hoopla, which is a good option if you have an Amazon Fire tablet. You can’t send library books to an e-ink Kindle using Hoopla, but you can download Hoopla’s app on a Fire tablet and read the book in the app on that tablet.
Browse the shelves
When you open the app for the first time, you will be asked to set up an account and link it to your library card.
Some books, particularly new releases or popular titles, will display a wait time and give you the option to be placed on the waiting list to borrow them. You may even have to wait a few weeks or months to rent a best-seller or long-running favorite. This is because libraries do not have access to unlimited copies of digital books; They only buy as many digital copies as they can afford, so in the end there is only a limited amount left to give away. The more popular a book is, the rarer the digital copies become.
So relax and grab a place in the queue. Once you request a loan in Libby, the app will send a notification when the book is available for you to borrow. You can also check the app periodically to see the current wait time as copies are returned to the library and the queue gets shorter.
Downloading
There are different ways to read your borrowed book. You can read the book directly in the Libby or Hoopla app, but the best way to read it is to send it to your Kindle device. We find that a dedicated e-book reader is a more enjoyable and less distracting experience.
It’s not difficult to set up a Kindle to accept borrowed books. In the Libby app, tap the Actions menu at the top of the screen. Find the menu item “Read books with” and then select “Kindle”. The app walks you through the process of linking your Libby account to your Amazon account.