Public Library Books for Kindle

More than 11,000 libraries in the United States offer Public Library Books for Kindle, which allows you to check out eBooks through the website of your local library, and have them sent directly to your Kindle device or reading apps where they will be available for a specified period of time like a regular library book. Public Library Books for Kindle provide the same features as Kindle books, including Whispersync, which synchronizes notes, highlights, last page read, page numbers and more across your account.

Get Started Using Public Library Books for Kindle

Public library books for Kindle are available at libraries throughout the United States. These books are offered through a digital service called OverDrive. To get started with using public library books on your Kindle, ensure the following:

1. Visit the OverDrive website at http://search.overdrive.com/ or the website of your local library to confirm whether your branch is eligible and carries eBooks.
   
   Note: If you don't already have a library card and a PIN from your local library, contact them to sign up for a library card and make note of your PIN. You'll need a library card for the branch from which you want to check out Public Library Books for Kindle.



2. To check out a library book to your Kindle, visit the website of your local library and search for eBooks. Your library should have an area of their website devoted to eBooks and digital media.
3. Select the title you want to check out, and login with your library card information and pin when prompted. Use a personal email address (not your Kindle address) to place a hold.
4. After you have checked out the title, choose Get for Kindle to have it sent to your Kindle. You'll be redirected to Amazon.com's Public Library Loan page for that title. If you're not logged into Amazon, you'll need to enter your login for your Amazon.com account.
5. Choose the device or app from the Deliver to menu, and choose Get library book to send the book to your device or reading app.

Restrictions

• Availability of books and length of loan will vary by library.
• Public library books require an active Wi-Fi connection for delivering books to a Kindle device. Library books will not be delivered via your Kindle's 3G connection. Note that Kindle 1st Generation, Kindle 2nd Generation, and Kindle DX only have 3G connection capabilities. If you're unable to connect your Kindle device via Wi-Fi, you can instead load library books to your device via USB. Learn how to transfer content to your Kindle via USB.
• Due to publisher restrictions, some titles may not be wirelessly delivered to your device and instead require USB transfer from your computer to your device. These restricted titles also may not be accessed on Kindle reading applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a book not available for Kindle from my local library?

Availability of books and length of loan will vary by library.

Will I be notified before my public library book loan expires?

Yes. Three days before the end of the loan period, we will send a courtesy reminder e-mail about the loan expiration. Once the loan period has ended, an additional e-mail notification will be sent. Availability of books and length of loan are determined by your local library.

How do I view the status of my loan?

You can view the status of a public library book for Kindle from the Manage Your Kindle page. Click on the "+" symbol next to any title to view more details about any book that you've borrowed including the expiration date.

You can also access all of the materials that you currently have checked out on your library's OverDrive-powered website. Within your library's digital site, look for links to My Account, My Bookshelf, or something similar.

What happens to my notes and highlights after a loan expires?

You can always access their notes and highlights through kindle.amazon.com, even after a book expires. And if you check a book out again, or purchase it from Amazon.com all of your notes and highlights will appear in the book as before the loan expired.

Are public library books for Kindle available internationally?

At this time, public library books for Kindle are only available at U.S. libraries.

In what format are public library books for Kindle available?

Public library books for Kindle are available in the .azw Kindle Edition format only.

What Kindle devices can I read public library books on?

You can read borrowed Kindle books on any generation Kindle device, all free Kindle apps, as well as in your web browser with Kindle Cloud Reader. Public library books require an active Wi-Fi connection for wireless delivery to a Kindle device. Library books will not be delivered via your Kindle's 3G connection. Note that Kindle 1st Generation, Kindle 2nd Generation, and Kindle DX only have 3G connection capabilities. However, if you're unable to connect your Kindle device via Wi-Fi, you may instead load your library book to your Kindle device via USB. Learn how to transfer content to your Kindle via USB.

Due to publisher restrictions, some titles may not be wirelessly delivered to your device and instead require USB transfer from your computer to your device. These restricted titles also may not be accessed on Kindle reading applications.

How do I send library books to my Kindle device or reading app?

Once a public library book has been checked out to your account, you can send it to any registered Kindle device or reading app from the Manage Your Kindle page. Public library books require an active Wi-Fi connection for wireless delivery to a Kindle device.

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