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OverDrive and Libby FAQs

Toronto Public Library provides access to ebooks, audiobooks and magazines that can be read on mobile devices (tablets and smartphones), computers, and selected eReaders.

What are OverDrive and Libby?
OverDrive is the company that provides a digital reading platform to public libraries. Toronto Public Library's largest collection of ebooks, audiobooks and magazines is available through this platform.

Libby is OverDrive's app for searching, browsing, borrowing, downloading and reading materials available in the OverDrive collection.

How can I sign up to borrow ebooks?
You must have a valid Toronto Public Library card to use the OverDrive collection. Toronto residents 13 years of age and older who do not already have a TPL card can sign up online for access to OverDrive. Learn if you qualify for a Digital Access Card.
Where do I find ebooks, audiobooks and magazines on the Toronto Public Library website?
The eResources page contains a list of the services for online (digital) formats, including ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, music and video. You can also search the online catalogue for specific titles, authors or series.
Which app do I need to use?
You will need the Libby, by OverDrive app to borrow ebooks, audiobooks and magazines. Information about OverDrive's Libby app is available on our Getting Started with OverDrive and Libby page.
Can I read offline (without an internet connection)?
Initially, you will require an internet connection to download your titles through the Libby app. Once you have fully downloaded your titles, offline access to your Overdrive ebook, audiobook or magazine will be available on Libby. More information is available on Libby Help.

Offline access is only available with the mobile version of the Libby app. You will always need an internet connection for the web version of the Libby app and the TPL's OverDrive website.

What is a Best Bet?
A Best Bet is a high-demand ebook or audiobook. Best Bets have a 7-day loan period and cannot be renewed. There is a limit of one Best Bet loan per library card at any time. This collection is also called skip-the-line.

You will receive a notification in Libby when a Best Bets copy is available for an ebook or audiobook you have on hold. Borrowing the Best Bets copy will not cancel your hold.

How can I keep track of the books I want to read without placing a hold?
You can use tags in Libby to create personalized lists of books you want to read. For example, tags can be used to make lists of books in different genres.

If you are using the OverDrive website, you can add items you want to read to your wish list. If you are using both Libby and the OverDrive website, wish lists can be imported into Libby.

Why can't I find the ebook, audiobook or magazine I want to read?
Some major publishers are not yet making their ebooks and/or audiobooks available to public libraries, while others have placed special conditions on them. This means that sometimes we will have the print copy of a book, but not the ebook version. The same book can have different publishers in Canada and the U.S., so you may see an ebook on an American library's website that is not available to Canadian libraries. Of the ebooks and audiobooks we can buy, the library price is sometimes several times higher than the consumer price, resulting in fewer copies for library readers.

However, the ebook market is constantly evolving, so stay tuned for updates. The Toronto Public Library Board continues to advocate for improved access to e-content from all publishers. The Board's goal is to provide universal access to digital content for all library customers, which is particularly important given the rapidly growing demand for this content.

The library does not select individual magazine titles for the OverDrive collection. The collection is available as a subscription and OverDrive works with publishers to make magazine titles available.

Can I suggest a title for purchase?
You can suggest ebooks and audiobooks for purchase through the Libby app or on the web version of the Libby app using the Notify Me smart tag.

To use the Notify Me smart tag:

  1. Launch the Libby app on your mobile device or sign into your account through the web version of the Libby app.
  2. Search by title, author or series. There must be fewer than 100 titles in the results. If there are more, try a more specific search.
  3. Select the filter button and then move to the bottom of the screen. Select the deep search button.
  4. Select Show # Titles to view titles not currently available through Toronto Public Library's OverDrive collection.
  5. Select Notify Me for title you would like to suggest.

There are no restrictions on the number of titles that can receive the Notify Me tag in Libby.

A more detailed step-by-step guide for finding and tagging titles not in Libby is available on the Libby Help website.

Please note: A hold will not automatically be placed on titles suggested with the Notify Me tag. If the title is purchased, anyone who tagged the title will be notified through the Libby app.

Will my suggestion request be purchased?
Content is acquired in adherence to our Materials Selection Policy. We welcome title suggestions and consider them an integral part of our selection process. However, a suggestion may be declined for a number of reasons, including:
  • purchase/license price and other budgetary considerations
  • expected demand
  • lack of reviews
  • newer titles are available on the subject
  • library owns a different edition of the title
  • title is available in an existing compilation
  • subject is already well covered in the collection
  • suitability of subject, style and reading level for intended audience (e.g. too academic or specialized).
Can the library buy more copies of books to reduce the wait times?
While the library has increased its budget for ebooks and audiobooks, the price of digital titles from large multinational publishers is significantly higher compared to print books. Prices continue to increase and many books and audiobooks from major publishers now cost as much as 40% more than they did a few years ago. For this reason, buying more copies is not a sustainable way to reduce wait times.
Why are there limits on the number of ebook copies and the length of time they can be borrowed?
Publishers and authors set the terms of use for all copyrighted materials and the library agrees to those terms when we purchase ebooks and audiobooks.
Are Kobo and Kindle eReaders compatible with OverDrive?
  • Kobo – Yes for ebooks. OverDrive audiobooks and magazines are not compatible with Kobo eReaders.
  • Kindle - No (with the exception of the Kindle Fire). The agreement between OverDrive and Amazon that allows for borrowing and downloading library ebooks on a Kindle eReader is restricted to the United States.
  • Kindle Fire: OverDrive's Libby app is available in the Amazon Appstore. For more information, please visit OverDrive's Libby App website.
  • Full list of compatible devices

More information is available on our Getting Started with OverDrive and Libby page.

Can I borrow OverDrive books using my Kobo app?
No, you cannot borrow books with the Kobo Books app.
Why won't an OverDrive ebook download to my Kobo eReader?
Most OverDrive ebooks will download to Kobo eReaders, but there are limitations. The identical edition of the OverDrive ebook must be available on the Canadian Kobo website for that title to sync with a Kobo eReader. If an ebook will not sync to your Kobo eReader, download the ebook to a computer and transfer to the eReader using Adobe Digital Editions.
Can I transfer an OverDrive ebook from my mobile device to my Kobo eReader?
No, ebooks cannot be transferred from a mobile device (tablet or smartphone) directly to a Kobo eReader.

Books borrowed through the Libby app can be downloaded directly to the Kobo eReader by selecting the sync button on the eReader. The OverDrive feature must be set up with a library card. Otherwise, download the ebook to a computer and transfer to the eReader using Adobe Digital Editions.

Can I borrow an eReader or other device from the library?
No. The library does not currently provide any devices for customers to borrow. We do, however, offer a variety of classes and workshops to help with using the library's ebook collections.
How do I contact OverDrive?
Send comments and questions directly to OverDrive through their OverDrive support form or Libby support form.
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