The community library evolved from being merely a book repository years ago. Nowadays, public libraries are integrated into the digital realm in multiple ways, including a variety of free library apps.
Want to stream music, films and audiobooks? Flip through hundreds of magazines? Pick up a new skill? You can do all of that for free through your local public library’s extensive suite of apps.
Even better: you don’t need to be inside the library to use these services (though you will need a library card from your local branch). Once you have that card, you can tap into these offerings from home or while you’re out and about. Note that some titles — such as specific movies or periodicals — may differ between libraries.
You can access this content on any internet-connected device: smartphones, tablets, laptops and smart TVs.
5 Free Streaming Apps from the Library
- Hoopla
- Kanopy
- Libby
- LinkedIn Learning
- BookBoon
1. Hoopla
With the Hoopla streaming platform, you can stream movies and TV series, listen to music and audiobooks, and read e-books or comics. Hoopla carries many recent releases — for example, “The Lonely Hearts Book Club” by Lucy Gilmore — and timeless favorites you might want to revisit, like the “Harry Potter” saga. The interface is attractive and easy to use both on desktop and in the mobile apps. (Find the app on Apple, Google and Amazon.) Some libraries cap how many items you can borrow on Hoopla, but several libraries allow as many as 10 checkouts per month.
Here are tips to maximize this service:
Music
Enjoy upbeat pop with Harry Styles’ latest record (if you haven’t heard “Harry’s House,” give it a spin) or the bold songwriting on Fiona Apple’s “Fetch the Bolt Cutters.” Kids will love the “Encanto” soundtrack. Another perk: it’s ad-free. Mark a musician as a favorite and Hoopla will alert you when new albums from them become available.
Audiobooks
Hoopla excels with audiobooks. If you relish immersive historical fiction, try “The Lost Apothecary” by Sarah Penner. And if you like to nod off while listening, Hoopla’s sleep timer ensures you won’t lose your place.
Browse available audiobooks and start building your listening queue.
Movies and TV Shows
Looking for your next favorite film? Hoopla suggests titles based on your viewing history, or you can browse manually. Their catalog includes recent releases like “Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire” and series such as “My Life Is Murder.”
E-books
Hoopla’s e-books follow a borrowing model similar to a physical library: you may need to wait until a copy becomes available, and once checked out it will automatically return after its loan period (typically 21 days). If the title you want is in their collection, you can start reading immediately. Their catalog tends to have strong mystery and romance sections, but with such a broad selection you’ll likely find something appealing. Consider titles like “The Woman in the Library” by Sulari Gentill, “George Michael” by James Gavin or “All the Pretty Girls” by J.T. Ellison.
Graphic Novels and Comics
Hoopla offers an impressive assortment. We’re fans of “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut, but explore works like “Paris” by Andi Watson and “Ghosts of Science Past” by Joseph Sieracki as well.
If you stream audiobooks, films and music through Hoopla, you might even be able to drop your Audible, Netflix and Spotify subscriptions. Canceling Audible could save at least $14.95 per month, dropping Netflix could free up at least $6.99 a month, and pausing Spotify Premium could save about $11.99 a month.
2. Kanopy
Turn to Kanopy for free movies, recommends Gabi Toth, a senior adult services and public programming librarian in Massachusetts who focuses on library streaming platforms. Kanopy hosts thousands of documentaries and feature films, including titles like “Lady Bird,” “The Central Park Five” and “Leave No Trace.” You access Kanopy through your public or university library — all you need is a library card.
3. Libby
Libby is widely recognized for its collection of e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines.
You can use Libby in a web browser or via its mobile app. (Libby was developed by the team behind OverDrive, whose app was retired in May 2023.)
Libby lets you read e-books and listen to audiobooks, many of which carry long waits if you seek a physical copy at the library.
Unlike Hoopla’s item limits, your library determines how many loans and holds you can have at once with Libby.
Libby shows precise wait times for titles and lets you rate books with quick emoji feedback: thumbs-up (loved it), thumbs-down (not for me) or a stack of books (want to read).
Libby hosts a variety of popular titles. A sampling includes:
E-books
Try Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “Malibu Rising” — a juicy, well-crafted tale full of gossip and drama. E-books are extremely popular on Libby, especially children’s books, young adult fiction and nonfiction, comics and graphic novels.
Audiobooks
Give “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab a listen — it’s an evocative story about trading a piece of your soul for everlasting life.
Using Libby alongside Hoopla could save you around $35 by allowing you to cut back on Netflix, Spotify and Audible subscriptions and by reducing purchases of e-books.
4. LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) is an online education platform offering more than 16,000 courses in areas like software development, design, business, web development, photography and more.
As of July 2024, a LinkedIn Learning subscription runs about $34.99 per month, and new users can often access a free trial month. Using your library to access the service can save you roughly $40 every month.
5. BookBoon
Focused on e-textbooks, BookBoon helps you avoid the campus bookstore. It offers over 1,500 free e-textbooks covering subjects from engineering to academic writing. If you need a larger selection or are a college student, there’s an option to upgrade to a $6-per-month plan (first 30 days free). The average undergraduate spends about $413 annually on physical textbooks, according to the National Association of College Stores — not counting e-book purchases or rentals. Using BookBoon can noticeably lower those course material expenses.
How Much Can You Save Using Free Library Apps?
Substituting Hoopla and Libby for paid services like Netflix, Audible, Spotify and purchased Amazon books could reduce your monthly bills by roughly $35. Enrolling in library-provided LinkedIn Learning content could save nearly $40 a month.
Using BookBoon for textbooks might save about $413 per year on physical course materials if you have a student in the household — that’s a meaningful savings that can help offset tuition and other college costs.
If you’re unsure about what your library offers or how to access these tools, ask a librarian in person or online. Some jurisdictions provide virtual librarian services. They’re eager to guide you through the available digital resources.
If you don’t yet have a card, find out how to get a library card so you can unlock these free apps and start saving.
Jordan Ellis is a freelance contributor. Assigning Editor Karen Grigsby updated this article.
