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Getting Started with E-Books

Introduction to & instructions for using the e-book collections available to LSC-UP users.

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About Libby/OverDrive

Borrow e-books, audiobooks, and magazines to read on your phone or tablet using the Libby app by OverDrive. You can even send and read your borrowed e-books to your e-reader!

Thanks to our partnership with the Harris County Public Library System, Lone Star College students and employees can access this collection with an LSC library barcode number. (Residents of Harris County can get an iKnow digital access library card through the HCPL website.)

Quick Facts

Users: Unlimited to browse, but individual book availability depends on the number of copies checked out.
Contains: Fiction and non-fiction (books and audiobooks); magazines; comics and graphic novels
Best for: Leisure reading
Download: Check out periods for 7 and 14 days, depending on the title.
App: Yes: Libby.

What You Need

In order to access Libby/OverDrive e-books, you will need:

  • a web browser (such as Chrome or Firefox) or app, and
  • your library barcode - located on the back of your college ID/library card 
    • your LSC email/password will not work for this

 

Picture of LSC ID, Chrome logo, Firefox logo, and Safari Browser logo

OverDrive is available to us through our partnership with Harris County Public Library. You can link to OverDrive from our research databases tab and selecting "eHCPL". Alternately, you can go to the Harris County Public Library page and click on the "eBooks" blue icon.

Read with Libby

You can read or listen to your books in the browser at Libbyapp.com.

Kindle

When you borrow a book, send to a Kindle device of your choice... which includes reading in the cloud/browser or in a Kindle app installed to your computer.

Just look for the Libby app in your device's app store!

 

 

 

Kindle

You can send e-books from Libby to your Kindle via the Libby app on your phone or tablet, or from your browser.

Kobo

Newer Kobos have built-in support for OverDrive (Libby): borrow and read all from your Kobo device without transferring books around!

How do I...?

  1. Once you've downloaded the app (or on the site), click "Sign Up" to create your account.
  2. You can choose to sign up with your library card, log in with Facebook, or enter information manually. (Even if you don't choose the library card option here, you will still have to provide it later.)
  3. Search for the Harris County Public Library by name.
  4. Enter your library barcode number (Lone Star's barcodes will start with 23136......).

In your browser OR in the Libby app:

  • Search or browse to find a book you like that's available to borrow.
    • If it's currently checked out, you can place a hold to get in line to borrow it as soon as it's checked back in.
  • Borrow the book, and then you'll have the option to either read in the app or download. Most books are available in both epub and Amazon formats.
    • If you choose Kindle Book, you'll be taken to the Amazon website, where you'll need to log in to your Amazon account to finish claiming the book and sending it your Kindle.

Once you've borrowed a book, choose the format you want to download it in, based on the device you want to read it on.

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