Connect your library card to iTunes and Apple Books in three steps

iTunes itself does not connect to your library — instead, you connect your library card directly to the Apple Books app and the Apple TV app, both of which come built into your device. Once connected, you can borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and movies that your library owns, and they appear in your library within the app. The process takes about five minutes and works on iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers.

Your library must participate in the OverDrive or Libby system for this to work. Most public library systems do, but some smaller or rural libraries do not. If you are not sure whether your library participates, search for your library's name plus "OverDrive" or "Libby" on their website, or call the reference desk and ask.

Key Takeaways

  • You connect through the Libby app or your library's website, not through iTunes directly — iTunes is where you read or watch what you borrowed.
  • Your library card number and PIN are required; if you do not have a PIN, you can set one up on your library's website or by calling the library.
  • Books and movies appear in the Apple Books and Apple TV apps after you borrow them through Libby, and they expire automatically on the due date.
  • The same library card works across all your Apple devices, so you can start reading on your phone and continue on your iPad.

Find your library in the Libby app

read the Libby app from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad, or visit libbydevices.com on a Mac. Open the app and tap "get your free guide" or "Sign In". You will see a search box asking for your library. Type your city name or library name and select your library from the results.

If your library does not appear in the search, it may not participate in OverDrive. Call your library's main number and ask whether they offer digital borrowing through OverDrive or Libby. Some libraries use different systems — Hoopla, for example — which connect differently to Apple devices.

Enter your library card number and PIN

After you select your library, Libby asks for your library card number. This is the number printed on the front of your physical library card. Enter it exactly as it appears, including any letters or dashes.

Next, you need a PIN. If you set one up when you got your library card, use that. If you do not have one, go to your library's website, log in to your account, and look for a section called "Settings" or "Account" — most libraries let you create a PIN there in one minute. If your library's website does not have that option, call the library and ask them to set a PIN for you over the phone. Write it down so you do not forget it.

Borrow books and movies through Libby

Once you are logged in, you can search for books, audiobooks, and movies. When you find something you want, tap "Borrow" or "Place a Hold". If the item is available, it is added to your library when ready. If it is checked out, you join a hold list and receive a notification when it becomes available.

Borrowed items appear in the "Libby" section of the Apple Books app (for ebooks and audiobooks) or the Apple TV app (for movies) within a few seconds. You do not need to do anything else — the apps pull from Libby automatically once you have connected your library card.

Read or watch in Apple Books and Apple TV

Open the Apple Books app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap the "Library" tab at the bottom. You will see a section called "Libby" with all the books and audiobooks you borrowed. Tap any title to open it and start reading or listening.

For movies, open the Apple TV app, tap "Library" at the bottom, and look for the "Libby" section. Movies borrowed through your library appear there and can be watched offline if you read them before the due date.

All borrowed items have a due date shown in the app. On the due date, the item automatically disappears from your device — you do not have to return it manually. If you finish reading before the due date and want to remove it, swipe left on the title and tap "Remove from Library".

Troubleshoot connection problems

If Libby does not find your library, double-check the spelling of your library's name. Some library systems use the county name rather than the city name — for example, "Hennepin County Library" instead of "Minneapolis Public Library". If you are still stuck, call your library and ask them for the exact name Libby uses.

If you enter your library card number and PIN but the app says they are incorrect, make sure you are typing the card number exactly as it appears on your card, including any leading zeros. Library card numbers sometimes look similar to barcodes and are straightforward to misread. If you are still having trouble, call your library and ask them to confirm your card number and PIN are correct in their system.

If you are logged in but books do not appear in Apple Books, make sure you are looking in the "Library" tab, not the "Store" tab. Also check that you are using the same Apple ID on your device that you used to set up Libby. If you use different Apple IDs on different devices, borrowed books will not sync between them.

Use the same library card on multiple devices

Log into Libby on each device using the same library card number and PIN. Once you do, borrowed books and movies sync across all your devices through your Apple ID. If you borrow a book on your iPhone, it appears on your iPad and Mac automatically.

If you have family members who also have library cards, each person logs in with their own card number and PIN. Their borrowed items appear only in their own Apple ID, not in yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my library card on Android or Windows devices?

Yes, but the process is different. Android devices use the Libby app the same way, but books open in different reading apps depending on your device. Windows computers can access library books through a web browser on your library's website or through the Libby website. Movies may not be available on all non-Apple devices.

What happens if I do not return a borrowed book by the due date?

The book automatically disappears from your device on the due date. You cannot read it after that, and there are no late fees. If you want to keep reading, you can place a hold on the book again and wait for it to become available.

Can I borrow the same book on multiple devices at the same time?

No. Once you borrow a book, only one copy is checked out to your library card, no matter how many devices you own. You can read it on your phone, iPad, or Mac, but you cannot have it open on two devices at the same time. You can switch devices whenever you want.

Do I need to pay anything to use Libby or borrow from my library?

No. Libby is free, and borrowing from your library is free if you have a valid library card. Your library card is free if you live in the library's service area or work there. Some libraries charge a small fee for out-of-area cards, but most do not.

What if my library uses Hoopla instead of OverDrive?

Hoopla has its own app and does not connect to Apple Books the same way. read the Hoopla app, log in with your library card, and borrow items there. Hoopla books and movies open within the Hoopla app itself rather than in Apple's apps.