Borrow Digital Media via Public Library Access

Have you checked recently what's included with digital public library access? I was pleasantly surprised! It's not just books and audiobooks, you can also find newspapers, magazines, comics, and even movies available for digital borrowing.

To get started, you'll need a public library subscription. In Berlin, it's available for just 10 EUR per year here. The signup process is fully digital, so no paperwork is required. I've heard similar things about libraries in the UK, the US, and Canada. Each library offers slightly different content, so you might consider signing up for more than one.

The most popular app for this is Libby, maintained by OverDrive, a digital rights management company. Once you log in to Libby with your library credentials, you can browse a catalog of available ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and streaming video. In the US, you can even link Libby to your Kindle and borrow books directly on your device.

Your local library likely supports additional apps for more content. For instance, in Berlin, Genios eBib offers free access to most newspapers and features a powerful full-text search that links directly to complete article texts. Onleihe and Pressreader (no signup required, just sign in via "Library or group" and your library credentials) are two more options for digital magazines, providing access to publications like Stiftung Warentest and c't, which are great for reviews and feature articles.