How Does Library Ebooks Work Without Internet Access?

Question

Downloading e-books for offline use is possible, but my library's app is confusing on when titles expire or become unavailable to read.

Mertz Lopez · Answer

To borrow a book and download it to your reading device, you will need an internet connection to access your library’s app or website to borrow and download the book. Once downloaded to your device’s storage, you can open up your reading app and read offline without the need for an internet connection. This is ideal for reading on public transportation, or in locations where there is limited signal. For me, reading ‘Naked Pages’ is primarily offline after I borrowed it from the library. It’s a fantasy story by a Filipino author about an author and his fictional characters “bleeding into reality” and how the author tries to regain control of his life by regaining control of his story. I was able to read this on a long flight and binge read it without any disturbances.

Yasmin · Answer

I heavily use library ebooks and the offline feature is a god send. Unlike streaming ebooks, most library ebooks are downloadable to your device. Apps like Libby or CloudLibrary store these downloaded ebooks on your device for offline reading. The ebook file is even encrypted and tied to your library account, keeping it safe and secure offline until the loan period has ended.

This is especially useful for me as I often use my e-reader on the subway to read during my commute. Even though the subway often has no service on certain lines, it usually has service on the others, so I can borrow a book and download it when there is service, and then read it on the other lines. If I have to get off on a certain stop for some reason, I can just open up the app on my e-reader to continue reading where I left off. I can even switch between different devices as long as I am logged into my account.

Just a note that not all libraries use the same apps to borrow e-books. Check to see what apps your library uses. Also, some e-book formats may not work as well on older devices. But most modern tablets will be fine. It’s a great way to read e-books without the need to carry actual books around and without using up your data.

Neil · Answer

I’m really enjoying the ability to read library ebooks on my Kindle. I was worried that since the books are downloaded to my device, that I would have to have constant internet connection to read them. But no, once the book has downloaded to my device using apps such as Libby or OverDrive to borrow from the library, I can read it offline just like I would with any other ebook. The downloaded book remains on my device until the loan period has expired, at which time the book automatically returns to the library. Some ebooks are available for transfer to an e-reader such as my Kindle via USB as well. Downloading an ebook to read while connected is all that is required for reading it offline later.

This is especially convenient for me on long flights. I no longer worry about losing a connection mid-chapter. Libraries typically have a large collection of e-books available for borrowing, so you have plenty of options. My only wish is that more popular titles were available. However, that can be part of the fun of searching for e-books – a digital treasure hunt.

Quinn · Answer

Library ebooks are amazing for book lovers who want to read without relying on Wi-Fi 24/7. The system works by you borrowing an ebook from your local library’s digital collection of ebooks using an app such as Libby, OverDrive or Hoopla. Once you have borrowed an ebook you can download it to your phone, tablet or e-reader and then read it offline at any time. The downloaded ebook file will then be removed from your device at the end of the loan period – no late fines or pressures.

Most libraries have all their e-book formats available for download. Some libraries offer titles in Adobe Digital Editions format, while others have them in Kindle-compatible format. I’m a Kindle user, and for me, it takes a Wi-Fi connection to download the title to my e-reader first. After that, though, I have my e-book with me everywhere. And some libraries even allow us to renew titles that we’ve already downloaded, as long as no one else is waiting for it.

Many of the apps also include features that you can customize to make your reading experience the best it can be. You can change the background and font size of your eBook. I’ve even seen where they include a dark mode option for reading at night without straining your eyes. While some of the most popular titles may have a wait list, I have discovered many great new books while waiting for my favorites to become available. And the best part is, they are all free.

Dongca Caingles · Answer

Lending vs Leasing a Connection to the Internet – This is still just lending of items in physical form that you can take home with you. In this case, the ‘items’ are digital files and you ‘lend’ them for a set period of time just as you would with physical items. In fact, the library is giving you the whole ‘item’ and you have temporary, local possession of it just as you would with a physical item. The internet is simply another medium via which items are distributed to you. The distribution of digital items via the internet is akin to your walking into a library and finding a physical item on the shelves that you can then take home with you to read. You wouldn’t expect to need to be connected to a library in order to read a physical book at home, and you don’t need an internet connection in order to read a digital file on your local device.

james loh · Answer

What happens if your e-reader breaks or you get a new one halfway through a loan? If you’re offline for any period of time during a loan, you’ll be unable to access the book for the remainder of the loan period. The license for the book is granted on a per device, per app basis. If you’re online, it’s usually possible to download the book again on your new device, provided the app supports syncing your library account. But if you’re completely offline with a dead tablet or e-reader, you’ll be unable to access your books. However, for 99% of situations, this is perfectly fine. For very critical reading, some people prefer to read physical books – because they can’t get digitally bricked.

Jose Maria Arana Castillo · Answer

Many of the questions posted here concern whether or not one must keep the app open in order for the book to save. The answer to that is no, you can close the app entirely. The file will be saved to your device’s storage, and even after you have rebooted your phone, the book will still be there when you open up the app again provided that the loan has not expired. In essence, the library app is merely the viewer for these type of secured files in PDF format. Thus, one can read a chapter, close the app to answer a call, go to the web, etc., and come back to the book to continue reading where one left off–all without any network activity having taken place.

Artina Mcrae · Answer

One of the biggest misconceptions about ebooks and audiobooks borrowed from libraries is the ‘download’ part. Yes, you do need an internet connection to ‘check out’ (or borrow) a title from your local library’s digital collection and have it ‘download’ (i.e. copied) to your reading device. However, the next part is crucial – what actually happens to the file after it has been ‘downloaded’ is that it is synced to your library’s approved reading apps, such as Libby or SimplyE. From there, you can read or listen to the book offline, the file being stored locally on your phone, tablet etc. In other words, the only time you need an internet connection to read a book borrowed from a library is to return it early, to borrow a new book, or to sync up copies on other devices – for example, to continue reading on your plane journey or to swap between your phone, e-reader and tablet. Also be aware that seeing the cover of a book in your library’s app doesn’t necessarily mean the whole book has downloaded – check your app to be sure.

Made Rangga · Answer

This can be easily visualized as a digital locker. Such a locker can be opened using a combination (the license to use the software) given to you by the library. You can then open and close the locker as many times as you want offline until the combination changes (your loan to the software has expired). The digital locker and all its contents are always on your device. The library does not keep your locker open for you. You have your own copy of the locker. This is different from a remote desktop or virtual machine, where the ‘locker’ is on a server elsewhere in the world, and you are merely looking at a image of it. You have the real thing, stored locally on your own device.

How Does Library Ebooks Work Without Internet Access?

9 Answers

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