Free Library Ebooks Now Compatible with Kindle E-Readers!

By Jamie W. RSS Wed, September 21, 2011

In a move highly anticipated since our initial announcement in April, Kindle owners can now download ebooks from the Free Library of Philadelphia. The process for borrowing an ebook for Kindle is similar as for other devices. Most ebooks already in the library's catalog supplied by OverDrive are now compatible with Kindle. Simply browse or search our digital collection, check out a title using your library card number and PIN, and then click "Get for Kindle." Access to the Kindle Book will occur at Amazon's website after signing in and selecting delivery to the your Kindle device or any of the free Kindle reading apps. Kindle users do not need to download any additional software. For more information, see Amazon's guide, Public Library Books for Kindle. As with all of our ebooks and other digital content, Kindle titles are available 24/7 and incur no late fees because they automatically expire at the end of the lending period. Happy reading!


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I am sent books for my Kindle and they are in my documents on my computer but I cannot seem to get them out of there and into the Kindle. Can you help me please. Thank you
Agnes Albany - Torresdale
Friday, September 30, 2011

Since many folks are asking about this: How do I return the Kindle eBook once I'm finished? Visit http://www.amazon.com Click Your Account Sign in with your Amazon email address and password (the same one you used to register your Kindle and to check out your Kindle eBook from our library). Look for the Manage Your Kindle button You will then be redirected to Your Kindle Library Search for the title of the Kindle eBook you wish to return. Click the Action... button and select Return this book This will check in your eBook from our system and you will no longer be able to read your eBook on your Kindle. To remove the eBook from your Kindle: Wake up your Kindle (if needed) Use your 5-way controller (navigation pad) to your returned eBook Hit the left arrow on your 5-way controller You will then receive a remove from device option Hit the center of your 5-way controller and it will remove the eBook from your Kindle
Lori - FLP
Friday, September 30, 2011

Agnes- You need to connect your Kindle to your computer with the USB Cable, turn it on, then open the Documents folder on the Kindle. Copy the file from your computer to your Kindle. Eject or Stop the Kindle then disconnect ad enjoy your book.
Trish - Philly
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Are these books compatible w/ a Nook?
Liz - New Jersey
Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Do you know if these will be compatible with the new Kindle Fire? Thank you.
Leah | Kindle Fire Reviews - Philly
Saturday, October 8, 2011

My son lives in Orlando, FL and uses the Nook. The fine library there connects its e-books with the Nook. I have a Nook as well, which I prefer over the Kindle because a) the screen is bigger, b) it is easier to use the touch controls, and c) the display is in color. Please add Nook access. Thanks.
Rick - Philadelphia
Thursday, October 13, 2011

Thank you for this, I have been really looking forward to it!
Zoe - Mt. Airy
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

I tried to download a bunch of books that I was able to check out electronically. When I go to Manage my Kindle and download them, it asks how I want to open them (what program), but there does not seem to be one that allows me to open/save the document. Can anyone tell me what program I should select when asked to "Open with...?" Thanks.
Sherri - Mt. Airy
Friday, October 28, 2011

Hi Sherri - You should not need to open the files on your PC, only transfer them to your Kindle. You can do this by snyching your Kindle on a wi-fi network or by plugging your Kindle in with your USB cable and draging the file on to it. If you want to read Kindle books on your computer instead of your Kindle you could do so by downloading the Kindle Reader app for PC here: http://tinyurl.com/yja443f Though this in not needed to read on your Kindle, it would give you a way to open the files. However, maybe the following how-to video will help: http://youtu.be/mgKbyhuqxuU Good luck!
Jamie W - Philadelphia
Friday, October 28, 2011

Jamie - Thank you! It worked perfectly, and I can't wait to start reading the books I downloaded.
Sherri - Mt. Airy
Friday, October 28, 2011

I have a Pandigital e-reader are your ebooks compatible with it?
Steph- - White Haven
Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Thanks! After reading the articles, I can make an informed choice about the e-reader I will purchase. Thanks!
Jane - Germantown
Thursday, December 1, 2011

Is it possible to renew an ebook and, if so, how?
gina - South Phila
Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I have been trying to get on the e-book site today to browse available books, but I keep getting System Error - is this not working today (12/15)?
Eileen McNichol - Philadelphia, PA
Thursday, December 15, 2011

Can you renew eBooks after the lending period? 3 weeks is good, but for a 1000 page book, it would be helpful to renew.
Elizabeth Dawson - Philadelphia
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Can you and how do you renew a lended ebook?
Mary Donahue - tacony
Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Hi - Whoa - sorry to have been so late in responding to these comments. First - yes, our ebook service is compatible with Nook. In fact, that was the case long before Kindle came on board. However, to use this service with your Nook you must download Adobe Digital Editions, which is free software, to your home computer. Find and download ADE here: http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/ . Second - Library ebooks cannot be renewed in the regular sense. However, you are free to check the title out again as soon as your first loan expires. In practice though, this is difficult because there are usually people on the waiting list for ebooks and the title will go to them as soon as your loan expires. You cannot re-check an ebook out if someone else is waiting for it. This is not really different from print books though, because we do not allow you to renew a print book that has holds on it either. Third - Yes, our ebooks are compatible with Kindle Fire. Fourth - for Agnes, Eileen, and others, if you have specific issues that require tech support, please head over to our FAQ page and scroll to the bottom. There is spot there where you can submit an email directly to us for support. We will respond to you with in 24 business hours. The blog is not the best spot for questions that might require a detailed or individual response. Find our FAQ page here: http://tinyurl.com/894j8kx Thanks and happy reading!
Jamie W - Philadelphia
Thursday, January 12, 2012

okay so I need to know if I go to a librarian can he or she help put overdrive onto my kindle fire also if not how do you put ebooks/overdrive onto the kindle fire? -thank you
Nell - phila
Tuesday, February 14, 2012


Nell - phila
Tuesday, February 14, 2012

To remove the eBook from your Kindle: Wake up your Kindle (if needed) Use your 5-way controller (navigation pad) to your returned eBook Hit the left arrow on your 5-way controller You will then receive a remove from device option Hit the center of your 5-way controller and it will remove the eBook from your Kindle http://free--creditscore.com
Donald - USA
Friday, February 17, 2012

With e-books are there "multiple copies" so to speak? So after my e-book expires do I have to wait for everyone else with that title on hold to have their 1-3 weeks before I can re-download the file, or can more than one person have that title checked out "via multiple copies"?
Kelly - Philadelphia
Monday, February 20, 2012

I live in Florida and am over the age of 65. Am I eligible for a library card for Kindle?
Liz -
Friday, February 24, 2012

Great Article.I am glad that it turned out so well and I hope it will continue in the future because it is so worthwhile and meaningful to the community. http://www.Resale-eBooks.com
resell rights ebooks - ny,ny
Wednesday, February 29, 2012

I love the fact that I can download books to my Kindle Fire. It is so easy. In fact, I had purchase a book long before I got my Kindle Fire but I downloaded the book from the libray so I could read it on my Kindle instead. I prefer reading off my Kindle Fire than the book. I do not think I will ever purchase another book that I canget for my Kindle Fire again.
Sandra - West Philadelphia
Monday, July 16, 2012

Any plans to have ebooks available a for iPad users?
Andrew - Philadelphia
Friday, August 31, 2012

Hi Andrew - thanks for the comment. Good news! Our ebooks are available for iPad (as well as iPhone, Android, and Windows mobile devices)! Install the free Overdrive Media Console app from your app store to get started. Here are some videos to help you out: http://help.overdrive.com/going-mobile-videos
Jamie W - Philadelphia
Thursday, September 6, 2012

As a US non-resident, I can join the Free Library of Philadelphia for $35 p.a. This will be worthwhile if I can download free books from the library to my Kindle Touch. I cannot get a firm opinion on whether or not I will be able to do this but need to know before I spend this amount of money. In Australia, I cannot download library books to my Kindle Touch; I have to use a clumsy early-model PICO to do this. The Kindle does everything I need, except the thing I need most. Can somebody tell me, please, if I join the library will I be able to download books to my Kindle Touch in Australia? Thanks Bob
Bob Lake - Australia
Thursday, December 13, 2012

According to the information we have, international use of U.S. library owned/licensed Kindle ebook titles may not be possible with the Kindle Touch. The OverDrive online support page indicates that the Amazon Kindle Touch is "compatible for U.S. libraries only." Also, to the question "Are public library books for Kindle available internationally?" the answer given is "At this time, public library books for Kindle are only available at U.S. libraries." Thank you for your interest in the Free Library of Philadelphia.
A Lee - Philadelphia
Monday, December 17, 2012

Hi,Is it possible to obtain access to e-books from another area in Pennsylvania? I'm over 65-does that count for anything? Thank you. Bob
Bob - Liverpool (Perry County)PA
Monday, December 24, 2012

Please help. trying to download phila library books to my NOOK.YES I HAVE CARD ANDPIN. GETTING FRUSTRADED. HW DO I REGESTER NOOK AND NOT KINDLE AND KEEP IT PERMINATE.THANKS
Marybeth - phila pa
Sunday, March 9, 2014

Hi Marybeth - Take a look at our help guide for Nook - http://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/index.cfm?postid=1658 - that should make things easier. You can also email us at the 'Contact Us' link at the top of the page for one-on-one assistance. Thanks!
Jamie W - Philadelphia
Monday, March 10, 2014

Hi! Are e-books I borrow available on my Kindle when I travel internationally? Thanks!
ainsley - Philadelphia
Friday, June 6, 2014

Thank you for contacting us. If you have a Free Library of Philadelphia library card and use our resources, library downloads will work overseas without issue. Just go to our mobile library site - http://freelibrary.lib.overdrive.com - and download titles as you usually would. All you need is an active Internet connection. Please keep in mind that some countries block certain types of Internet traffic, including library downloads. In this case, the Free Library or OverDrive would have no control over the restriction. These situations are rare, however. If there is something you are interested in checking out that is currently available, the best option may be to download the title before your international travel. That way, you stand the best chance of getting the title you want. Thank you!
Jamie W - Philadelphia
Monday, June 9, 2014

I am a kindle lover. I always use kindle for reading eBooks and I like to read it. Thanks for sharing this post.
ken - http://bestereaderreview.org/
Friday, September 26, 2014

MY NAME IS DONALD R MCKENNEY I HAVE THREE EBOOKS THAT ARE AT A REDUCE PRICE OF 99 CENT YOU CAN FIND THEM AT AMAZON AND KINDLE STORES SEARCH FOR THEM UNDER DONALD R MCKENNEY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
DONALD R MCKENNEY - MARYLAND BALTIMORE
Monday, June 27, 2016

So glad ebooks from the library are available on Kindle!
Vincent Sestito - Philadephia
Saturday, October 8, 2016

Love to read
Vincent Sestito - pa
Sunday, October 9, 2016

I would like to read to love a stallion do you have that book
Kathleen Yancey - Philadelphia
Monday, January 7, 2019