BorrowBox Free Book App

Do you love discovering simple ways to make the most of services you already have access to - and this is one that feels like a bit of a hidden gem. Auckland Libraries offer a fantastic digital lending service through BorrowBox which is an alternative to the Libby App that I mentioned a few weeks ago.

Both Libby and BorrowBox may not be available around the country - so I’d love to hear from you if your local libraries offer something similar? It’s always great to share resources like this, especially when they make reading and learning so much more accessible.

Using BorrowBox is pretty straightforward. All you need is your Auckland Libraries barcode number and PIN (or password), and you can log in and start borrowing straight away. From there, you have access to a wide range of eBooks and audiobooks that you can enjoy from the comfort of home - or anywhere, really, as it works even when you’re outside New Zealand.

One of the best parts is just how generous the borrowing limits are. You can have up to 15 eBooks and 15 audiobooks on loan at any one time, each for a 28-day period. There’s no pressure to rush through them either as loans automatically return themselves when they’re due, so there are no late fees to worry about.

If a title you’re after is popular, you can place a hold on it and it will automatically be issued to you once it becomes available. You’ll get an email notification when it’s ready, making the whole process seamless. You can also renew items if you need more time, which is perfect for those longer reads or listens.

Everything you borrow is easy to access through your “Bookshelf” in the library catalogue, or directly through the BorrowBox app, which makes reading or listening on your device simple and convenient.

There are a couple of small things to be aware of. Not all eReaders are compatible - most notably, Kindle devices (apart from Amazon Fire tablets) don’t support this system, as they don’t use standard eBook formats. However, many other devices and apps work perfectly well.

All in all, it’s such an easy, user-friendly way to enjoy books without spending a cent and a great reminder of just how valuable our local libraries are.