Get started

Borrow digital books, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers for free with a Libraries membership card.

To start downloading digital books, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers, visit the LibrariesWest website or download the apps directly onto your tablet, phone or PC . They are compatible with both android and iOS devices. You will need your library membership PIN to set up an account.

All our digital products can be renewed if there isn’t a waiting list for a particular title. There are no late fees. Our digital books, magazines, comics, graphic novels and audiobooks will expire automatically at the end of the load period unless you return them early or renew them.

You can check out up to 10 books at a time for up to 21 days, or check out up to 5 audiobooks for up to 14 days.

If you are not a member of Somerset Libraries you can sign up using the LibrariesWest online registration form.

Digital Books

Choose from over 15,000 fabulous titles for adults and children. You can borrow up to 10 digital books. This entitlement includes reserving digital books to read. So for example, you could have 8 digital books on loan and 2 digital books reserved.

The loan period is 21 days, and you can renew your digital books up to 2 times, even if there is a waiting list.

Each month we will be adding several simultaneous access titles which can be borrowed by up to 1000 people at a time – ideal for reading groups.

Audiobooks

Check out up to 5 audiobooks for 14 days at a time. We currently offer more than 3000 titles in a range of genres, with new titles added regularly.

Take a look at our quick ‘How to’ video for a step-by-step guide on how to get started

By desktop

By the app

Digital Magazines

Download digital magazines for free with your library card.

• Choose from around 200 different titles across a wide range of genres including computers and technology, crafts, current affairs, entertainment, food and cooking, lifestyle, science and nature, sports and home and garden.
• Checkout editions for 21 days. Loans expire automatically after 21 days but if you haven’t finished reading them you can renew for a further 21 days as many times as you like.
• Checkout as many editions as you like at any one time – there are no loan limits.
• Titles are always available to check out so you won’t ever need to reserve them.
• Download or stream them to your tablet, smartphone, PC or laptop.
• All titles are unabridged, interactive and in full colour.
• Available at the same time as they appear on newsagents shelves.
• Each title comes with up to 3 years of back issues to explore.

How does it work?

For smartphone or tablet

The easiest way is to download the free Libby app from the Apple Store or Google Play. However, you can also go to the Libby app website, click on the middle icon at the bottom of the screen, click on ‘Add a library’ to select your local library authority and then log on with your library membership number.

See also a ‘How To’ video on the LibrariesWest website.

e-Newspapers

• Access the full text of around 70 UK national, regional, and local titles on the day of publication.
• National titles include – Daily Express, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, I Newspaper, Metro, The Guardian, The Independent, The Observer.
• Regional and local titles include – Bath Chronicle, Bristol Post, Central Somerset Gazette, Frome Standard, Somerset Guardian, Wells Journal, Western Daily Press, Western Gazette.
• Unlimited access for all library members. Checkout for 21 days and renew if you need longer.
• Newspapers can be downloaded and read offline or streamed via a tablet, smart phone (app available for iOS , Android and Kindle Fire) or web browser.

For more details and how to download newspapers visit the LibrariesWest website.

Other resources

There are a range of useful resources which we have identified here – it includes educational resources at home, health and wellbeing links and resources for reading.

For anyone researching family history or perhaps working with children on a history project, you can also access Ancestry website for free by logging in to LibrariesWest with your membership number and PIN .

Help with searching

When you are searching for available e-Books, e-Audiobooks or e-Newspapers, you can filter any of the searches so that it only shows the titles that are available now.

Digital resources and library charges

You will still be able to download Books, Audiobooks and e-Newspapers if you have unpaid charges on your library account. It is always possible to pay for outstanding charges online by logging into ‘My Account’ on LibrariesWest , or you can just wait until libraries are open again to sort this out then.

Downloading on older devices

You may still be able to access e-Books, Audiobooks and e-Newspapers even if your device is quite old. We recommend trying it. Try to Make sure you have the latest updates to your device if possible. If you are experiencing any problems just contact librariesmail@somerset.gov.uk.

Further help

Email librariesmail@somerset.gov.uk and we will be happy to talk you through it.

If you need further help searching or downloading, contact the relevant supplier (Cloud Library; Borrow Box) in the first instance as they can help with technical queries. They also all have help and tutorials on sites or apps.

These apps are safe to use and you should not get any spam as a result, but email librariesmail@somerset.gov.uk if you do experience any problems.

Disclaimer

Access to digital content is provided by a third party supplier who delivers access to the platform and content through their own systems.

Please be aware that the supplier will be the data controller for the information it collects.

The supplier has servers in the US and has their own terms and conditions, which you will need to read before choosing to use their service.

The Library Service is not responsible for third party content, and the information you share with the third party supplier.