This page is dedicated to enabling reader access to newspapers, magazines and other periodicals in UK via the local library system. Access via this route is free of charge.
For anyone interested in accessing eBooks, check out our e-readers page for the best way to access books online...and read them in comfort.
The article below was published recently on my blog - I hope it will be useful.
The world of online e-reading has become a confusing place over recent years, with the publishing industry desperately trying to preserve their income streams in the face of increased online accessing to e-publications of all sorts without their control.
In an attempt to unravel some of the complexity of accessing reading material online, here is some info. on how you can (perfectly legitimately) access newspaper, magazine and audiobook content via your local UK library completely free of charge.
If you’re into eBook fiction, you’ll also find some useful info. about accessing and managing eBooks on my website along with a detailed look at of some of the older Kindle e-readers.
The first thing you’ll need to access free newspapers and magazines is a valid borrower’s card for your local library. If you are a council tax payer, you can get this simply by signing up at the nearest local branch library in your area over the counter – you’ll need some form of approved ID e.g. driving licence /passport and evidence of your current address (e.g. recent utility bill).
Your library card will come with a user ID number (usually 8 digits) and you’ll also be given a PIN number. Keep both of these safe and don’t forget your PIN ! Keep an eye on the expiry date for your card – this is normally around 3 years from date of issue.
Once you’ve obtained a card you’ll have access to the online catalogues of newspapers and magazines, as well as a wide selection of audiobooks. Local libraries differ as to which online apps they use. Your card also entitles you to use the computer facilities provided at the library and the free wifi most of them provide on site. This can be useful, if your home broadband access is disrupted for any reason.
To make the best of the online library offerings, you need a smartphone or tablet pc (Android or Ios operating systems) and this needs to be running Android 7.0 or higher or the equivalent Ios version (iPhone Ios version 10.0 or above).
UK libraries currently use two main library service providers – ‘Press Reader’ and ‘Libby’. The assumption is that most users will want to access material via their smartphones or tablets, and both of these providers base their main offerings on Android and Ios apps which are specific to a single device (i.e. any contents you’ve downloaded isn’t transferable between devices). Both ‘Press Reader’ and ‘Libby’ apps are used by most libraries, but the distribution of resources accessible via each of the providers may differ over time (e.g. our local library (Leics) has transferred its magazine access over to Libby recently, thus effectively curtailing them for anyone with an older phone or tablet). You can however access both of their offerings via your pc – more about this later.
Normally, since the apps are device specific, you only need to go through the full login and authentication procedure once. This involves providing your library card number and PIN, and some other personal details if you’ve not already registered; there may also be a 2-factor authentication via text or email to confirm your ID. Once you’ve gone through this procedure, your device should take care of authentication automatically whenever you invoke the app. If you change devices, or reset your existing device, you’ll need to install the app and go through the process again, and won’t have access to any content downloaded on the old device.
A particularly irritating phenomenon for the online user nowadays is so-called ‘version creep’. App developers show no remorse whatsoever for suddenly upgrading an app, such that it excludes earlier versions of the OS. Their attitude is that if your device is too old to cope – tough. This is of course quite unacceptable from a consumer point of view, but developers and ‘big tech’ providers both seem to manage to get away with this ‘e-crime’ as I see it again and again, citing their excuse as ‘the need to provide better quality apps for our customers’. Unfortunately there’s very little the average user can do besides vote with their feet and stop using the app. For now, at least, expect frequent upgrades and be prepared to change your allegiance as appropriate.
At present, the Press Reader app will still work with Android 5.1 and above (PR version 6.5.23), and Libby will still run on Android v6.x (Libby version v6.4.0). Please note that later versions downloaded from Play Store will only run on devices with Android 7.0 or above, so you’ll need to install an .apk version manually if you’re running Android 6 and want to use it. If you don’t have a device with the necessary OS spec. for either app, all is not lost – you can access online resources via web versions of the two apps. You’ll only be able to use them in ‘streaming’ mode, though i.e you’ll need to stay online while you’re reading, and you won’t be able to download any content for offline reading.
Press Reader
This app provides unlimited access to a wide variety of newspapers and magazines. It has a useful search function and will save titles you access frequently in a ‘My Publications’ grouping for easy access. Earlier teething troubles seem to have been sorted out, but it does have an expiry date for access (ca 2 months). After this you’ll need to log out and log in again on your pc via the web version to renew you access rights. You can download any of the titles for offline reading and there is no expiry date on these i.e. you can keep them for as long as you want. There is no limit to the number of items you can download, but bear in mind downloaded items will take up significant space, so keep an eye on your available memory and get into the habit of deleting items once you’ve read them. NB you can only download content for offline reading via the app, not via a pc.
Libby
This app is somewhat more restrictive as far as offline access is concerned, and is also device-specific, but it does offer a larger selection of items, including a range of audiobooks. Some of the local library service providers also have legacy collections attached from previous providers such as RB Digital. Like Press Reader (PR), the Libby app allows you to flag frequently used titles for later use. You can download items you want to read offline via the app, but bear in mind these will expire after 7 days and will be automatically removed from your device after this, so you need to get a move on and read them once downloaded (you can usually renew an item for another 7 days if you haven’t finished it, but make sure you do it before it goes). In general, the selection is more comprehensive than that offered by PR, but this may be due to local restrictions imposed by your library services provider.
Borrowbox
Another app popular with UK library service providers is Borrowbox.
This app does have a selection of magazines and newspapers available, but unlike PR and Libby is mainly focused on eBook access. Access is again via your library card, but there is a 3-week loan system for all items…and a queuing system for popular titles. The app is smartphone/tablet oriented, but there is a web-based version and unlike the other 2, it is possible to download items to pc via Adobe digital systems (you’ll need to install this first).
For anyone just wanting access to newspapers and periodicals, I would advise using PR and/or Libby to avoid the hassle. For eBook fans it’s worth checking out Borrowbox for the title you’re after, but be prepared to be disappointed if it’s a popular one, particularly if it’s just been published. If you want to get hold of it before next Christmas, you may have better luck with one of the shadow libraries, and won’t have to tangle with Adobe Digital systems and DRM-induced expiries.
I hope this brief journey through the ins and outs of online UK library access will have helped dispel some of the confusion and enable you to get online without further trauma…or cost.
In these days of local government cuts and consequent physical library closures, it’s even more important to make sure we retain an acceptable range of online services as a substitute for the physical access we’re progressively losing.
Don’t be denied access by the apparent complexity of registering…and do complain to your local council if you think your library service is difficult to use or needs improvement – you’re paying for it through your council tax, after all….
First published 27.4.25