PocketBook has teamed up with Libby, the popular ebook and audiobook lending platform, to make borrowing from your local library as easy as tapping a button.
Rolling out this month via a firmware update starting with the PocketBook Era Color, the new PocketBook x Libby app lets users browse, borrow, and read library books directly from their e-readers. The feature will later arrive across the full PocketBook lineup, including the upcoming Verse Pro Color, as part of firmware version 6.10.
For readers in the UK, that means instant access to thousands of titles from over 120 libraries across England, Scotland, and Wales, as well as the National Library of Wales and Libraries NI. All you need is a valid library card to sign in, and you can start borrowing ebooks or streaming audiobooks within seconds.
Some books can be downloaded for offline reading, while others, especially audiobooks, can stream directly through the Libby-powered app. You can even sample titles before borrowing, add unavailable books to a waiting list, or link multiple library cards for a bigger catalogue.
PocketBook says the move reflects its “values of openness, compatibility, and user-centric design.” According to Enrico Mueller, Managing Director of PocketBook Readers GmbH, the partnership “strengthens our role as a trusted partner for public libraries in digital lending.”
For OverDrive, Libby’s parent company, the collaboration expands its reach onto dedicated e-readers. Claudia Weissman, VP of Global Libraries & Education, said it “allows readers to enjoy seamless access to their library’s collection on PocketBook’s premium devices.”
PocketBook already supports a wide range of file formats and open systems, but this addition makes its devices far more appealing to everyday readers who want a Kindle-free, library-connected alternative.
In short, the update turns your PocketBook into a digital library card – and if you’ve ever struggled with juggling apps or devices just to borrow an ebook, this might be the smoothest reading experience yet.
