Get started

Borrow e-Books, e-Magazines and e-Audiobooks for free with a Libraries membership card.

To start downloading e-Books, e-Magazines or e-Audiobooks, simply visit the websites below 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 number 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 e-Books and e-Audiobooks will expire automatically at the end of the load period unless you return them early or renew, while you can keep e-Magazines for as long as you like.

You can checkout up to 10 books at a time for up to 21 days, or checkout up to 5 AudioBooks at a time for up to 14 days. With online Magazines, choose from over 100 titles and keep for as long as you like.

e-books

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

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

Each month we will be adding several multiple simultaneous access titles which can be borrowed by up to 1000 people at a time – ideal for Reading Groups!

e-audiobooks

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

http://www.borrowbox.com/librarieswest
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:

e-magazines, comics and newspapers

e-magazines and e-comics

Choose from over 3000 titles across a wide range of genres including

• computers and technology
• crafts
• current affairs
• entertainment
• food and cooking
• lifestyle
• science and nature
• sports
• home and garden.

Keep for as long as you like and view at least 12 months of back issues. There’s no limit on the number of editions you can download, and new issues arrive at the same time as they appear on newsstands.

For details on how to download the magazines or comics  on the ‘Libby’ digital platform, visit E Magazines (librarieswest.org.uk)

e-newspapers

Unlimited access to 1000+ daily, weekly and monthly newspapers from over 100 countries (and in 60 languages), including 166 local, regional and national UK titles.

Available titles include – Bath Chronicle, Bristol Post, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Observer, Western Daily Press and hundreds more!

Newspapers can be streamed online via a tablet, smart phone (app available for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire) or web browser. Titles are always available on the day of publication, including supplements.

Up to 3 months of back issues available for most titles.

For details on how to download the newspaper on the ‘RB Digital’ digital platform, visit E-Newspapers (librarieswest.org.uk)

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 Books, AudioBooks or Magazines, 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 Magazines 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 ebooks, audiobooks and magazines 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
You can find step by step guides at www.somersetreads.co.uk or you can email librariesmail@somerset.gov.uk and we’ll be happy to talk you through it.

If you need further help searching or downloading, it would be best to contact the relevant supplier (Cloud Library; Borrow Box; RB Digital) in the first instance as they can help with technical queries – they also all have help/tutorials on sites/apps.

These apps are safe to use and you shouldn’t 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.