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Libraries and books

Your local library offers more than just books. If you're a library member, you can join a reading group, rent DVDs and CDs, and surf the internet free of charge. Many libraries are also online, so you can search catalogues and renew loans from your home. Libraries NI allows members to download eBooks.

Your local library

It is free to join the library. Fill in a membership form in any Libraries NI branch. You can use your library card for borrowing in all Libraries NI branches.

If you need help using the library, ask library staff. They can offer ideas on finding books to read. You can rent DVDs and CDs, read newspapers and magazines, and surf the internet. You can also download eBooks (electronic books).

Larger libraries may also offer a wide range of reference material and places for private study.

Some libraries also have online services where you can search catalogues and ask for an item to be reserved for you to collect. Find out more on Libraries NI website.

New free online service - downloadable eBooks

Over 28,000 eBook items in the Libraries NI catalogue are now available for library members to download free. There are almost 5,000 audiobooks to download.

Libraries NI offers this free service for library members across Northern Ireland. There are thousands of titles to choose from and download to most eBook readers and handheld devices, including some mobile phones and personal computers.

The virtual library is available online at the following link:

This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are no reservation fees or fines. When the loan period ends, the borrowed eBook expires.

Library members can choose from popular bestsellers and a varied range of information books including biographies, travel, humour or learning guides.

In addition there are titles which will appeal to teenagers and over 5000 eBook items for children to enjoy.

You can download and borrow nine eBooks for three weeks, after which they will disappear from the device where you downloaded them. There is no need to return the eBooks to a library and no overdue charges to pay. You can borrow the same books again after this period if no one else wants to borrow them. You can also download books while on holiday, by logging onto the Libraries NI website.

eBooks is a free service Libraries NI offers all library members. If you want to become a library member and access a ‘virtual’ library of free eBooks, call into any local library and join today.