Digital Media Guide
Borrowing ebooks and audiobooks, downloading podcasts, and streaming media such as movies, music, and even comic books, from Free Library has never been easier. In this guide, we'll offer tips and information to get you started or troubleshoot any issues you may be having access downloadable and streaming media and digital titles from our catalog.
Guides
Links
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Google Play
Enjoy millions of the latest Android apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines, and more. -
iTunes App Store
Browse and download apps to your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch from the App Store, including the Overdrive Media Console app. -
Kindle App Store
Instant access to thousands of the most popular free and best-selling apps and games, including the Overdrive Media Console app. -
NOOK Store
Your one-stop-shop for all things NOOK.
ebook Classics by StaffPicks
Great public domain reads you can download for free.
Latest Audiobooks by FreeLibrary
Latest Audibooks added to our collections.
Electronic Resources
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Access Video On Demand: Just for Kids
Over 12,000 ad-free entertaining and educational videos, games, songs, and interactives like Sesame Street, Electric Factory, Reading Rainbow, Baby Einstein and more.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Access Video on Demand: Master Collection
Over 44,000 unlimited films, documentaries, and how-to-videos. Enjoy titles from Ken Burns, BBC, PBS, HBO and Rick Steves. Note: Unable to filter content for Children's Restricted Cards.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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American Song
Listen to over 50,000 recordings from America's past; songs by and about American Indians, miners, immigrants, slaves, children, pioneers, and cowboys; songs of Civil Rights, Prohibition, the Civil War, and more.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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BookFlix *
A digital literacy resource, for grades preK-3, that pairs animated fiction stories with nonfiction ebooks to build a love of reading. Includes lesson plans for teachers and tips for caregivers
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Classical Music Library
A comprehensive database of distinguished classical recordings offered in streaming format. The Classical Music Library also includes anthology playlists linked to the major music history and appreciation textbooks.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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ComicsPlus All Access
ComicsPlus All Access has thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, & manga for kids, teens, and adults. A Free Library of Philadelphia card and PIN is required for onsite and offsite use. Mobile app available: use library card and PIN.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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ComicsPlus Children
Adventure Time, Bone, Minecraft, and the Big Nate series and more. Simultaneous use will allow whole-class read-alongs. A Free Library card and PIN is required for onsite and offsite use. Mobile app available: use library card and PIN.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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ComicsPlus Teens
Thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga especially for teens. A Free Library of Philadelphia card and PIN is required for onsite and offsite use. Mobile app available: use library card and PIN.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Contemporary World Music
This resource includes contemporary and traditional world music including tracks of reggae, worldbeat, neo-traditional, world fusion, Balkanic jazz, African film, Bollywood, Arab swing and jazz, and other genres.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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eAudiobooks from Overdrive
Download audiobooks from Overdrive to your PC, Mac, or mobile device. Get the Libby app to borrow on the go.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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eBooks from Overdrive
Available in a variety of formats, here you will find the Library's Overdrive ebook collection. Get the Libby app to borrow on the go; enter your library card and PIN.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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eBooks on EBSCOhost (formerly NetLibrary) *
Approximately 20,000 electronic books in all subject areas from careers to classics to Cliffs Notes. Mobile app available: create an online account for full access.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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eMagazines on OverDrive (formerly RBdigital Magazines)
Read and download over 4,000 digital magazines on OverDrive or the Libby app.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos
Es la mejor herramienta de referencia en español para niños. Spanish-language tool for those learning Spanish and ELL students. Spanish and English text. Includes concise articles, videos, maps and activities more. (Recommended grades K+)
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Freading
Over 280,000 downloadable eBooks for Free Library of Philadelphia card holders. Mobile app available with library card number and PIN.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Free Library of Philadelphia Podcasts
The Free Library Podcast is an easy way to participate in the author events and lectures that take place at the Central Library. Visit Author Events for upcoming events and information.
Available To: Unrestricted, free web resource
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Gale eBooks (formerly Gale Virtual Reference Library)
Explore over 1,300 nonfiction, fully searchable reference titles. Access accurate information on science, literature, history, business, and more.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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HistoryMakers Digital Archive
HistoryMakers Digital Archive is the largest African American video oral history collection, with high-quality primary source content and fully searchable transcripts, featuring thousands of people from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Input
Input was a local Philadelphia panel discussion program, airing Sunday mornings from 1968 through early 1971
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Jazz Music Library
Jazz Music Library will be the largest and most comprehensive collection of jazz available online.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Blog Posts
What's Philly Reading? May 2025
The Free Library's physical and digital shelves have been alive with the excited energy of the impending summer reading season. While patrons check their to-be-read lists and stock up on beach reads, the Library embarks…
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Dena's Favorite Books of 2024
It's the 13th annual list of my favorite books — the 2024 edition! This year I leaned quite heavily into my three favorite genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Romance. I also seemed to zero in on joyful books. But…
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Learn to Start Your Own Podcast with "Podcasting 101"
Podcasting has exploded in popularity since 2006, when just 11% of Americans over 12 were familiar with the medium. Now, that number is over 67%, with 45 million people that enjoy podcasts at least once a month. New podcasts are always…
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October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. As with many learning disabilities, there can be a lot of confusion and misunderstanding around what dyslexia is and how best to support learners who are struggling to read. Folks at the library…
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New Achievement Unlocked: Video Game Circulation!
The Free Library is excited to announce the addition of video games to its vast catalog of borrowable materials! Why video games at the library, you ask? Well, stories aren't confined to books alone! Video games present immersive…
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Compelling Black Stories from the Free Library Podcast
The Free Library's podcast archive dates back more than 25 years and features scores of author talks to help you commemorate, celebrate, and reflect on Black History Month . Even in just this last year, we’ve hosted an…
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Our PressReader Database Now Includes The New York Times
Recognized with 132 Pulitzer Prizes and appreciated by over nine million subscribers globally, we are happy to announce that the Free Library's daily New York Time s subscription has been added to our PressReader database…
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Celebrating Our New Electronic Resources of 2023
We were pleased to offer our community so many new Electronic Resources/Databases this year! Here are all of the new resources introduced since January 1, 2023: Films to Stream : Kanopy → Over 4,000 movies for adults…
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Elevate Your Writing: 10 Author Events Podcasts Perfect for NaNoWriMo
November is National Novel Writing Month. That’s right, the goal is to write a whole novel in a month. For more information about National Novel Writing Month, check out NaNoWriMo.org . While the very idea of writing a whole…
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Online Resources for Learners of All Ages
Looking for learning resources to help you and your family prepare for kindergarten, conquer the back-to-school routine, or explore a new adult learning path? The Free Library has plenty to offer, and we’re excited to share…
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Free Library of Philadelphia Database Updates
We are very proud of our electronic resources, also known as databases, and want to update you on some changes. As of August 1, 2023, POWER Library Pennsylvania's Electronic Library will no longer subscribe to some databases,…
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Everything You Need To Know About Free Library E-Books
Hey book lovers! Did you know you can read, read, read, with just a tap of your finger — and without ever having to go to the library? Try digital books, also known as e-books! You can read e-books on your computer, phone,…
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LGBTQ+ Authors on the Free Library Podcast
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month and the Free Library’s Author Events program has an extensive archive of podcasts and videos to help you celebrate a diverse range of writers working across a wide array of topics and fields. Before we…
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More Kanopy Films Added
We are happy to announce that more than 1,000 new videos have been added to our Kanopy PLUS subscription. The library has purchased these two new film packs, recently introduced by Kanopy: British Cinema and TV Series : A…
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AAPI Experiences: Podcasts From Past Author Events
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month , and you can celebrate the heritage, contributions, and writings of these diverse peoples through the Free Library’s Author Events audio podcast and YouTube video archives.…
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Profiles in Literature
The Free Library of Philadelphia has some wonderful resources for people researching the history of children's literature in America. With just a library card , several databases are available to help you learn more about the…
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Ancestry Library Edition
Visit one of our libraries to explore our newest database, Ancestry Library Edition , which provides the most extensive collection of genealogical information currently available online. You can explore your family’s…
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Introducing PressReader, Including The Economist Magazine
Would you like to read newspapers from around the world? Our newest electronic resource, PressReader , brings a wide-ranging selection of current global publications. PressReader provides content from the U.S. and…
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Observe Women’s History Month With the Free Library Podcast
March is Women's History Month and the Free Library Author Events podcast page and YouTube channel have scores of aptly themed book talks. To start you on your way, here are TEN favorites from just this last year. Everything from…
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ComicsPlus is Here!
Like comics? You're going to love this! Our newest electronic resources from ComicsPlus bring thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga from a variety of library-friendly publishers for kids,…
