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.
ebooks Digital Media podcasts Digital Media Guide
Guides
- New to ebooks? Start Here
- The Simplest Way to Read ebooks: Overdrive READ
- Getting ebooks for Your Tablet, Phone, or Mobile Device (Including Apple, Android, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Nook HD devices)
- How to Add Library ebooks to Your Kindle
- Getting Library ebooks for Your Nook Simple Touch or Similar e-reader
- Downloading audiobooks from the Free Library
- Hoopla: ebooks, audiobooks, Movies, Comic Books, Music, and More
- Request This Download - Discover and Download Digital Items in our Catalog
- Streaming, Downloading, and Listening to Podcasts
Links
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Google Play
Enjoy millions of the latest Android apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines & more, including the Overdrive Media Console and Hoopla apps. -
iTunes App Store
Browse and download apps to your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch from the App Store, including the Overdrive Media Console and Hoopla apps. -
Kindle App Store
Instant access to thousands of the most popular free and best-selling apps and games, including the Overdrive Media Console and Hoopla apps. -
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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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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Audiobooks from Overdrive
Download audiobooks from Overdrive to your PC, Mac, or mobile device
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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BookFlix *
Bookflix pairs classic storybooks with related nonfiction books - all in streaming format - to build a love of reading and learning.
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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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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eBooks from Overdrive
Available in a variety of formats including epub and pdf, here you will find the Library's Overdrive ebook collection.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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eBooks on EBSCOhost (formerly NetLibrary) *
Approximately 17,000 electronic books in all subject areas from careers to classics to Cliffs notes.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Freading
Downloadable ebooks for Free Library of Philadelphia library card holders.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Free Library 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 Virtual Reference Library
Fully searchable database of over 260 reference titles developed by Gale and other publishers.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Hoopla
Stream movies, TV, music, and audiobooks directly to your computer or mobile device
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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Kanopy
Stream four movies per month at no cost with your library card! Choose from over 30,000 films. You'll find classics, indies, foreign, and hit movies!
Available To: All Free Library agencies and Internet with authentication.
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Music Online
Find and listen to music from a variety of genres
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Overdrive Kid's eReading Room
Download ebooks and audiobooks for readers ages 0-12.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Popular Music Library
Find a wide range of popular music from around the world, including pop music, alternative, country, Christian, electronic, hip-hop, metal, punk, new age, R&B, reggae, rock, soundtracks and more.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Project Gutenberg Ebooks
A curated collection of 34,000 downloadable ebooks in epub format. These classic titles are out –of-copyright. There are no checkout restrictions, waiting lists, or restrictions.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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RBdigital Audiobooks (formerly OneClick)
Downloadable best-selling and classic audiobooks. Free software or app install required.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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RBdigital Magazines (formerly Zinio)
Read and download your favorite magazines online.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
Blog Posts
Check Out the New App for Digital Audiobooks and Magazines
Two of our most popular digital resources are getting a new home on your mobile device. RBDigital Audiobooks and RBDigital Magazines ( formerly Zinio ) are now both available through the RBDigital App. This change…
databases digital media audiobooks
13 Screamingly Scary Movies to Stream This Friday the 13th!
Today, April 13, is the first of two Friday the 13ths occurring in 2018. The next one arrives exactly 13 weeks later on July 13! The only logical thing to do on such a superstitious occassion is to stay (safely) inside away from black…
recommendations film digital media
Extra! Extra! New York Times Online Now Free With Your Library Card!
We are very pleased to announce complimentary online access to the New York Times is now available with your library card ! Free Library card holders will now have free access to NYTimes.com and all NYT mobile apps, as well as the…
databases digital media newspapers
Now Showing: Hoopla on the Big(er) Screen!
At long last, Hoopla , our popular source for streaming television and movies (as well as graphic novels , ebooks , music , and audiobooks ) is now available to use on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV! View the following video…
television film digital media
All About Audiobooks (and eBooks, Streaming Video, and More): Now Searchable Directly Through Our Online Catalog!
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that streaming movies from Kanopy , as well as digital audiobooks from Hoopla and RBDigital , now appear in the Free Library catalog . Audiobook junkies are surely weeping tears…
ebooks film digital media audiobooks
Here’s How The Free Library Can Help You Keep That New Year’s Resolution
It’s that time of year again! You know, that time. Your neighborhood gym is packed and everyone’s researching the latest fad diet to meet those New Year’s Resolutions as we head into 2018 in just a few short days! No…
Events at the Library databases music Digital Literacy online learning digital media Indego Bicycle Street Skills
2017 Additions to the National Film Registry
As I've written about on this blog in the past, I'm constantly on the lookout for rare gems, overlooked oeuvres, or just new-to-me films. Whether they are award-winners , cinema classics , documentaries , b-movies ,…
recommendations film digital media
Winter Break Activities: Media and Children
December and January are busy times of the year for most families. While parents are extra busy preparing for family parties and other social obligations, children are off from school for an extended period of time. With this in…
children's programs Digital Literacy digital media digital learning
"How Does This Thing Work?" Let the Free Library Help with Our Extended E-Gadget Helpdesk Holiday Hours!
Want to learn how to download some of the over 120,000 ebooks available from our catalog to your new Kindle or Nook? Looking to discover all the hidden features of your new iPad, e-reader, smartphone, or tablet? Can’t figure out…
digital collections ebooks Digital Literacy digital media audiobooks
Digital Audiobook Favorites for 2017 (so far)
So many great audiobooks, so little time. In fact, all three of our audiobook platforms are more popular than ever, So here's a few of our favorites to help you along. Visit our Digital Media Portal for more ebooks,…
ebooks digital media audiobooks
Watch Streaming Movies with our Newest Digital Media Resource: Kanopy!
The Free Library is very pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new service to our cardholders. The popular on-demand video streaming service Kanopy is now available at no cost with your library card ! Free Library of Philadelphia…
databases film digital media
Something's Skull-king Around the Free Library this Halloween...
Howllo Boils and Ghouls!, Welcome back to the Free Library of Frightadelphia's bloodcurdling blog during this most haunted of holiday seasons, Halloween! Did you hear that unsettling sound? Perhaps it was just the wind... or perhaps…
recommendations film Spotify digital media Halloween
New Directions in Digital Audiobooks
The past few years have seen tremendous growth in the popularity of digital audiobooks . And why not? Audiobooks allow you to couple the imaginative, meditative aspects of reading with the relaxing, go-anywhere…
ebooks digital media
Recap of TLC's 5th Annual Tech-Ed Conference
On Friday, October 6th, the Technology Learning Collaborative (TLC) hosted its 5th Annual Tech-Ed Conference at Parkway Central Library . This year’s theme was "Talking about i-Generation", which showcased…
Events at the Library careers tech Parkway Central Seniors Teens Maker Movement Digital Literacy online learning digital media adult learners job seekers
Celebrate International Literacy Day with the Free Library!
Happy International Literacy Day ! Literacy is, of course, very near and dear to our hearts here at the Free Library, and a core tenet of our mission to serve Philadelphians. And while everyone knows libraries are literacy hubs, what…
literacy Digital Literacy digital media culinary literacy Health digital learning
Back to School Resources for Teens at Parkway Central and Beyond!
Summer absolutely flew by and it’s now time to get back into a new school year. If you’re wondering how you’ll cope with all of the assignments and homework coming your way, the Free Library of Philadelphia has got you…
Teens digital media back to school digital learning
Library Resources to Help Spot Fake News
2 + 2 = 4 The Earth is round. Frankenstein is the name of the doctor, not the monster. These are all indisputable facts. Unfortunately, we are currently living in some bizarro, post-truth world where certain people try to dispute and…
databases Digital Literacy digital media newspapers library resources
Changes Coming for Zinio, Digital Magazines, and Digital Audiobooks
Zinio, our digital magazine service, is now RBdigital Magazines . The great selection of currnet newsstand magazines including the New Yorker , the Economist , Bon Appetit , National Geographic , OK , Star , and many more,…
digital media
PhillyCAM Offers Hands-On Media Training at Select Libraries
PhillyCAM , in collaboration with the Free Library, has kicked-off the new People's Media Collection at Northeast Regional and West Oak Lane libraries! Over the next six months, PhillyCAM will place a community mediamaker in…
tech digital media community digital learning