Set up just takes a few minutes.  First, find Overdrive's free Libby app in the app store on your Android or iOS device. If you prefer to read in your web browser, visit libbyapp.com using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, and follow the prompts.  The Libby app is compatible with most Android and Apple devices, but magazines cannot be read on Kindle eReaders. The OverDrive Help site includes information regarding device compatibility if you experience difficulty downloading the app or have questions. 

Once you have installed the app, follow the prompts to find The New York Society Library and sign in with a valid library card number. If you don't have an NYSL card, and don't know your library card ID number, it is visible in "My Tab" on the left side of the screen after logging into the New York Society Library website (as shown). If you do not have a login for our website, please contact [email protected]. 

Note that if you have already downloaded the Libby app to use with your public library card, you can add us to the app and share one bookshelf with your public library and New York Society Library checkouts.

You are now set to browse our digital magazine collection, borrow a title, and begin reading.  Simply tap the cover of what you would like to read, then Borrow, and Open magazine. A quick way to find articles is to tap the magazine name and issue date or number under the cover image  to reveal a contents list (if using a web browser, tap the word "Chapters").  Tap an article to open it. Read the article will display at the bottom of the screen; tap it to see the article in an easy to read format.  To flip through the pages of an issue tap the left or right side of the screen to proceed back or forwards. 

Titles you have borrowed appear under Shelf > Loans and download to the app automatically when you're on Wi-Fi, so you can read them when you’re offline. From your Loans, you can:

• Choose Open in Libby to start reading that title.
• Choose Manage Loan to return the issue.

The loan period for magazines is 21 days, but you may renew loans. Once the lending period is up, the title will be returned. If you want to continue reading, you will have to check it out again.

Users may borrow up to 20 titles at a time. There are no restrictions on how many members can read an issue simultaneously.  Back issues going back up to three years are available for some titles.

Forthcoming issues may appear before their release date, and cannot be borrowed or placed on hold.  Until this is fixed, users are asked to check the app periodically to see if the issue has become available. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

If you have questions about using OverDrive, email [email protected]. If you have questions about the collection of titles, email [email protected].