Electronic books, audiobooks, and magazines in English
The Seafarer's Library offers electronic books and magazines, and audiobooks in The Seafarer’s Library’s electronic library. Books and magazines are primarily in English, but the library also offers materials in other languages.
The electronic library is available through the Libby app by OverDrive. You need a library card to get access.
WHAT CAN YOU FIND IN LIBBY
BOOKS - In Libby, you can find all kinds of books, both fact and fiction. We offer a diverse range of genres and themes. Books you can use for work, but mainly for relaxation.
If you find a book in Libby that the library doesn’t own, you can wish for it by using the “Notify Me” button. Many of the books we purchase for Libby are wished for by seafarers.
MAGAZINES - You have access to more than 4,000 magazines. Most magazines are published in English-speaking countries and are in English, but if you search the magazine section, you will find magazines from other countries and in different languages.
When you have internet access, you have unlimited access to all magazines, but you can download issues to read when you're offline.
You can also subscribe to your favorite magazines. If you do, the downloaded issue will stay on your shelf until the next issue is published.
LANGUAGE COURSES - If you want to learn a new language or improve a language you already know, you can borrow language courses through Libby. Use the “Notify me” button or contact the librarian, and we will find the course that suits you.
Get started
1. Get a library card
Send an email to [email protected] with the following information:
- Name
- Email
- PIN (choose your own 4-digit pin code)
- Name of ship you are signed on
- Shipping company
2. Download the Libby app from your app store
Search for “Libby, by OverDrive”
3: Open Libby and register:
- First question: Do you have a library card? – Press Yes
- Go to: You can look up your nearest library by name, or city, or zip code
Press: Search for a Library
- You can search for your library by name or branch location
In the box, type: The Seafarer's Library” – and choose the library shown in the box
- Press: “Sign in with my card”
- Enter your email address
- Enter your pin code
- Press: Next
Now you are ready to browse, download, and read!
-> You only need to be online while downloading then you can read offline.
-> Books are available for 28 days, magazines are available for 7 days (see below).
-> You can use Libby on your phone and tablet.
-> If you want to use your PC, go to libbyapp.com and log in.
-> Unfortunately, it is not possible to read via Kindle.
Contact the library at [email protected] if you have suggestions for books or use the “Notify Me” tab directly in Libby if you find a book you would like to read that isn’t already in the collection.
Printer friendly version of the guide.
Online or offline reading?
You must be online while downloading books and magazines, but you can read offline.
The "Notify Me" button in Libby
Suggest new book purchases with a single click
When searching for books in Libby, you may have noticed that you see titles you don't have access to.
If you want to borrow such a book, use the "Notify Me" button next to it. When you press the button, your request is sent directly to the library's purchasing system. The library will likely purchase the book and make it available.
However, there is a limitation. The librarian will sort through the titles if, for example, there are many requests in a specific category, so if there are books within a topic you want more than others, it's best to write directly to the librarian.
You are also welcome to write directly to the library at [email protected] and request a book.
What else can I find in The Seafarer's Library?
In Libby you can search for a specific book or search for a subject, but you can also browse through the books of the library, and if you scroll down the frontpage of the app, you also find curated lists that we have made for you. For instance, these:
- Mystery & Thriller – if you go to the list there are different subgenres
- Maritime history
- Manga – graphic novels and comics.
- Photo – mainly magazines about how to take better photos
- Cookbooks, se a selection here
Also note that The Seafarer's Library holds books that you can use in your daily work on board the ship such as books on the lists:
- Workplace Culture – books for the ship management and for you who want to learn how to lead
- Maritime Books – the law, ship management and autonomous shipping