uLibrary is a free service where you can borrow eAudiobooks and eBooks from your local library. You can stream titles with Wi-Fi or mobile data, or download then for offline use using the uLibrary app. You can also stream audiobooks and download eBooks from your library’s personalised uLibrary web platform.
Yes, uLibrary is completely free. The uLibrary app is free to install with all the featured digital content from your library free to access with a valid library card. There are no subscription costs, no in-app purchases and no late fees (all digital titles are automatically returned on their due dates).
The uLibrary app can be used on:
If you have a Windows computer, Mac computer, or a Chromebook, you can use the web version of the uLibrary platform. We suggest using the latest version of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge.
Visit our How It Works section for instructions on how to use the uLibrary app.
Your ongoing loans can be found on the Loans tab in the My Account screen.
The number of loans you’re allowed is selected by your library. The number of available loans can be found in the footer of the uLibrary app and in the header of the web version of the uLibrary platform.
Note: Talking Books Book Club and Bookworms Book Club titles do not count against your borrowing limits.
There are a number of ways to find your next title:
The History tab on the My uLibrary screen lists the titles you’ve listened or read in the past.
When a title is due to expire in 3 days the Extend button will appear. Click Extend and Confirm to extend the loan.
Books are automatically returned to the library on their due date. When they’re returned, the title will be removed from the Loans tab and added to the History tab and removed from your device.
If you are finished with your title, you can return it before its due date by clicking Return.
Note: The Return button will appear a day after you have loaned the title.
The length of loan is set by your library. You can see how many days a loan has on the My uLibrary screen underneath the title information.
Yes, you can. If you click More and then Account Details, you can add your email address and select what you would like to receive emails about. You can change the email address anytime.
This is an automated service and the notification options are:
When not connected to the internet you will only be able listen or read titles that you’ve previously downloaded to your device. The eAudiobooks, eBooks and Search screens will be disabled when there is not an internet connection.
Once a title has been selected for borrowing it will automatically download to your device. eAudiobooks will stream until the title has fully downloaded and eBooks must be fully downloaded before they can be read. A notification will appear once a title has fully downloaded, and a grey tick icon will appear above the title to indicate it has fully downloaded. Once the icon appears the title is available for offline listening.
You can change playback speed from within the uLibrary media player by clicking the Speed button. You can select between 0.25x Speed to 3.00x speed.
You can select a specific chapter by clicking the Track Listing icon (⁝☰) and selecting the Track of choice. You can also skip to certain chapters within the title by using the rewind and fast-forward icons within the media player.
In the media player you can tap the 30-second backward and forward buttons to rewind or fast-forward. You can also move further by dragging the dot on the Media Player progress bar.
If you are listening to an audiobook and go to a different section of the uLibrary app a media player widget will appear at the foot of the screen. Through the widget you can pause and rewind the title 30 seconds. If you tap the widget you will return to the main media player.
You can set a sleep timer by clicking the Sleep button. You can select the title to stop playing from the next 5 minutes up to 60 minutes or at the end of the chapter.
uLibrary is automatic bookmark enabled which means your account will remember where you last left your eAudiobook. If you sign into a new device with your uLibrary credentials you will be asked whether you’d like to start from the beginning or at the point you last listened.
You can, through your library’s personalised uLibrary website. You will normally be able to find the link for this on your library’s main website – the format will be libraryname.ulverscroftulibrary.com. Once logged into the web version you will be able to listen to a title through the integrated web player.
If you tap an open page within the eBook a header will appear. Once you tap the blue cog the features sidebar will open. If you click Settings, you can change the size of the text using the Font Size slider. A preview will appear above. Once you’re happy with the text size, click save and your eBook will change to the desired look.
If you tap an open page within the eBook a header will appear. Once you tap the blue cog the features sidebar will open. If you click Settings, you can change the size of the text using the Font Face drop down menu. The available fonts are:
Once a new font is select the preview above will update. Once you’re happy with the font, click save and your eBook will change to the desired look.
If you tap an open page within the eBook a header will appear. Once you tap the blue cog the features sidebar will open. If you click Settings, you can change the text and background by clicking an option from the list. The available themes are:
A preview will appear above. Once you’re happy with the text size, click save and your eBook will change to the desired look.
To see your reading progress, tap the centre of the screen whilst in the reader. At the foot of the page, it will list what chapter you’re currently in, what page you’re on and how many pages are in the eBook in total.
If you tap an open page within the eBook a header will appear. Once you tap the blue cog the features sidebar will open. Click Table of Contents to see a the full list. Tap a chapter to jump to it.
To search for a word or phrase in an eBook simply tap the page so the header appears, tap the magnifying glass icon and enter your chosen word or phrase. A list of instances where the word or phrase appear will populate below. Tap an item on the list to jump to it. To return to the list tap the magnifying glass icon again.
To create a bookmark in an eBook simply tap the page so the header appears, tap the bookmark icon, name your bookmark and tap OK.
If you tap an open page within the eBook a header will appear. Once you tap the blue cog the features sidebar will open. Tap Bookmarks to see a list of your set bookmarks. Tap one of the names to jump to it.
uLibrary is automatic bookmark enabled which means your account will remember where you last left your eBook. If you sign into a new device with your uLibrary credentials you will be asked whether you’d like to start from the beginning or at the point you last read.
You can, through your library’s personalised uLibrary website. You will normally be able to find the link for this on your library’s main website – the format will be libraryname.ulverscroftulibrary.com. Once logged into the web version you will be invited to install the uLibrary eReader. Once an eBook is borrowed it will appear in the eReader.
Unfortunately, uLibrary can’t help with sign-in errors. Your library manages your library card info and status (including expired cards, blocks, fines, etc.). You’ll need to contact them for help with your PIN or library card, or if you get errors when trying to sign in.
There are a couple of reasons why you might not see your local library in the uLibrary library list:
If you can only access the My Account screen it means uLibrary is not receiving an internet connection. Check your device is connected to the internet, either via mobile data or WiFi. If it is restart the uLibrary app.
If you can’t find a certain title in uLibrary, there are a few possible reasons:
Although uLibrary offers eAudiobooks and eBooks for library usage a library may opt to only offer one of these formats. If a library just offers eAudiobooks, then the footer of the uLibrary app will only display an eAudiobook tab. If a library just offers eBooks, then the footer of the uLibrary app will only display an eBook tab. If the library offers both formats, then an eAudiobook and eBook tab will be displayed in the footer of the uLibrary app.
The book club titles are only available for one month. Once the month has ended a new title becomes available. If your library doesn’t have the title in their catalogue, we recommened you contact your library about adding it to your collection.
There are a few reasons why you might be unable to extend a loan:
DRM on eBooks is built into our apps using a highly secure system. The DRM means user, device and licence authentication is completely invisible to the end user, but is fully controlled and managed by the back-office DRM system. The eBooks continued to be protected by DRM even when used offline.