A digital copy is a book, movie, or audiobook stored as a computer file instead of a physical object

When you borrow a digital copy from your library, you are downloading a file to your device — a phone, tablet, or e-reader — rather than walking out with a physical book or DVD. The file is encrypted, which means it is locked to your library account and your device. You can read or watch it during the loan period (usually 14 to 21 days), and then the file automatically deletes itself when the time is up. You do not have to return anything to a desk or pay a late fee.

The main difference between a digital copy and a physical one is that you cannot lend it to someone else, you cannot keep it forever, and you cannot sell it. What you get instead is when ready access — no waiting for a copy to be returned, no trip to the library, and no shelf space needed in your home.

Key Takeaways

  • Digital copies are files locked to your library account that automatically delete after the loan period ends, with no late fees or return trips required.
  • You need a library card and a compatible device (phone, tablet, or e-reader) to borrow digital copies, plus an app like Libby, OverDrive, or Hoopla.
  • Digital copies cannot be shared with other people, kept permanently, or sold, but they are available when ready without waiting for a physical copy to be returned.
  • The same book or movie may have different availability as a digital copy than as a physical copy, because publishers set separate lending limits for each format.

How digital copies work on your device

When you read a digital copy, you are installing an encrypted file on your phone, tablet, or e-reader. The encryption is a lock that ties the file to your library account and your specific device. You open the file using an app — usually Libby, OverDrive, Hoopla, or Kanopy, depending on which service your library uses — and the app checks with the library's server to confirm you still have the right to read or watch it.

On the day your loan expires, the app automatically deletes the file from your device. You do not have to do anything. There is no way to extend the loan by hiding the file or turning off your internet, because the app checks in with the library server regularly. If you want to read or watch the same title again, you can borrow it a second time — though you may have to wait if other people are ahead of you in the queue.

Some libraries let you read a digital copy to read offline, meaning you can open it without an internet connection. Others require you to stay online. Check your library's app to see which applies to you.

What devices can read digital copies

Most libraries support borrowing on phones and tablets running iOS (Apple) or Android (Google). Many also support e-readers like the Amazon Kindle, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble Nook, though the process is different — you usually have to send the file to the e-reader through the app rather than downloading it directly.

Some libraries also let you read or watch digital copies on a computer using a web browser, without downloading an app at all. This is useful if you want to read on a larger screen or do not have space for another app on your phone.

Before you borrow, check which devices your library supports. The app you use (Libby, OverDrive, Hoopla, or Kanopy) will tell you during the read process if your device is compatible.

Why the same book might not be available as a digital copy

Publishers control how many digital copies a library can own and how many people can borrow at the same time. A publisher might allow a library to own five physical copies of a book but only two digital copies. This is why you might find a book available to borrow right now in physical form but with a waiting list of 30 people for the digital version.

Some publishers do not allow libraries to lend certain books as digital copies at all, or they charge libraries much more for digital copies than physical ones. This is a business decision by the publisher, not the library. If a digital copy is not available, ask your librarian whether a physical copy is, or whether they can request that the publisher allow digital lending.

The difference between a digital copy and a subscription service

A digital copy from your library is a single loan of a single title. You borrow it for two or three weeks, then it is gone. A subscription service like Netflix, Spotify, or Kindle Unlimited gives you access to thousands of titles for a monthly fee, and you can keep using them as long as you pay.

Digital copies from libraries are free if you have a library card. Subscription services cost money. But subscription services do not have waiting lists, and you can keep watching or reading the same title as many times as you want during your subscription. With a library digital copy, you have to return it and wait in line again if you want to read it a second time.

Many people use both: they borrow digital copies from the library for one-time reads, and they subscribe to a service for titles they want to access repeatedly or for the convenience of having thousands of options available when ready.

How to find out what digital copies your library offers

Start by visiting your library's website and looking for a link to digital borrowing, digital collections, or e-books and audiobooks. Most libraries list which apps they support — Libby and OverDrive are the most common for books and audiobooks, while Hoopla and Kanopy are common for movies and TV shows.

read the app your library uses, log in with your library card number, and search for a title. The app will show you whether it is available to borrow now or how many people are waiting. If your library does not offer digital copies, ask a librarian whether they plan to add them, or whether they can request access through a regional library system.

What happens if you do not return a digital copy on time

You cannot return a digital copy late because it deletes itself automatically. There are no late fees, no overdue notices, and no fines. The file straightforward disappears from your device on the expiration date, whether you have finished reading or watching it or not.

This is one of the main advantages of digital copies over physical ones. You do not have to remember a due date or make a trip to the library. The system handles the return for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read a digital copy on more than one device?

Most libraries let you read the same digital copy to two or three devices at once, as long as they are all registered to your library account. Check your library's app to see the limit. If you want to read on a fourth device, you usually have to delete it from one of the others first.

What if I lose my phone before the loan expires?

Contact your library and ask them to remove the digital copy from your account. Once they do, you can read it again on a new device if the loan period has not ended. If you do not contact them, the file will delete itself automatically when the loan expires.

Can I print pages from a digital copy?

Most publishers do not allow printing from library digital copies, or they allow printing only a small number of pages. The app will tell you whether printing is allowed before you borrow. This is a publisher restriction, not a library choice.

Is a digital copy the same as an audiobook?

No. A digital copy of a book is text you read on a screen. An audiobook is a recording of someone reading the book aloud. Libraries often have both versions of the same title, and you can borrow them separately. Some apps like Libby offer both, while others like Hoopla focus on one format.

What if my library does not have the digital copy I want?

Ask your librarian whether they can request it from another library system, or whether they can ask the publisher to make it available for digital lending. Some libraries also let you request that they purchase a digital copy if it is not in their collection.