Access our e-library 24 hours a day with your Hackney libraries membership number, barcode and PIN.
E-books
You can borrow thousands of e-books for free using Overdrive from the London Libraries Consortium. If you’re not a member, join the library today.
Overdrive
- select the book you want to borrow and then click borrow
- select Hackney from the drop-down list of libraries
- enter your library card number and PIN (if you don’t know your PIN, you can ask for this at any Hackney library)
You can borrow up to 5 items for 1, 2 or 3 weeks.
There are no overdue charges, the digital media automatically ‘returns’ itself.
View Overdrive library
App
You can also download eBooks and audiobooks direct to your smartphone or tablet using the Overdrive app:
Visit the Overdrive help page for help and guidance on how to use the service.
BorrowBox offers free access to a wide range of ebooks for you to browse, borrow and listen to through a simple app for smartphones and tablets.
Simply login with your library card number and PIN to access the collection. You can also get the free BorrowBox app from Google Play store or the iTunes App store. If you use a Windows phone or tablet, you can download them direct from the website.
Magazines and newspapers
Read thousands of newspapers and magazines for free:
Read hundreds of popular magazines for free. You can read them on your computer or download them onto a tablet or smartphone for offline viewing. There are over 230 titles available. You can check out and download as many issues as you like and keep them as long as you wish.
You must have a valid library card to use this service. Visit your device’s app store to update your existing Zinio app or search for ‘RBdigital’ to install the new app so you can listen/read on the go.
View RBdigital library
Read full digital copies of thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world in a variety of languages. Just like reading the print edition, you can browse articles, images, adverts, and crossword puzzles. You can also zoom in on articles, translate, share, print, or listen to them on the go.
View PressReader library
Audiobooks
Listen to thousands of audiobooks for free. You can borrow thousands of eBooks and audiobooks for free using Overdrive from the London Libraries Consortium. All you need is your Hackney library card. If you are not a library member, join the library today.
Listen to sound clips of bestselling titles and download them to your mp3 device, smartphone, iPod or iPad. Login with your library card number and PIN, browse, and click on ‘borrow’ to start enjoying your book. Access also available through the Ulverscroft Digital app which is free in the Google Play store and Apple App store.
View Ulverstock library
Vie
BorrowBox offers free access to a wide range of eAudiobooks for you to browse, borrow and listen to through a simple app for smartphones and tablets. You can also download your eAudiobooks to your PC or Mac for use with your iPod or other mp3 player. You can borrow four titles at any one time, and these will automatically expire at the end of the three-week loan period.
Simply login with your library card number and PIN to access the collection. You can also get the free BorrowBox app from Google Play store or the iTunes App store. If you use a Windows phone or tablet, you can download them direct from the website.
View BorrowBox library
Browse an extensive library of audiobooks. Listen straight away or transfer the titles to tablets, smartphones, MP3 players, iPods or other devices. Some audio books can also be burned to CD.
How to use
- select the book you want to borrow and then click borrow
- select Hackney from the drop-down list of libraries
- enter your library card number and PIN (if you don’t know your PIN, you can ask for this at any Hackney library)
You can borrow up to 5 items for 1, 2 or 3 weeks.
There are no overdue charges, the digital media automatically ‘returns’ itself.
View Overdrive library
App
You can also download audiobooks direct to your smartphone or tablet using the Overdrive Libby app:
Visit the Overdrive help page for help and guidance on how to use the service.
The British Way of Life – helping new arrivals understand the British way of life. Includes the different types of visa, finding a job, pre-school for children, further adult education, the communication network and more. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Driving Theory Test Pro – practise the official driving theory tests, hazard perception clips and highway code. Requires a valid email address to sign up. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
GoCitizen – online course for candidates preparing for the Life in the UK Test or British citizenship Test. Includes the latest official study material from the Home Office, plus hundreds of practice questions. Access in libraries or from home with library card. You need a valid email address to sign up to the course.
Life in Great Britain – learn at your own pace and take mock tests to help you prepare for the official Life in the UK Citizenship Test.
Universal Skills – step-by-step guides to Universal Jobmatch and Universal Credit, employability and job skills (basic computer skills, online job skills, CVs and cover letters, application forms, interview techniques), and much more. Name and library card number required to sign up. Access within libraries or from home.
Access to Research – free access to over 1.5 million articles from more than 8,400 high-quality journals and conference proceedings on art, architecture, business, engineering, history, languages, politics, philosophy, mathematics and the sciences. Access in libraries.
Ancestry Library Edition – documents on family history and genealogy, including census returns, lists, birth, death, and marriage records; military records, immigration records, ships’ passenger lists; and more. Access in libraries.
Berg Fashion Library – world dress and fashion from prehistory to the present day. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Credo Reference – high quality encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses, books of quotations, and more. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Encyclopaedia Britannica – articles, biographies, videos, images, and websites from three age-specific versions. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Access in libraries
Access from home
Issues Online – high-quality articles on social issues such as crime and justice, drugs and alcohol, health and wellbeing. Includes key facts, statistics, and assignment suggestions. Access within libraries or from home with library card.
Oxford Art Online – everything you need to know about visual art worldwide from pre-history to the present day.
Oxford Biblical Studies Online – a comprehensive resource for studying the Bible and biblical history with information on background, context, meaning, and related issues.
Oxford Dictionaries – access English, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish dictionaries and thesauri. Includes language reference, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, correct usage and style, and translation. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (DNB) – explore the lives of famous people and groups that shaped all aspects of British history from the Romans to the 21st Century. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Oxford Islamic Studies Online – a first stop for anyone needing information and context on Islam. Provides analysis on global Islamic history, beliefs, concepts, people, practices, politics, and culture. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Oxford Music Online – a wealth of information on the world of music. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Oxford Reference – access to the full text of over 200 dictionaries, language reference titles, and subject reference works. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Very Short Introductions – concise introductions to a diverse range of topics. The perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly or to fill a gap in knowledge. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Access full reports from the popular consumer advice magazine. Reviews and advice cover a wide range of products and services. Available in libraries – please ask a member of staff to log you in.
Who’s Who and Who Was Who list noteworthy and influential people from all walks of life, in the UK and worldwide from 1898 onwards. Access in libraries or from home with library card.
Page updated on: 12 February 2020