Is there anything better than reading a book on vacation? Queuing up an audiobook for a long drive in a car loaded with your favorite snacks? Slathering on a bunch of sunblock then settling down on a comfy lounger with your e-reader and an icy beverage? Playing an audiobook for the family while you work on a puzzle on a slightly sandy dining room table in your rental house? I’m going to say, “No, nothing better than any of these,” but I’m writing from deep in an extra-frigid Cleveland winter, so I can daydream about spring break trips all day.

When you’re traveling, Libby is the perfect reading companion. So, how can you make sure you’re prepared for your next getaway? Check out these FAQs and travel tips on Libby so that you’ll be ready to read when you’re away from home.

1. Can I use Libby overseas/internationally?

Yes! Before you go, you can download your titles for offline use (more on this below!) or check with your carrier to see if you have international data for streaming.

2. How do I download ebooks and audiobooks ahead of time?

You’re going to want to make sure that you have your vacay reading or listening downloaded and ready to go, especially if you’re driving somewhere with spotty cell service or you need to put your device into airplane mode.

To download your titles manually, tap Shelf, then tap Loans.

Tap the library card icon with the arrow and when you see the library card icon with a check mark, you’re all set and ready to go!

3. How do I check my wait times?

In addition to travel planning, you can plan out what books you’ll get to read while you’re away! And hopefully, some of those will be a hold or two that you’ve been waiting for!

To see where you are in line before you leave, go to your Shelf > Holds (at the top of the screen).

Your estimated wait time for each book will be shown next to the cover. You’ll find lots of information, such as your place in line and the number of copies that your library has in use below the hold time.

✨ Bonus Tip: If you belong to multiple libraries, tap the library card icon to see if the title is available or has a shorter wait list at another library.

4. How do I suspend my holds before I go?

If you’ve already checked your holds and realize that it will hit when you’ll be unable to borrow it, you can suspend the hold, but keep your place in line. This lets others go ahead of you and enjoy the book while you’re unavailable.

To suspend your hold, go to your Shelf > Holds > Manage Hold > Suspend Hold.

You can then use the slider to choose how long you want to suspend your hold. If you slide the bar all the way to the right, you’ll see 180 days underlined. If you tap on 180 days, you’ll see more options for length of suspension.

5. How do I switch to dark mode?

If you’re sharing a hotel room with travel companions who have different bedtimes, you may want to read after the lights go off without disturbing those around you. For this, you’ll want to switch your Libby app into dark mode.

While in a book, tap the center of the screen, then tap the “A” in the upper right corner.

Then tap your lighting preference—Bright, Sepia, or Dark.

6. Can I download a magazine or two for my trip?

Magazines were created for travel. Lucky for you, many libraries offers access thousands of magazines for you to enjoy while waiting for a plane, sitting by the ocean, sipping cocoa in the ski lodge, wherever!

To browse magazines, tap Shelf, then tap the Newsstand tile (at the end of the Magazine Rack). Tap the three dots to subscribe to a magazine or keep the issue on your Magazine Rack.

To download magazines on your Shelf for offline reading, tap Shelf, then scroll down to the Magazine Rack. Tap the three dots by the magazine that you want to download. Scroll to the bottom of the details panel and tap Download. If your magazine has the checkmark icon, you’re all set and ready to go!

RELATED READ: The 10 most popular digital magazines in the Libby app

7. How do I find read-alongs for my younger travelers?

As a parent, no one tells you just how hard it can be for kids to wait for anything. But the announcement that your flight is being delayed two hours when you’ve got small ones being antsy is THE WORST. My tried-and-true in these situations? Read-alongs. My kid even knows to ask for them by name at this point. And I bet your library has a whole bunch of them waiting for you to enjoy.

To search for read-alongs (or other specific formats), tap Search, then tap on the filter icon under “Catalog Filters.”

Under “Format,” you’ll see all of the available formats in your library’s collection, including read-alongs.

If you tap read-alongs, then Show Titles in the upper right corner, you’ll see what’s available from your library.

✨Pro tip for parents: Need a book NOW for your kiddo? Make sure you also tap Available Now to see what you can have ready to go in seconds.

RELATED READ: 25 awesome read-alongs to explore with your kids

8. How do I stream movies on Kanopy while away from home?

If your hotel or vacation rental has a smart TV or you’ve brought a streaming device with you, you can enjoy your Kanopy titles while away from home.

Make sure you have the app downloaded to your device, or you can use a web browser that is up to date. Then, login and pick out something new to watch!

RELATED READ: How to get started streaming films for free with Kanopy

9. Can I change the speed of my audiobooks?

Yes! This will either be a game-changer or cause complete chaos, if your travel companions have different listening-speed preferences. I’m choosing game-changer, because it’s one of my personal favs!

To adjust your speed, open your audiobook, then tap the speedometer icon. This will show your playback speed options, either preset or a fine-tune slider.

The presets go in .25x increments from 1.00x (normal speed) to 2.00x and just require a simple tap to select. The slider goes from 0.60x to 3.00x in .05x increments and can be adjusted by holding your finger on the slider and moving it to the speed you prefer.

RELATED READ: 12 must-listen audiobooks narrated by a full cast

10. I need recs! What should I read or watch while on vacation?

Subscribe to Libby Life and watch your TBR list grow. You’ll get a weekly email with book recommendations, quizzes helping you decide what to pick next, Libby tips and tricks, and more.

RELATED READ: 10 books for every type of traveler this Spring Break

Of all of the friends you can bring with you on vacation, Libby is one you won’t regret. Visit your device’s app store to download Libby (free from your library!) so you’ll be all set and ready for your next trip.

Safe travels!