When it comes to holiday gift giving, I’ve found myself drawn to the “four gift rule”—i.e. something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. It eliminates a lot of those extraneous gifts (What do I do with this thing?), keeps things simple and avoids the hangover that seems to descend on young children after all the wrapping paper's settled. Santa isn’t known for his simplicity around our house, but I do try to follow through...especially the “something to read” part.

For my family, sometimes I’ll wrap a book up, and other times, I’ll give them thousands just by letting them know about the free Libby app from their library.

“Yes. Seriously. All you need is your library card.”
“Oh, you like Grisham? Yeah, looks like your library’s got his new one in Libby.”
“There’s a book on Libby about that!”

Like an elf delivering presents from the North Pole, I pass out Libby tips to all the good little relatives, while the library handles the real magic—delivering the latest ebooks and audiobooks to read or listen to on any device.

As if you needed another excuse to read, here are 5 more reasons why you should load your Libby with books for the holidays:

Holiday books get you in the spirit

From cozy whodunits to romance under the mistletoe, load your Libby with books to keep you merry and bright this season. For a dose of nostalgia, pop in your Air Pods and listen to a Christmas classic as you snuggle in on a cold winter’s night.

Try these holiday hits:

It Came Upon a Midnight Shear by Allie Pleiter
The Takedown by Carlie Walker
One Day in December by Josie Silver

Audiobooks while you do ALL the things

I’m all in with the holiday jams...for about 3 weeks. By mid-December, “Jingle Bell Rock” better be rockin’ on out of here. But I do still need something to keep my mind busy while I wrap presents, shovel snow, bake cookies, shop for gifts, travel to see family and everything else the season brings. Need more multitasking ideas? Check out Libby app users’ 10 favorite things to do while listening to an audiobook.

Try these audiobooks:

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Get a jump start on New Year’s resolutions

Want to read more in ’24? Need a pulse-pounding thriller to keep your motivation high during a new workout routine? Looking to learn something new? Load your Libby with books to inspire you and give you a fresh start in the New Year.

Before you wave goodbye to 2023, challenge yourself to Load Your Libby Bingo!

Download the card and keep track of your reading progress. It might be the extra boost you need to finally complete this year’s reading goals.

Try these reads:

Holly by Stephen King
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett

Reduce your stress

The holidays can be...a lot. Reading is a great way to slow down and escape everything rattling around in your mind. So, take a deep breath, find a cozy spot and hide away from the hustle and bustle. You can even read books without a Wi-Fi connection if you really need a break. Just be sure to download any books you borrow for offline use.

Try these reads:

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Julie Smith

Free entertainment

Swap the credit card for a library card. With all the extra money spent around the holidays, give your wallet a break and load your Libby with free books, or learn how to get started streaming films for free on Kanopy.* No subscription fees ever, thanks to your local public library!

Check out these feel-good holiday book and movie pairings you can borrow on Libby and Kanopy.

Load your Libby with books and enjoy the gift of reading this holiday season and in the year ahead.

*Not all libraries offer Kanopy. Check with your local library to learn more about their offerings.