NLB Mobile app

By signing in, you will be able to enjoy the full suite of services available to library members such as borrowing items and reading eMagazines and eNewspapers. But even if you don’t sign in, you can still:

• Search the library catalogue and share the title
• Locate nearby libraries based on your current location
• View highlights of library happenings

You will need a myLibrary ID. If you do not have it, you may create one online or using the app’s login page – tap on the + button on the top right of the app’s screen.

You can retrieve your myLibrary ID and password:

• Online with your Singpass or NRIC / FIN number. Once you have signed in, the system will automatically detect if you have a myLibrary ID and display it. It will also let you reset your password if you have forgotten it.
• Via the NLB Mobile app, with your Singpass or NRIC / FIN number. Tap on the + button on the top right of the app’s screen, then tap on “Forgot your myLibraryID or password”.

We are sorry that you are encountering this problem! Here are the steps.

If you are using an iPhone:

Go to your phone’s Settings menu.

Tap on General -> Storage & iCloud Usage.

In the top section (Storage), tap on "Manage Storage".

Select “NLB Mobile”.

Take a look at the entry for "Documents & Data". 

Tap on “Delete App”.

Head to the App Store to re-download it.

Try signing in again. It should work this time. If not, please take a screenshot of the error message and email it to enquiry@nlb.gov.sg.

If you are using an Android phone: 

Go to your phone’s Settings menu.

Select "Apps" or "Application manager" or "Applications".

Tap on “NLB Mobile”. 

Tap on “Storage”.

Select “Clear Data”.

Select “Clear Cache” 

Try signing in again. It should work this time. If not, please take a screenshot of the error message and email it to enquiry@nlb.gov.sg.

You can delete the app, then re-download it before signing in again.

This is optional but what it does is to enable the app to automatically display events that will be happening at your preferred library.

The key highlights of the NLB Mobile app's features are summarised in this video. For a more detailed listing, please see the "List of Features" section below the video.

List of Features

With NLB Mobile, you can enjoy these services while you are on the move or even from the comfort of your own home:

Borrow and read / listen

• Borrow eBooks and Audiobooks and read / listen to them online
• Read eMagazines and eNewspapers
• Borrow library items with the app instead of at the borrowing stations

Transact

• Pay outstanding fees and/or fines using PayPal or credit cards
• Check and/or renew your loans
• Reserve library items
• View the titles you borrowed from the libraries for the last three years
• Update your particulars such as email address and mobile number
• Switch between family members’ accounts for quick access to library transactions
• Log in to NLB websites quickly by scanning a QR code

eCard

• Use the eCard to borrow items at the libraries’ borrowing stations, collect reserved items, make payments and more

Search, share and recommend titles

• Search the library catalogue
• Bookmark your favourite titles
• Share a title easily on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp
• Suggest a title to NLB and view all your recommendations
  
  

Find libraries and events

• Search and register for events held at our libraries
• Locate nearby libraries based on your current location
• Get library addresses, directions and operating hours easily

First, sign in with your myLibrary ID.

Next, tap on the camera icon at the bottom of the app to launch the “Scan-to-Borrow” function. Use the in-app camera to scan the NLB barcode on the library item. In the Feb 2021 release of the app, we added nifty features to the scan-to-borrow screen – now you can switch your profile in this screen, and check if you have previously borrowed the title.

Alternatively, if you prefer to use the Borrowing Stations at libraries, use the “eCard”. Go to your profile (this icon is at the top right corner of the NLB Mobile app). Your virtual membership card will appear. Scan the membership QR code at the Borrowing Station to borrow the library items.

No, the app will seek your confirmation before the item is checked out.

Each member can borrow up to 16 eBooks / Audiobooks. You can check your quota by selecting ‘Account’, then ‘eBook Loans’ in the app.

Note: eMagazines do not contribute to your eBooks loan quota. For example, if you borrowed 14 eMagazines and 8 eBooks, your loan quota in the NLB Mobile app will show “Borrowed 8/16”. You can borrow an unlimited number of eMagazines.

Follow these simple steps:

Step One: In the app, search for the titles you want. Tap on the eBooks or Audiobooks tab near the top of the screen (see circled part of screenshot below).

Step Two:Tap on your desired title.

Step Three: If you have signed in using your myLibrary ID, you can select ‘Borrow’ on the title details page. If you see a “Reserve” button, it means that all the copies are currently on loan and you have to join a waitlist. eBook reservations are free, while there is a fee to reserve physical items.

Step Four: If you have successfully borrowed the title, you will be prompted to choose among these options: continue browsing (for other books), read / listen in browser (online), or read in Libby (to download the book for reading/listening offline).

You may view all your borrowed eBook / Audiobook titles by selecting the ‘Account’ icon on the bottom right corner of the app, then ‘eBook Loans’.

Here are the steps:

Step One: In the app, select the ‘Account’ tab on the bottom right corner, then ‘eBook Loans’ and tap on the title you want to read or listen to.

Step Two: You will see a ‘Read in Browser ’ option for eBooks or a ‘Listen in Browser’ option for audiobooks. Select this option to read / listen online immediately within the app.

Please note: Reading or listening online will tap on your mobile data allowance if you are not connected to WiFi, and may incur charges from your telco.

If you wish to read or listen offline, you may select the ‘Read in Libby’ option. The app will automatically launch a free third-party app, Libby, to download the title. If you do not have the Libby app, the NLB Mobile app will prompt you to install it.

One of the most convenient features of borrowing eBooks / Audiobooks is that they will be returned automatically after 21 days. But if you are done with them before the 21-day loan period is up, you can also return them earlier so that another person can enjoy them sooner.

Just go to the ‘Account’ tab on the bottom right corner, then ‘eBook Loans’, and select the title you wish to return. You will see the option to ‘Return Title Early’ under the title’s cover image.

If the title you wish to borrow is not available, you will see a "Reserve" option in the NLB Mobile app, instead of the "Borrow" button. Reservations for eBooks and audiobooks are free. You can reserve up to 16 eBooks / audiobooks.

To ensure that titles are delivered at the right time for you, reserved items will not be automatically borrowed. You will receive a notification in the Libby app or your email when it is your turn to borrow. If you have turned off notifications in Libby's settings or if you don't have the Libby app, we will send you an email. To keep the reservation, simply respond to the notification within 10 days.

Once notified, you have three options:

• borrow now,
• deliver later, which lets you stay next in line for up to 180 days, or
• cancel the reservation.

These actions have to be taken through:

• Libby app or libbyapp.com/library/nlb
• OverDrive app or nlb.overdrive.com

If you don't respond within 10 days, we get it, you're busy - your reservation will be cancelled.

If you wish to cancel a physical item reservation, go to the 'Account' tab on the bottom right corner of the NLB Mobile app. Select "Reservations". Tap on the "Select Reservations to Cancel" button, and select the title(s) you don't wish to reserve anymore. Tap on the "Cancel Item(s)" button.

If you wish to cancel an eBook or audiobook reservation, go to the 'Account' tab on the bottom right corner of the NLB Mobile app. Select "eBook Reservations". Tap on the title you don't wish to reserve anymore, and select "Cancel Reservation". You could select "Suspend Reservation" instead if you still want the book, but not anytime soon. The app will allow others to borrow the book first for the duration you select - from 1 week to 90 days. After that period has passed, you will automatically re-join the queue at the same position or better. If, later on, you change your mind and want the book ASAP, you can go back to this menu and change the timeframe to "Immediately".

The publishers require that each eBook copy is only lent to one user at a time - much like a physical book. This business model assures publishers and creators that they will be paid as fairly for digital copies as they are for physical copies. You can read about the details in an article from our eBooks vendor, OverDrive.

If there aren’t any copies available, you can select “Place Hold” or “Reserve” and you will be alerted once it is available. We constantly monitor the waiting lists per title and buy more copies, as far as our budget allows.

To find books that are available right now, you can look in the "Available" categories in the Libby website or app.

In addition, eMagazines like The Economist (Asia Edition), Readers' Digest, WIRED, HELLO!, and Home & Decor are always available. Go to the Libby website or app to see the full list of eMagazines and borrow them.

We acquire unlimited copies of certain popular titles for a limited period, whenever opportunities arise. For updates, follow us at @publiclibrarysg on our social media channels (we're on Facebook, Instagram, Medium).