The free public library card is the most under-used asset in British life. People think of it as "books," renew it never, and miss the fact that it now quietly bundles most of a Netflix-plus-Kindle-plus-newspaper subscription for free — paid for, in effect, by council tax you're already handing over. In 2026 the card is worth hundreds of pounds a year. Here's everything on it.
Ebooks and audiobooks
- Libby (and BorrowBox) — borrow ebooks and audiobooks to your phone or Kindle, free, with your library card. No late fees; they just expire. This alone replaces a Kindle Unlimited or Audible subscription for most readers.
- Hold queues for popular titles, but the back catalogue is enormous and instant.
Every newspaper and magazine
- PressReader — free with most library cards, gives you thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world, current editions, on your phone. The Guardian, the FT, the Economist, glossy magazines — the lot.
- This is the one that genuinely surprises people: a stack of paid subscriptions, free, through the library app.
Films and learning
- Kanopy (offered by many UK library services) — free films and documentaries, ad-free, a few credits a month.
- Free online courses — many library services include access to learning platforms (language courses, LinkedIn Learning equivalents) at no cost.
The physical library, still
- Books, obviously — plus reservations from across the county network, often for free or a tiny fee.
- Free wifi and computers — including for printing, scanning, and job applications.
- A warm, free space — libraries are a quiet, heated place to work or read, no purchase required. Many double as warm hubs in winter.
- Children's activities — free story times, holiday clubs, and the summer reading challenge.
The museum pass nobody mentions
Some library services lend free or discounted passes to local attractions, museums, and even National Trust days through schemes like the library "culture pass." Availability varies by council — ask yours what's on offer.
How to get one
- Free, for anyone living, working, or studying in the area.
- Sign up online at your local council's library site; the card (and a digital card for the apps) usually arrives within days, by post or instantly.
- One card unlocks all the apps above — Libby, PressReader, Kanopy — via your card number and PIN.
The honest value
Tally what the card replaces — ebooks, audiobooks, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, the odd film service, a warm place to work — and it's comfortably £200–£400 a year of paid subscriptions, free. The only cost is ten minutes signing up to a thing you're already entitled to.
It's the best-value piece of plastic in Britain, and most people who own one use a tenth of it.