For avid readers, Amazon Prime offers seemingly endless ways to discover and enjoy e-books at little to no cost. Many Prime members may not realize how much great reading material is right at their fingertips. One feature, the Kindle Owners Lending Library (KOLL), gives those with Kindle devices access to hundreds of thousands of titles available to read for free. Let’s dive into how it works!
The Kindle Owners Lending Library program is similar to Amazon’s Prime Reading feature, but unlike Prime Reading, it is available to Kindle owners only (as the name helpfully indicates). The Lending Library is also compatible with the Amazon Fire phone and tablet, which come with Kindle functionality.
What Books Are Eligible for Borrowing Via Kindle Owners Lending Library?
If you opt to buy a Kindle or Fire device and peruse through the Lending Library, you will find several hundred thousand titles at your disposal. For a complete list of eligible titles, click here.
Borrowing KOLL Books
Eligible users can borrow one book per month from the Kindle Owners Lending Library. The borrowed books have no due dates, although titles are removed from the library each month to make room for new arrivals. To borrow a book, you must follow the following steps. You can also find below a video that will walk you through each step.
- On your Kindle or other compatible device, locate the Kindle Store and open it.
- Browse the eligible titles. Remember that you can find an extensive list of books borrowable via Kindle Owners Lending Library here.
- Once you find a book that interests you, choose the Read for Free option. Do note that you can borrow just one book at a time. Therefore, if you have already borrowed your one book, you will have to return it before you can borrow another. You can find the instructions for returning a book in the following section.
Returning KOLL Books
As has been noted above, you can borrow just one title at a time. If you find another book you would rather read, you will have to return the one you just borrowed. Fortunately, returning books is as simple as borrowing them. Follow the instructions below.
- On your Kindle, select the Manage Your Content and Devices option. After that, choose the tab labeled My Content.
- You should now be able to view your complete library. Locate the book you want to return and select the Actions option next to it.
- Once you have selected the desired book, press Return This Book. You should receive a popup to confirm this transaction. Simply select Yes.
Pros of the Kindle Owners Lending Library
The Kindle Owners Lending Library makes discovering new books and authors effortless. You do not have to worry about scouring shelf after shelf for a book you may or may not like. Best of all, there is no pressure to return a book and of course no late fees. Below are some additional pros of using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
- Whereas Prime Reading offers 1,000 titles to choose from, Kindle Owners Lending Library boasts over 1 Million. This is a great option for readers who like to explore new writers and genres every once in a while.
- You never have to worry about returning the book if you don’t want to. You can savor it as long as you wish, so long as you return it when you are ready to borrow a different title.
- As with any book in your Kindle library, you can fill any book you borrow with as many bookmarks, notes, and highlights you desire, and they will automatically be saved to your Amazon account. That way, even after you return the book, all your notes will be there should you choose to borrow the book again or even purchase it.
Cons of the Kindle Owners Lending Library
Even the best programs have their limitations. Kindle Owners Lending Library is no different. Below are a couple points to consider below you delve too deeply into the program.
- This has been noted several times already, but it is worth emphasizing once more that you can borrow just one book at a time via Kindle Owners Lending Library. For people who tend to get overwhelmed by long lists of books they hope to read one day, this setup may be ideal. However, for those who like to get their hands on more than a single book at once, a program like Prime Reading might be more suitable (Prime Reading allows you to borrow up to ten books).
- You must be a Prime member to have access to the Kindle Owners Lending Library. This is of course not a major concern to those who frequently purchase through Amazon. If you are not such an avid buyer, however, you might prefer other options.
- Do bear in mind that if you cancel your Amazon Prime Membership, or if your membership expires before you read the book, you will lose access to the book.
No matter how you choose to access your Amazon e-books, JustKindleBooks.com is an excellent way to comb through Amazon’s overwhelmingly large e-book selection for freebies and bargain titles. Happy reading!
