Download Digital Magazines for free with your library card! 

• Choose from around 200 different titles across a wide range of genres including computers & technology, crafts, current affairs, entertainment, food & cooking, lifestyle, science & nature, sports and home & garden.
• Checkout editions for 7 days simply by opening them. Loans expire from your personal Magazine Rack automatically after 7 days but if you haven't finished reading them you can renew for a further 7 days as many times as you like.
• Opt to subscribe to a title to receive notifications each time a new edition becomes available. 
• Checkout as many editions as you like at any one time - there are no loan limits! 
• Titles are always available to checkout so you won't ever need to reserve them.  
• Download or stream them to your tablet, smartphone, PC or laptop .  
• All titles are unabridged, interactive and in full colour. 
• Available at the same time as they appear on newsagents shelves.
• Each title comes with up to 3 years of back issues to explore.  

Access to digital content is provided by a third party supplier who delivers access to the platform and content through their own systems. Please be aware that the supplier will be the data controller for the information it collects. The supplier has servers in the US and has their own terms and conditions which you will need to read before choosing to use their service.

The Library Service is not responsible for third party content, and the information you share with the third party supplier.  

Information about The Economist

The Economist introduced a new digital lending model from 1 February 2023. New requirements by The Economist restrict readers who borrow a title to a maximum 24-hour lending period. After 24 hours, a reader who wants to continue to read the same issue can no longer access it remotely. For a reader to continue access to the issue, they must visit the library to renew access. Unfortunately as a result of this change our supplier will no longer be providing access to this title. All editions of The Economist were removed from the collection effective February 1, 2023. The last issue available to borrow was January 28, 2023. All back issues were removed from collections on February 1. We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause.   

From 1 December 2022 you may have noticed a reduction in the number of titles available in the Libby digital magazine collection.

Recent analysis of magazine usage revealed that 81% of checkouts came from a small number of titles. To ensure the sustainability of the service in the current financial climate, the 8 participating authorities in the shared contract agreed to focus limited resources on the key titles read by the majority of library members. To meet our public sector equalities responsibilities the collection also includes titles with specific appeal to those with Protected Characteristics.   

We appreciate it is disappointing to lose titles you have previously enjoyed reading but hope you can understand why we have made the decision to reduce the size of the collection.

Although we cannot make any guarantees, if the financial situation improves, we may be able to commit more funds to this service. Please email us at librarieswest@somerset.gov.uk with your suggestions.  

How does it work? 

For smartphone or tablet: