Sometimes the right answer isn't more troubleshooting. Find the simplest path to library books — without requiring anyone to wrestle with an app.
No matter what, calling your local library branch is available. A staff member can place holds, check availability, and arrange options — no app needed. This should always be the first call, not the last resort.
That's it. Libraries do this every day. Staff can also check whether the book is available in audio, tell you the wait time, and note a preferred contact number for the pickup call. You don't need to be on any app to make this work.
Call the library. Ask for a hold. Wait for the callback. Pick up the book. Return it. Repeat.
No account passwords. No app updates. No Kobo sync issues. The cleanest path for anyone who finds digital tools unreliable.
Works best when: There's a branch nearby or someone can do pickup. Library has the title in large print (ask — they'll tell you).
Many Canadian public libraries offer free home delivery for residents who can't easily get to a branch. This includes large print books and audiobooks — delivered to your door and picked up when you're done.
Ask your library: "Do you have a homebound service or home delivery program?" Eligibility varies by library system but typically includes seniors and people with mobility limitations.
A caregiver, family member, or neighbour can pick up and return holds on your behalf. Most libraries allow this with a note or verbal permission.
Works best when: Someone is already making regular trips near the branch. The reader places the hold by phone; the helper does the pickup.
CELA provides free library service to Canadians with a print disability — including low vision, blindness, physical disability that prevents holding a book, or a reading disability. This includes seniors who qualify.
CELA offers thousands of titles in audio, large print, braille, and DAISY format. Access is free. Registration is through your public library.
Ask your library: "Can you help me register for CELA?" Or visit celalibrary.ca directly.
NNELS is a Canadian digital library for people with print disabilities. Similar to CELA, it offers accessible books in multiple formats — and is available in provinces and territories not fully covered by CELA.
Check eligibility: nnels.ca — registration is free and eligibility criteria are similar to CELA.
If someone is comfortable with a phone or e-reader and just needs a cleaner setup, Kobo + Libby can work — but it requires consistent maintenance: staying logged in, understanding the borrow flow, and knowing what to do when something breaks.
This is not the right route for someone who found the initial setup confusing and couldn't repeat it. That experience is a signal — not a skill gap to push through.
If you want to try this path anyway, see our step-by-step Kobo + Libby setup guide.
Libby and Kobo are built for people who find apps intuitive. For many seniors and low-vision readers, these tools involve:
When a helper sets it up once and leaves, the reader is often left unable to repeat the process. That's not a user error — it's a design problem. Recommending "just use Libby" to someone who's already had this experience isn't helpful.
The routes above don't require apps. They require a phone call, and most of them require nothing else.