Now that the holidays are coming, and I will have plenty of time for reading, I am taking advantage of one of the options offered by my library application: read the national and international press. Free and unlimited, it is included in the Catalan library network. I can only recommend it.
The library of every town and neighborhood in the city is a small universe of knowledge that not only gives access to books, but also to movies, music and even board games. In addition, much of the content is now available online through applications such as Biblio Digital, which is used in Catalonia. This has an added feature that not everyone knows about: it lets you read all the newspapers and magazines thanks to an agreement with PressReader.
Newspapers, current affairs magazines, specialized magazines… All free and on my mobile
Free access to PressReader press
I have been a member of the Barcelona library network for many years and I am a regular visitor. For example, I often go there to write my articles: the calm atmosphere in the library and having so many volumes within reach inspires me. And when I am not physically there, I travel virtually thanks to the Biblio Digital application.
This app is a complete e-book reader with a catalogue of free and public access that is endless. Accessible online, and with the download of titles to the device to read them offline, Biblio Digital works like a library: eBooks are loaned and returned based on availability.
Although the books themselves function as loans, the press section goes in the opposite direction: it allows access to most newspapers and magazines, both Spanish and foreign, on demandThis is where pressReader, the largest online press platform, comes into play.
The PressReader section within Biblio Digital does not work on a loan basis: any magazine you want to read can be downloaded instantly.
PressReader allows you to read thousands of newspapers and magazines directly on your mobile or tablet (also on the web) just by having a library card from Catalonia. The way it works is as follows:
- In addition to having a library card, you need a Biblio Digital user account. You can get one here (you’ll need your card number).
- Download the app to your mobile: it is available for both Android and iPhone.
- Open Biblio Digital and log in with your library account.
- You will appear on the app’s home page, with all the book sections segmented by themes and recommendations. Scroll down to PressReaderin the “Multimedia resources” section.
- Click on “Open” and you will load the entire PressReader catalogue. Most of the press can be read by simply clicking on its icon.
Access to PressReader from the app is free and unlimited: you can read as much press as you like. And you don’t have to wait for loan units to become available, as PressReader works on demand: choose what you want to read and that’s it.
Do you want to access the kiosk with the advantages of doing so from the PressReader application itself? It is also possible if you have a library card. Also free and without limit.
How to activate your PressReader subscription with your library card
The Biblio Digital app is pretty good for reading the press, but there is nothing like the tailored support offered by the native app, PressReader. And it is possible convert library access to Premium subscription:
- Install the PressReader app on your mobile device: it’s here for Android and here for iPhone.
- Open the app and close it.
- Now, go to the Biblio Digital application and follow the steps above to access its press section.
- You will see the PressReader login appear at the top of the screen. Tap “Sign in.”
- Select “Library or group.”
- Search for «ebibliocat». You will see the public access to the Catalan library network.
- Click on “Open Library Website”.
- Now, log in with your library account, on the three lines of the top menu.
- Scroll down to the PressReader press section and click “Open.”
- It will load the PressReader catalog. You will see that a “Open in app».
- Clicking on the banner below will load the library’s premium subscription into the PressReader app, giving you access to most newspapers and magazines.
- The “Open in app” banner below does not always appear, you may need to try several times. Try loading the PressReader website from your mobile web browser after completing the steps above.
Cover image | Ivan Linares