The Free Library App That Replaces $200/Year in Subscriptions: NLB's Best-Kept Digital Secrets

Have you thought about how much do you spend each month on Audible, Kindle Unlimited, LinkedIn Learning, The Economist, or Udemy courses? What if you could access all of them for free - legally, with no tricks, no trials, and no cancellation traps?

If you have a Singapore library card from NLB (National Library Board), you already can. Most Singaporeans know NLB for borrowing physical books. Very few realise that the same free membership unlocks a massive digital ecosystem - over 436,000 ebooks and audiobooks, unlimited international newspapers and magazines, 21,000+ LinkedIn Learning courses, nearly 20,000 Udemy Business courses, classical music streaming, and academic research databases.

Here's the full breakdown of what you're getting for free (or close to it), and exactly how to set each one up.

What Does NLB Membership Cost?

Before we get into the digital platforms, let's clarify what membership costs — because many people assume there's a catch.

If you're Singaporean, you pay literally nothing. That's crazy stuff.Every platform below is included at no extra cost.

The Full List of Free Digital Platforms (and What They Replace)

Here's every major digital service your NLB card unlocks, mapped against the paid subscription it replaces.

If you subscribed to even just Libby + PressReader + LinkedIn Learning equivalents, you'd be paying over $1,000/year. With NLB, you pay $0.

How to Set Up Each Platform

Step 0: Get your myLibrary ID

Everything starts with your myLibrary ID. If you're Singaporean, you can register instantly via the NLB Mobile app using SingPass. PRs and foreigners can register at any library branch. Once you have your myLibrary ID, you can access all the platforms below.

Libby (ebooks & audiobooks)

1. Download the Libby app (iOS / Android)
2. Search for "NLB" or "National Library Board Singapore" as your library
3. Sign in with your myLibrary ID
4. Browse and borrow — up to 16 titles at a time, 21-day loans

Tip: Magazines borrowed through Libby often don't count against your 16-title limit. You can also place up to 10-15 holds on titles that are currently checked out. And "Skip the Line" titles (up to 10) are available immediately with no wait — though they have shorter loan periods and can't be renewed.

PressReader (newspapers & magazines)

1. Download the PressReader app (iOS / Android)
2. Sign in via "Library" > search for NLB > log in with myLibrary ID
3. Browse unlimited newspapers and magazines with no download cap

Tip: If you connect to Wireless@SGx at any library, you activate "Hotspot" access which grants unlimited PressReader access for up to 3 days after leaving the library. For remote access through your library account, you may need to re-launch the app after about 1 hour to renew the session.

LinkedIn Learning

1. Go to the NLB eResources website (eresources.nlb.gov.sg)
2. Search for "LinkedIn Learning" and click through
3. Sign in with your myLibrary ID — you'll get full access to 21,000+ courses

This is the same LinkedIn Learning that companies pay $480/year per employee for. You get it free. Courses include data analytics, Excel, Python, project management, leadership, design — all with certificates of completion you can add to your LinkedIn profile.

Udemy Business

1. Access via the NLB eResources website
2. Important: Log out of any personal Udemy account first to access the NLB Business collection
3. Sign in with your myLibrary ID

Nearly 20,000 courses across professional and personal development. The NLB collection is separate from your personal Udemy account — make sure you're logged into the NLB version.

medici.tv & Naxos (music streaming)

Also accessible via the NLB eResources website. medici.tv streams HD classical music, opera, ballet, and jazz. Naxos covers an extensive catalogue of classical and jazz recordings. If you're into classical or jazz, this alone replaces a $300+/year combined subscription.

JSTOR, ProQuest & Newslink (research & archives)

Access scholarly journals, academic articles, and business databases through JSTOR and ProQuest via the NLB eResources website. Newslink gives you access to local newspaper archives including the Straits Times. These are the same databases university students access through their institution — you get them free with your library card.

The Real Math: What This Saves You Per Year

Let's say you're a typical Singaporean who reads a few books a month, occasionally reads The Economist or Bloomberg, and takes one or two online courses a year. Here's what you'd pay without NLB versus with NLB:

You don't need to be a heavy reader to benefit. Even if you only use Libby for a couple of books a month and PressReader for The Economist, that's already $670/year saved.

Pro Tips for Getting More Out of NLB Digital

• Set up Libby on your e-reader (Kindle): Libby supports sending ebooks to Kindle. Read comfortably without staring at your phone.
• Use "Skip the Line" on Libby: Popular books often have long hold queues. Skip the Line titles are available immediately — shorter loan period, but no waiting.
• Magazines don't count against your limit: On Libby, magazine borrows typically don't eat into your 16-title loan limit. Borrow freely.
• PressReader Hotspot trick: Visit any library, connect to Wireless@SGx, open PressReader. You get unlimited access for up to 3 days after you leave. Do this once a week and you have perpetual access without needing to constantly re-authenticate.
• LinkedIn Learning certificates count: Complete a course and add the certificate to your LinkedIn profile. It's the same certificate that paid users get.
• Upgrade to Partner Membership: If you have a PAssion card, upgrade for free to get 24 physical item loans (up from 16). The digital limits stay the same, but more physical books is always nice.

Who Should Care About This?

Honestly — everyone. But especially:

• Students: LinkedIn Learning and Udemy for free means you can learn data analytics, coding, Excel, or design without paying SkillsFuture credits or course fees.
• Working professionals: LinkedIn Learning courses + PressReader for staying current on industry news. It's a free professional development budget.
• Parents: Libby has a massive children's ebook collection. Unlimited reading material for kids without buying books they'll finish in a day.
• Retirees: PressReader for daily newspapers, medici.tv for classical music, Libby for books. A rich digital life at zero cost.
• Anyone paying for Audible, Kindle Unlimited, or The Economist: You can cancel those subscriptions today.

The Bottom Line

Your NLB library card is probably the most undervalued free membership in Singapore. It costs nothing for citizens, $10.69 once for PRs, and unlocks over $1,000/year worth of digital subscriptions — from ebooks and audiobooks to LinkedIn Learning courses to The Economist and Wall Street Journal.

If you don't have a library card yet, register through the NLB Mobile app in under 2 minutes with SingPass. If you already have one but only use it for physical books, log into the NLB eResources website and explore what's available. You're sitting on a goldmine you've already paid for with your taxes.

Disclaimer: Platform availability and borrowing limits may change. Access NLB eResources at eresources.nlb.gov.sg for the most up-to-date list of available platforms. Subscription price comparisons are based on publicly listed prices as of April 2026 and may vary.