Allentown Public Library’s Books-By-Mail (BBM) is a FREE service that provides books and other library materials to homebound people of all ages who live in Lehigh and Carbon Counties. 

Books-By-Mail (BBM) is designed for individuals with a temporary or permanent physical disability or a long-term illness that prevents them from visiting their local library.  Users must be, or plan to be, homebound for 6 months or more and a resident of Lehigh County or Carbon County to qualify for this service. 

• Both an Application and a Reader Profile must be completed to participate
• Only items from the Allentown Public Library collections will be loaned
• Participants in the BBM program are eligible to borrow books, audiobooks, DVDs, or music CDs
• BBM participants may borrow 1 to 2 items at a time, as the postage bag size permits
• Mobile Hotspots, rental books, magazines, puzzles, museum passes, games, toys, kits, or items labeled “new” or “high-demand” may not be borrowed via BBM
• Title requests can be made by contacting the BBM Librarian directly
• All items will circulate for 4 weeks, with possible renewals; Auto-renewal will not apply to BBM items
• Library materials will be mailed free of charge; return postage is also paid
• Items will be sent approximately once per month; all materials must be returned before a new shipment is sent
• Materials must be returned in the same reusable pouch in which they were received
• BBM items will only be shipped to residential addresses; care facilities/care facility residents looking to borrow items must arrange for outreach library service through APL or their local library

Once a user is registered for the Books-by-Mail service, materials will be sent in a reusable envelope through the United States Postal Service. When registration is complete, they will receive their first Books by Mail delivery and a welcome letter explaining how the service works. The letter will include contact information for when a user has questions or needs to request library materials.

To apply fill out a Books-by-Mail application and hand in at the reference desk.

For More Information and to Register, call the Reference Desk at (610) 820-2400 ext. 2.