Getting Started with Flipster Magazines

Flipster provides access to current issues of popular magazines to read on your computer, tablet, or phone.

What you need

Using Flipster on a computer

Reading magazines on your computer requires an internet connection.

  1. Go to tpl.ca/flipster and click on the Access Online button.
  2. Enter your library card number and PIN and select Sign In, then Continue.
  3. Search for titles, browse Categories or scroll through the Latest Issues or All Magazines carousels. When you find a magazine that you want to read, click on the cover to open it.
  4. Use the arrows at the bottom of the screen to navigate through the magazine. Zoom and full screen controls are also available on right end of this toolbar.
  5. To search within a magazine, use the toolbar in the upper right hand corner. Hover the mouse pointer over each tool to display the name.
    • When available, click on Text View to read an article without images.
    • Click on Print to print the current page(s). Print permission are set by the publisher.
    • Click on All Issues to access back issues of this magazine.
    • Click on Table of Contents or Pages to view all the sections or pages of the magazine.
    • Click on the magnifying glass icon to search the magazine issue, or all issues of this title, by keyword.
    • Use Settings to change how the magazine is displayed on your screen.

Using Flipster on a phone or tablet

  1. Download the free Flipster-Digital Magazines app for your iOS or Android device.
  2. Open the app and select Get Started.
  3. Search for Toronto and select Toronto Public Library, Toronto, Ontario. Enter your library card number and select Login.
  4. In the Explore section of the app, browse the list of magazines, search for a specific title, or choose from the list of Categories. When you find a magazine that you want to read, tap on the cover to open the detail page.

    Back issues are listed below the current issue. To read a back issue, tap on the download icon to the right of the date for that issue.
  5. Select Download to save the current issue to your device, then tap on the Read button to open the issue. After downloading, the issue will appear in the My Shelf section of the app. Remember to take note of the magazine's due date, if there is one.
  6. Swipe left or right to flip through the pages.
    • Tap the Table of Contents tool in the upper right-hand corner to see the table of contents with links to every article.
    • When available, the Text View tool will appear to the left of the Table of Contents.

Which magazines are available?

Frequently asked questions

How many magazines can I borrow?

There is no limit to the number of magazines you can read or download.

Are the magazines always available?

Most magazines are always available, but some titles can only be read or downloaded by a limited number of people at one time. If a title you want isn't available, check back later.

How long can I keep magazines?

You can keep magazines for 2 days, 7 days or indefinitely, depending on the title. If a magazine has an expiry date, this will display at the bottom of the front cover in the app. If no date is shown, the magazine will not expire. Expiry dates do not display if you are reading on your computer as the item gets returned as soon as you close your browser. See the List of magazines (PDF) for details about expiry dates.

Do I have to return magazines?

If you are reading a magazine on your computer, it will be returned once you close your browser. If you are reading a magazine in the Flipster app, it will be automatically returned when the borrowing period expires.

Can I get back issues of a magazine?

Yes. Back issues are available for many titles. To access back issues on your computer, open the most recent issue of a magazine and choose “All Issues” in the toolbar in the upper right corner.

To find back issues in the Flipster app, search or browse for the magazine in the Explore section and tap on the cover for the current issue. Back issues will be listed under the current issue on the detail page. You may also be able to access content from back issues through the library's other subscription databases - check the Title List of Online Magazines, Newspapers & Journals to see what's available.

Can I get magazines in other languages?

Currently there are only magazines available in English and French.

Can I print from a magazine?

Printing may be available when reading a magazine on a computer, but not from a phone or tablet. The print button is located in the toolbar in the upper right hand corner. The available print options are determined by the publisher. You may be able to print a single page, a range, or not at all.

How do I delete a magazine once I have downloaded it onto my device?

Magazines that have expired need to be deleted from your device. This can be done for any magazine you want to delete, regardless of the expiry date.

  1. Tap on the trash icon to the right of the date of the issue.
  2. Select Delete to confirm.

Help with Flipster