Fabulous…join immediately!
I was a bit of a ‘Luddite’ until I discovered Libby and am now a complete convert to this mode of reading. I still have my Physical Library Books but Libby has opened up an amazing expansion of my reading. The App is extremely easy to navigate and the features allow for changing the Font size, page layout and sharing with my other devices, especially my phone, are they’re all seamless…a huge advantage for me! The Dictionary facility is amazing and not only for the definition of a word. Also, the Audio facility…Wow. New to me but, has become an essential when out on a walking exercise, listening to some old favourites novels from past days. There’s a huge choice of literature, to read or listen to, and it’s increasing all the time. I’m retired now and have found Libby a real bonus to my lifestyle, and, as has always been the case, from when I first joined the Library, almost 70 years ago…it’s STILL A FREE Service. Join Now….greatest investment for nothing you’ll ever make!
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Portable library
This app is amazing. Through my two library memberships, I have access to tons of books but also newspapers and magazines. The magazines have a clever readable format option which you can switch too after flicking through. The queueing system is great, and the ability to search between libraries is good— sometimes I wish I could just search both at the same time but all in all, not a huge issue. The biggest frustration for me is the lack of “real” physical-equivalent page numbers… Kindle has had real page numbers since 2011. How many people use their library for research? The need to cite with real page numbers means that highlighting and exporting is a little redundant. Please please developers / product planners, add real page numbers to your future feature board… 🙏
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Transforming my life one audiobook at a time
As a full-time grade school teacher with ADHD, taking the time to enjoy a book can be challenging. This year, in an effort to both enjoy more books and use my library card more/better, I downloaded Libby. I’ve completed ten books so far this year, and nine have been audiobooks! It has been such a delight to discover how much better I consume information when I can listen to it.
One of my favorite features is my library’s regular posting of monthly book lists and occasional special lists on a specific topic or theme. When all the copies of those recommended books get snatched up, placing a hold (or multiple) is super simple and intuitive. Libby will even tell you your spot in line, how many people are waiting per copy of the resource, and an estimated time to expect to be able to borrow. All these metrics has made it easy for me to get into a flow of placing holds in ways that keep my shelf stocked, but never overly full. If things are looking thin and I need a new book now, it’s no sweat: the “available now” search filter combined with all the genre tags makes finding something right away super easy.
I recommend Libby to anyone who will listen, and I fixed my thumbs to type up this whole review because Libby and my local library have me that pumped up. Get Libby! Do it! Start enjoying lots and lots of great books for free!
One of my favorite features is my library’s regular posting of monthly book lists and occasional special lists on a specific topic or theme. When all the copies of those recommended books get snatched up, placing a hold (or multiple) is super simple and intuitive. Libby will even tell you your spot in line, how many people are waiting per copy of the resource, and an estimated time to expect to be able to borrow. All these metrics has made it easy for me to get into a flow of placing holds in ways that keep my shelf stocked, but never overly full. If things are looking thin and I need a new book now, it’s no sweat: the “available now” search filter combined with all the genre tags makes finding something right away super easy.
I recommend Libby to anyone who will listen, and I fixed my thumbs to type up this whole review because Libby and my local library have me that pumped up. Get Libby! Do it! Start enjoying lots and lots of great books for free!
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Use this daily
When Libby was first introduced, the Overdrive app was far superior. Now, Libby has all the features it was missing. In particular , I’m happy to see books listed as #1 in series, etc. and being able to click on the series to see them all. I listen to hundreds of books each year on Libby. Unfortunately, my history did not transfer from Overdrive but it’s not a big deal.
One thing I’d like to see introduced is a way to rate the books I’ve listened to just for myself. I often start a book and for one reason or another, I don’t like it. Later, when looking for another book, I often refer back to one’s I’ve already read for ideas on authors. If I could somehow mark that author with a “don’t bother” or “read everything from this author”, it would be very helpful. It’s wasteful, in my opinion, to check a book out, listen for ten minutes and reject it because libraries end up “paying” for each checkout of each book. I appreciate all of the free books and feel terrible when I reject one.
I’d also like to see a way to mark narrators in the same way. Some of the synthesized voices are just horrible and I’ve returned books after just a minute or two because I can’t stand their “voice”. It would be nice to have something pop up when I’m considering a new book that says “narrator is awful” or “favorite narrator”.
One thing I’d like to see introduced is a way to rate the books I’ve listened to just for myself. I often start a book and for one reason or another, I don’t like it. Later, when looking for another book, I often refer back to one’s I’ve already read for ideas on authors. If I could somehow mark that author with a “don’t bother” or “read everything from this author”, it would be very helpful. It’s wasteful, in my opinion, to check a book out, listen for ten minutes and reject it because libraries end up “paying” for each checkout of each book. I appreciate all of the free books and feel terrible when I reject one.
I’d also like to see a way to mark narrators in the same way. Some of the synthesized voices are just horrible and I’ve returned books after just a minute or two because I can’t stand their “voice”. It would be nice to have something pop up when I’m considering a new book that says “narrator is awful” or “favorite narrator”.
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Great e-reader - but no landscape mode
I’ve only just switched from Overdrive and am still in the exploratory phase, but from day 1 I realised that Libby’s extensive features really enhance the experience. Only one disappointment so far - I prefer to read library books on my iPhone in landscape mode, which Overdrive allows, but Libby does not support this function. Hopefully it will be introduced soon, and I’ll be able to change my rating to 5 stars. Edit: Now that I’ve been using Libby for a couple of weeks I’ve noticed that I really don’t miss landscape mode after all. So I’ve added another star - well done, developers!
Libby now supports landscape mode. Six stars!
Libby now supports landscape mode. Six stars!
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Fab - but lacks one key function in the UK version
I recently moved within the UK from an area where local libraries did not provide Libby to one which does - and how fantastic this little app is! You can download, read, and reserve books just as you would at a physical library, but also can do so for magazines and audiobooks - and when the borrowing period is up the item is automatically returned to the library, so there can be no late fees ever. Fab.
The only small gripe, which costs Libby a single star, may not be their fault but is irritating. In the US it is possible to send a book borrowed via Libby to your Kindle, but in the UK this is not. You can read books within the Libby app itself on your smartphone, but for those of us who love the unmatched readabilty of the Kindle device this is a function which I hope will cross the Atlantic soon.
The only small gripe, which costs Libby a single star, may not be their fault but is irritating. In the US it is possible to send a book borrowed via Libby to your Kindle, but in the UK this is not. You can read books within the Libby app itself on your smartphone, but for those of us who love the unmatched readabilty of the Kindle device this is a function which I hope will cross the Atlantic soon.
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A bit simplistic
Libby is easy to read, fine for browsing but I find searches do not bring back the best results. I am a researcher and was a librarian for more than 3 decades, so I do know how to write searches. I have put in searches which were reasonably specific and should have included items which I know my library holds (I found them other ways), and those titles did not appear in searches which they should have.
Libby is too general and I also am not keen on the filters. Instructions for searching and filtering is not particularly clear. I have asked a few questions to customer support and they have told me certain ways (even though not particularly complex) are just not possible. I much preferred Overdrive. I am just grateful I can still find plenty to read on my device.
Libby is too general and I also am not keen on the filters. Instructions for searching and filtering is not particularly clear. I have asked a few questions to customer support and they have told me certain ways (even though not particularly complex) are just not possible. I much preferred Overdrive. I am just grateful I can still find plenty to read on my device.
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Fabulous App
I can’t believe more people don’t know about Libby! Not only does it contain thousands of books you can read online, but loads of audiobooks too. Added to that there are absolutely hundreds of top selling magazines you can borrow digitally for FREE! I’m one of those people who buys a magazine and then doesn’t know quite what to do with it when I’ve read it - do you throw it away or keep it? Throwing away seems such a waste and since the pandemic doctor’s surgeries do not accept magazine in their waiting rooms, so I generally just keep them, gathering dust. Not any more - I just borrow them for FREE on Libby and return them when I’ve read them. All that’s needed is a membership from your local council library and you can start reading. Membership costs nothing and if, like me, you don’t live close to your library, you can still borrow from them digitally! A brilliant app! Thank you Libby!
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Any book . . .
The way I use audiobooks is to acquire the book (via library or purchase) and then go to Libby or OverDrive and “borrow” the exact audiobook. Then, I read along in the book while listening to the audiobook. Advantage: I remain focused longer. Words or phrases in a foreign language are pronounced correctly and usually with appropriate accent. And most important, I move right along and finish the book much quicker than otherwise. This allows me to “read” many more books. Another advantage, if the book is read by the author, that’s an “extra.” You feel like you are sitting in their private library, next to their fireplace and having a private audience. It’s very personal. To me, this way of combining both the text and the audiobook book, I get the best of both worlds. When I listen to just the audiobook alone, I find myself drifting and losing my concentration. With the book in front of me and reading along, I remain enthusiastically involved. Say I want to hear or read a sentence or paragraph again - just hit the 15 second repeat button - Voila! Two examples: “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” series. EXCELLENT! All those Swedish addresses and names of places. Second example, any book with necessary minutia such as Ron Chernow’s, “Hamilton.” Both of these books are wonderful on audiobooks. Worked for me! Try it! You might like it . . .
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An unbelievable step forward in public access to books
The link between education, life outcomes and access to books is well established. Through Libby, access to books is instant, and with much greater ease of searching (sorry Dewey). Add audio books, which play such an important role for many people, whether busy, vision impaired, or with difficulties reading, and this should be the cornerstone of our future education. Forget advertisement-driven online content, sink your teeth into the good stuff with the same convenience. Plus, go and read the classics, they’re often public domain now, and hence there are infinite copies available with no wait time!
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