# KCLS — user reviews

> 69 indexed App Store user reviews of KCLS by King County Library System, rated 3.90/5 from 16 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kcls/id746221889/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kcls/id746221889.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 10 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 2

## What do users think of KCLS?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to log in
- 👍 Fun books to read
- 👍 Excellent app
- 👍 Helpful for all ages
- 👍 Convenient for managing holds
- 👍 Convenient for managing returns
- 👍 Easy to renew books
- 👍 Easy to check due dates
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 👍 Pleasing to the eye
- 👍 Easy to navigate
- 👍 Easy to search for known books
- 👍 Essential app
- 👍 Very convenient
- 👍 Well designed and implemented
- 👍 Can check books out
- 👍 Can hold books
- 👍 Works great
- 👍 Much improved from older version

**Cons**

- 🐛 Unreliable app
- 🐛 Constant sign in issues
- 🐛 Failed sign in attempts count against user
- 🐛 Return book function doesn't work
- 🐛 Search bar coded too narrowly
- 🐛 No notifications for holds ready
- 🐛 App times out
- 🐛 Bookshelf features show blank
- 🐛 Glitching frequently
- 🐛 Kicks user out
- 🐛 Won't accept card or passcode
- 🐛 System errors after login prompts
- 🐛 Search results blank
- 🐛 Borrowing tab won't show books
- 🐛 Opening a book doesn't work
- 🐛 App crashes when viewing 'For Later' shelf
- 🐛 App loads website in all views
- 🐛 Navigation is a mess
- 🐛 Wasted space
- 🐛 Hard to find things
- 🐛 App gets worse with each update
- 🐛 Developers lack common sense
- 🐛 Borrowing section takes long to load
- 🐛 Borrowing section often blank
- 🐛 App not reliable
- 🐛 App didn't resize on iPad
- 🐛 App remains small on iPad
- 🐛 Confusing new UI
- 🐛 Horrid update
- 🐛 New version doesn't let you search by genre
- 🐛 New version doesn't let you search by type of item
- 🐛 App bounces user to multiple other apps
- 🐛 Forces multiple sign-ins
- 🐛 Doesn't work in the end
- 🐛 Completely useless
- 🐛 Confusing vocabulary
- 🐛 Counterintuitive product
- 🐛 Horrible new update
- 🐛 App is slow
- 🐛 Cumbersome new version
- 🐛 Less visually attractive new version
- 🐛 Missing 'On Order' filter
- 🐛 Lacks website functionalities
- 🐛 Awful new version
- 🐛 Not visual
- 🐛 Not user friendly
- 🐛 Worst App ever
- 🐛 Missing 'Just Ordered' option
- 🐛 Useless to user
- 🐛 Landing page shows holds, not borrowed
- 🐛 Takes long to open Borrowing page
- 🐛 Real drag to wait every time
- 🐛 Easier to use browser version
- 🐛 Black bars on top and bottom of iPhone X screen
- 🐛 App is adequate at best
- 🐛 App is unloved compared to website
- 🐛 Design is outdated
- 🐛 Keyboard and popup windows target non-Retina devices
- 🐛 App forced into portrait on iPad
- 🐛 Cannot be used in landscape on iPad
- 🐛 Does not scale to iPad screen
- 🐛 App is almost unusable due to instability
- 🐛 Very buggy
- 🐛 Features to refine searches not working
- 🐛 'Done' button doesn't work for refinements
- 🐛 'Done' or 'Cancel' button doesn't work for refinements
- 🐛 'Refine' feature stopped working
- 🐛 'DONE' button for refining results isn't working
- 🐛 App looks horrible on an iPad
- 🐛 App keeps crashing
- 🐛 App closes within seconds of opening
- 🐛 App tells user something's on hold when it's not
- 🐛 Lag with dialogue boxes
- 🐛 Invalid Patron Access error
- 🐛 App had a bunch of issues initially
- 🐛 App won't stay open
- 🐛 Redirected to mobile website for holds
- 🐛 Redirected to mobile website for ebooks
- 🐛 Slow when placing a hold
- 🐛 Slow when checking account
- 🐛 Difficulties with logging in/out
- 🐛 Difficulties with changing accounts
- 🐛 Can't suggest authors
- 🐛 Can't recommend other books in a series
- 🐛 Doesn't mark books read through Overdrive app
- 🐛 New version is confusing
- 🐛 New version is slow
- 🐛 New UI very difficult to use
- 🐛 Can't listen to audiobooks through Apple Music
- 🐛 App gets worse with each update
- 🐛 Developers don't have common sense
- 🐛 App times out
- 🐛 Bookshelf features show blank
- 🐛 Glitching frequently
- 🐛 Kicks user out
- 🐛 Won't accept card or passcode
- 🐛 System errors after login prompts
- 🐛 Search results blank
- 🐛 Borrowing tab won't show books
- 🐛 Opening a book doesn't work
- 🐛 App crashes when viewing 'For Later' shelf
- 🐛 App loads website in all views
- 🐛 Navigation is a mess
- 🐛 Wasted space
- 🐛 Hard to find things
- 🐛 App gets worse with each update
- 🐛 Developers lack common sense
- 🐛 Borrowing section takes long to load
- 🐛 Borrowing section often blank
- 🐛 App not reliable
- 🐛 App didn't resize on iPad
- 🐛 App remains small on iPad
- 🐛 Confusing new UI
- 🐛 Horrid update
- 🐛 New version doesn't let you search by genre
- 🐛 New version doesn't let you search by type of item
- 🐛 App bounces user to multiple other apps
- 🐛 Forces multiple sign-ins
- 🐛 Doesn't work in the end
- 🐛 Completely useless
- 🐛 Confusing vocabulary
- 🐛 Counterintuitive product
- 🐛 Horrible new update
- 🐛 App is slow
- 🐛 Cumbersome new version
- 🐛 Less visually attractive new version
- 🐛 Missing 'On Order' filter
- 🐛 Lacks website functionalities
- 🐛 Awful new version
- 🐛 Not visual
- 🐛 Not user friendly
- 🐛 Worst App ever
- 🐛 Missing 'Just Ordered' option
- 🐛 Useless to user
- 🐛 Landing page shows holds, not borrowed
- 🐛 Takes long to open Borrowing page
- 🐛 Real drag to wait every time
- 🐛 Easier to use browser version
- 🐛 Black bars on top and bottom of iPhone X screen
- 🐛 App is adequate at best
- 🐛 App is unloved compared to website
- 🐛 Design is outdated
- 🐛 Keyboard and popup windows target non-Retina devices
- 🐛 App forced into portrait on iPad
- 🐛 Cannot be used in landscape on iPad
- 🐛 Does not scale to iPad screen
- 🐛 App is almost unusable due to instability
- 🐛 Very buggy
- 🐛 Features to refine searches not working
- 🐛 'Done' button doesn't work for refinements
- 🐛 'Done' or 'Cancel' button doesn't work for refinements
- 🐛 'Refine' feature stopped working
- 🐛 'DONE' button for refining results isn't working
- 🐛 App looks horrible on an iPad
- 🐛 App keeps crashing
- 🐛 App closes within seconds of opening
- 🐛 App tells user something's on hold when it's not
- 🐛 Lag with dialogue boxes
- 🐛 Invalid Patron Access error
- 🐛 App had a bunch of issues initially
- 🐛 App won't stay open
- 🐛 Redirected to mobile website for holds
- 🐛 Redirected to mobile website for ebooks
- 🐛 Slow when placing a hold
- 🐛 Slow when checking account
- 🐛 Difficulties with logging in/out
- 🐛 Difficulties with changing accounts
- 🐛 Can't suggest authors
- 🐛 Can't recommend other books in a series
- 🐛 Doesn't mark books read through Overdrive app
- 🐛 New version is confusing
- 🐛 New version is slow
- 🐛 New UI very difficult to use

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Keeps logging out
- Constant sign in issues
- Failed sign in attempts count against user
- Return book function doesn't work
- Search bar coded too narrowly
- No notifications for holds ready
- App times out
- Bookshelf features show blank
- Glitching frequently
- Kicks user out
- Won't accept card or passcode
- System errors after login prompts
- Search results blank
- Borrowing tab won't show books
- Opening a book doesn't work
- App crashes when viewing 'For Later' shelf
- App loads website in all views
- Navigation is a mess
- Wasted space
- Hard to find things
- App gets worse with each update
- Developers lack common sense
- Borrowing section takes long to load
- Borrowing section often blank
- App not reliable
- App didn't resize on iPad
- App remains small on iPad
- Confusing new UI
- Horrid update
- New version doesn't let you search by genre
- New version doesn't let you search by type of item
- App bounces user to multiple other apps
- Forces multiple sign-ins
- Doesn't work in the end
- Completely useless
- Confusing vocabulary
- Counterintuitive product
- Horrible new update
- App is slow
- Cumbersome new version
- Less visually attractive new version
- Missing 'On Order' filter
- Lacks website functionalities
- Awful new version
- Not visual
- Not user friendly
- Worst App ever
- Missing 'Just Ordered' option
- Useless to user
- Landing page shows holds, not borrowed
- Takes long to open Borrowing page
- Real drag to wait every time
- Easier to use browser version
- Black bars on top and bottom of iPhone X screen
- App is adequate at best
- App is unloved compared to website
- Design is outdated
- Keyboard and popup windows target non-Retina devices
- App forced into portrait on iPad
- Cannot be used in landscape on iPad
- Does not scale to iPad screen
- App is almost unusable due to instability
- Very buggy
- Features to refine searches not working
- 'Done' button doesn't work for refinements
- 'Done' or 'Cancel' button doesn't work for refinements
- 'Refine' feature stopped working
- 'DONE' button for refining results isn't working
- App looks horrible on an iPad
- App keeps crashing
- App closes within seconds of opening
- App tells user something's on hold when it's not
- Lag with dialogue boxes
- Invalid Patron Access error
- App had a bunch of issues initially
- App won't stay open
- Redirected to mobile website for holds
- Redirected to mobile website for ebooks
- Slow when placing a hold
- Slow when checking account
- Difficulties with logging in/out
- Difficulties with changing accounts
- Can't suggest authors
- Can't recommend other books in a series
- Doesn't mark books read through Overdrive app
- New version is confusing
- New version is slow
- New UI very difficult to use
- Cannot listen to audiobooks through Apple Music
- App gets worse with each update
- Developers lack common sense
- App times out
- Bookshelf features show blank
- Glitching frequently
- Kicks user out
- Won't accept card or passcode
- System errors after login prompts
- Search results blank
- Borrowing tab won't show books
- Opening a book doesn't work
- App crashes when viewing 'For Later' shelf
- App loads website in all views
- Navigation is a mess
- Wasted space
- Hard to find things
- App gets worse with each update
- Developers lack common sense
- Borrowing section takes long to load
- Borrowing section often blank
- App not reliable
- App didn't resize on iPad
- App remains small on iPad
- Confusing new UI
- Horrid update
- New version doesn't let you search by genre
- New version doesn't let you search by type of item
- App bounces user to multiple other apps
- Forces multiple sign-ins
- Doesn't work in the end
- Completely useless
- Confusing vocabulary
- Counterintuitive product
- Horrible new update
- App is slow
- Cumbersome new version
- Less visually attractive new version
- Missing 'On Order' filter
- Lacks website functionalities
- Awful new version
- Not visual
- Not user friendly
- Worst App ever
- Missing 'Just Ordered' option
- Useless to user
- Landing page shows holds, not borrowed
- Takes long to open Borrowing page
- Real drag to wait every time
- Easier to use browser version
- Black bars on top and bottom of iPhone X screen
- App is adequate at best
- App is unloved compared to website
- Design is outdated
- Keyboard and popup windows target non-Retina devices
- App forced into portrait on iPad
- Cannot be used in landscape on iPad
- Does not scale to iPad screen
- App is almost unusable due to instability
- Very buggy
- Features to refine searches not working
- 'Done' button doesn't work for refinements
- 'Done' or 'Cancel' button doesn't work for refinements
- 'Refine' feature stopped working
- 'DONE' button for refining results isn't working
- App looks horrible on an iPad
- App keeps crashing
- App closes within seconds of opening
- App tells user something's on hold when it's not
- Lag with dialogue boxes
- Invalid Patron Access error
- App had a bunch of issues initially
- App won't stay open
- Redirected to mobile website for holds
- Redirected to mobile website for ebooks
- Slow when placing a hold
- Slow when checking account
- Difficulties with logging in/out
- Difficulties with changing accounts
- Can't suggest authors
- Can't recommend other books in a series
- Doesn't mark books read through Overdrive app
- New version is confusing
- New version is slow
- New UI very difficult to use

**Most requested features**

- Correct misspellings in search
- Allow less than exact search terms
- Auto-correction in search
- Word suggestion in search
- Dark mode option
- Filter search by genre
- Filter search by subject
- See reviews and comments in app
- Limit search to specific word and exclude derivatives
- Predictive text feature in search
- Add library card to Apple Wallet
- Optimize for iPhone X screen
- Suggest authors, not just books
- Mark books as read through Overdrive app
- Push notifications for holds/due dates
- Account overview/summary screen
- Return 'On Order' filter
- Return 'Just Ordered' filter
- Dark mode
- Advanced search filters
- Improved search functionality
- Better iPad optimization
- Push notifications

## Newest reviews (15 of 69)

### 3/5 — Doesn’t always work

*2025-10-22*

They’ve fixed the last issues I mentioned but issues still remain: the Return book function doesn’t work from the app anymore, which extends wait times. I wish the search bar was coded less narrowly to correct for misspellings or allow for less than exact search terms.

### 2/5 — No notifications

*2024-09-08*

Why on earth build an app that let’s you place holds on books but doesn’t notify you when they’re ready to be picked up? It’s beyond stupid. “We notify by email” Sorry, no. It makes zero sense to have one half of an interaction occur in one place and the second half in another. No other app does this. Even other apps used by KCLS like Libby and Overdrive don’t work that way.

### 4/5 — Yess

*2024-03-24*

I think that this app is so helpful for kids adults and really all ages. It is help me get through so many books in such a short time while cleaning cooking and just the lack of social time that I would have to endure just trying to go out and check out a book 10 out of 10 would recommend

### 2/5 — Lack of notifications

*2024-01-29*

The app doesn’t provide any notifications for the account, whether it’s library material ready for pick up or due.

**Developer response:** We have updated our location list and all our locations are showing again. Our apologies for this error.

### 3/5 — KCLS App

*2023-11-22, version 2.12.0*

I gave this review because the app is constantly glitching or asking me to sign in to check out a book and it won’t accept the card or passcode. Otherwise the app works fine. It would be nice to get those bugs fixed, but for now, I give it a 3/5.

### 2/5 — Nice when it works…

*2023-08-13, version 2.11.0*

Nice when it works… half the time I try to use this app there seems to be an issue. Lots of prompts to log in followed by system errors. Wish I could access it reliably.

### 2/5 — Good app but search has stopped working as of recently

*2023-05-01*

It's a good app but whenever I go to search a blank white screen shows up.

I can still check my holds and my shelves but the search not working as of now really hinders this app

Once it gets fixed I will be sure to update my review.  I love KCLS and I live checking out bookend I hope this gets fixed.

### 2/5 — Search is buggy

*2023-04-21*

Recently noticed that if I search for a book, it’s totally blank where the results should be listed. If I click on my query and hit search again (without changing what I typed) then the results are visable (as if they were already there) while it reloads the same list of results.

### 2/5 — Glitchy right now for some reason.

*2022-09-09*

Why is it glitching so much right now? It didn’t used to. This last week, it keeps kicking me off and not letting me sign in. It says “error”.  And then I try later and it finally lets me in. And then I open the app later again and it kicks me off and won’t let me sign in again. 😣  It worked fine all these years before. Is there an update that is needed?

### 3/5 — Feature suggests

*2022-05-12, version 2.7*

I wish the app could have auto correction and word suggestion in the search function.

### 2/5 — Only useful to manage existing holds or returns

*2021-06-06, version 2.5*

While it’s useful to manage existing holds or returns, that’s about all.  Can’t see reviews, detailed write ups, age group targets, nor click authors to see all their books.

### 3/5 — Moving in the right direction...a ways to go

*2021-02-20*

Update: Finally KCLS is moving in the right direction with their app. Certainly much slower than other library systems, but better late I guess. The app is much more robust with features previously lacking and although not the best and most intuitive layout, with trial and error you can figure it all out. 

There is still no way to search for books by the same author when on a books page however. And I wish the filter had more options, like filter by genre or subject. I would like to be able to see the reviews & comments in the app and the ability to limit search to a specific word and exclude derivatives of that word. 

Overall a much better app than before. But still some room for significant improvements. 

————————

Compared to other library app, this one is underwhelming. If you find a book and want to see other books by the same author, you have to back out and search by that author rather than have hyperlinks from the book page. There’s also no predictive text feature, limiting when searching book titles. 

It’s glitchy as well. Every time I try to look at my For Later Shelf, it crashes. Just easier to go to the online site and delete the app.

### 3/5 — Good but can be better

*2020-04-25, version 2.3*

I’ll log in to the app to read my ebooks and the app will take a long time to load the “borrowing” section and it often ends up blank like I don’t have anything checked out. I love the convenience of the app, but I wish it was more reliable.

### 1/5 — New app. Same broken user experience

*2020-02-23*

Tldr; this app is as useless as the prior version. Just log in directly to RBdigital and/or Overdrive and ignore this app completely.

I download the new app. I search for the audio book I want. I find it’s availability for overdrive. I feel an impending sense of dread: using the kcls app for overdrive books has always been a  crap experience. Today was no exception.

After checkout, I hit the download button. This switches me out of the app and to safari, where I receive a prompt asking if I want to download a .zip file. I say yes. The browser tab closes.

Nothing happens.

I repeat the process several times before I notice multiple instances queued to download this .zip file. On a hunch, I disable In Private browsing. (This is NOT something I’m willing to do on a regular basis, but did it this once to satisfy my curiosity) 

Now it downloads a 7kb zip file. Which I can do nothing with. Can’t open it. Can’t find it in Overdrive. Nothing.

On another hunch, I try re-logging into overdrive. Now the book appears and is downloading.

So my feedback on this version of the app is exactly the same as the old version: why should I use an app that a) can’t complete a task without bouncing me to multiple other apps, b) forces me to sign in multiple times through various apps and c) in the end doesn’t work?

This app is completely useless. Save your self time and storage space by logging in directly through RBdigital and Overdrive. This app provides zero additional value.

**Developer response:** The KCLS app is great for discovering titles. If you're looking specifically for a title that you know you want to read or listed to through OverDrive it is faster to user either the OverDrive or the new Libby app.

### 1/5 — Confusing changes and vocabulary

*2020-02-22, version 2.2*

Please rethink some of the vocabulary and main functions of this app. You have to click at least three different places simply to see what you have checked out (if there are no overdues). Also in what world does borrowing=holds? Please rethink the vocabulary. It reflects poorly on a public library to create such a counterintuitive product.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Unreliable/Unstable

*2026-06-23*

Love the KCLS, but wish their technology worked more consistently.  Unfortunately, what *is* reliable is how UNreliable the app is:  keeps logging you out, constant sign in issues… the poke in the eye is that the failed sign in attempts via the app count against you if you give up on the app and try to log in via a desktop computer.

### 1/5 — Bad Update

*2024-04-03*

This app was great until the recent update on 4/2. Now it takes so long to process information that the app times out. I cannot use any of the “bookshelf” features at all. They show up blank. Please fix this!

### 1/5 — Doesn’t always work

*2023-03-25, version 2.10.0*

I’ve been using this app for years but recently it’s stopped working properly. The search bar won’t populate until you X the search sometime, My Borrowing tab won’t show the books so I can’t put access them. Sometimes opening a book to borrow doesn’t open it all. It didn’t used to work this poorly

### 1/5 — Not good

*2021-04-30, version 2.5*

Can’t listen to audiobooks through Apple Music? Seriously?

### 1/5 — Gone from bad to worse!

*2020-12-14*

Edit 2: placing a hold needs 4 taps and 3 page loads. There’s no way around. This app deserves to be banned. 

Edit: just came here to say every time I open the app, I hate it even more! 

This app should be removed. It used to be really really bad. Now it’s horrible beyond imagination. It just load the website in all the views and every view change causes the page to be reloaded! Navigation is a mess, wasted space everywhere and hard to find what you’re looking for.

### 1/5 — App developers should be fried!!

*2020-09-05, version 2.3*

App gets worse with each update!!  Developers don’t got common sense on user experience!!!

### 1/5 — This version is only for iPhone?

*2020-04-16, version 2.2*

It didn’t resize on my iPad and remained very small.

### 1/5 — Terrible New Version

*2020-03-24, version 2.2*

So sorry that KKL took the time, treasure and energy to “improve” their previously pretty good app. This one is confusing and soooooooooooooo slow.

### 1/5 — Horrid update

*2020-03-06, version 2.2*

New UI very difficult to use and confusing. Why did they have to change it?!

### 1/5 — Loved the previous version

*2020-02-27, version 2.2*

This new version doesn’t let you search by genre or even type of item such as book verses audiobook.  

I used to be able to login
Choose what’s new
Filter by the genre I liked
Then filter by type.

Please bring this ability back.
Without it you have to know the book name which defeats the whole purpose of looking for something new

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Kids love it!

*2025-02-24*

Easy to log in and fun books to read!

### 5/5 — Excellent!

*2025-02-01, version 2.16.2*

Excellent app!

### 5/5 — So So

*2022-07-06*

The app is perfect, but I have one complain about the libraries. Why do they open so late on Tuesday and Wednesday? I hate that. It is really irritating and gets me frustrated. It makes me want to sue them.

### 5/5 — BEST THING EVER

*2020-12-06, version 2.3*

THIS IS THE BEST LIBRARY APP I HAVE USED. SO EASY AND ACCESSIBLE! 100%

### 5/5 — Perfect for easy access to my KCLS account

*2020-10-05*

I am lying in bed using my phone to write this review after downloading the app to do some checking on my holds and renew a book. I am too lazy to do this on my computer now and thought I’d check to see if KCLS has an app so I can check on things without my computer. So happy to see they do! Even happier it works perfectly!!

Renewing books and checking holds couldn’t be easier. Logging in is as simple as on the computer. The user interface is pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate. Searching for books is easy if you know you are looking for.

### 5/5 — Awesome update

*2020-02-12, version 2.2*

This is awesome update, refreshing UI but can we get a dark mode any time soon?

### 5/5 — Great!

*2019-05-07, version 1.9.4*

This is a better app then you think. Very essential.

### 5/5 — Very helpful

*2018-02-24, version 1.9*

KCLS items are easy to find in the app, set reserves, manage reserves to postpone if I will be traveling.

### 5/5 — I Survived

*2017-11-24, version 1.8*

I love The I survived series😉

### 5/5 — Great

*2016-07-29, version 1.4.4*

Very convenient to use! Thank you for making this app and giving to us for free.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-10.*