Have you met Libby?
Submitted by sadie.bruce on Wed, 07/05/2017 - 08:19
Introducing Libby – the new “one-tap reading app” available now from Overdrive!
Designed from librarian input, Libby’s goal is to provide an enjoyable reading experience for current library users while drawing in new ones.
Features include:
- The ability to remember a reader’s place in a book/audiobook between devices.
- The ability to sync notes and bookmarks across devices.
- The ability to associate more than one card with an account – great for parents!
- Catalog loads within the app - searching and browsing directly in the app – no extra steps for getting content.
To learn more about Libby, visit the help page or watch this video.
Note: the classic Overdrive app isn't going away any time soon.
Action Steps:
- Download Libby for iOS/Android/Kindle Fire.
- Try checking out an ebook.
- Try checking out an audiobook.
- Report any issues/bug you experience.
Talking Points:
- As the world gets more mobile, so does the library. Download the new Libby app and go seamlessly between listening to an audiobook while you run to picking up again on your commute.
- The new Overdrive app, Libby, allows you to add your child’s card to your account. No more signing in and out!
- With a beautiful new look, Libby makes borrowing and reading ebooks from the Metropolitan Library System easier than ever.
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Comments
I had some time this morning to play around with it. It is easier to use! Having the power to switch from your library to your bookshelf on the exact page with a click of a button is wonderful. It is so streamlined and I feel very user friendly. I am going to start having members download it instead of Overdrive now.
Hi Sarah,
Something to be aware of re: Libby is that it doesn’t yet offer features like accessibility, eReading Rooms (i.e. our Kids & Teens pages), Recommend to Library, and a multilingual interface, so if a user requires those features, the OverDrive app might be a better option for now.
I love Libby, I think it is way more intuitive.... but I miss being able to make recommendations and being able to download only the files I need to conserve space! So I keep both on my device... and use depending on my need.
I believe the recommendations feature is coming to a future release of Libby but you're right, I wish it was in there now, too.
And if you tap the Libby icon at the top right, tap "Set Up Libby," and then tap "Choose Download Behavior," you can configure the download settings as you see fit to conserve space.
Not to rain on your parade but here's a downpour - yes, recommendations are coming to Libby but we're opting out. We're on the edge of our budget as it is and we can't handle the anticipated influx of Libby recommendations. Perhaps there's another solution, maybe a pilot with some extra money to measure and handle the increase then make a decision or tinkering with number of recs allowed but for now, we're strapped and decided not to do it.
Really, it's the not knowing what will happen and being a little gunshy from our first experience opening up recommendations (it was a deluge).
I downloaded Libby, added my library and was successful in adding my library card and last name. Now when I try to put a book on hold it tells me that I'm an "invalid patron". I have unlinked my card and reentered my information like it suggests, but still nothing. I haven't sent them any feedback since that didn't work...yet.
I looked at your account (on our end & on OverDrive's end) and everything looks to be ok.
On what device are you trying to use Libby? If it's an Apple device, do you have iOS12 installed? If so, it could be an issue between that version of iOS & Libby. I'd suggest deleting Libby, rebooting your device, installing any iOS updates & then reinstalling Libby.
Thanks, Tim! I actually posted this in July of 2017 and have found since then that Libby works great! I appreciate the response though!