Libby App Tutorial - Pros and Cons (1 of 2)

In this video, I'll talk about the pros and cons of the Libby app.

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Hi, everyone! This is Lara Hammock from the Marble Jar channel. Today's video is the first of two about the digital app that my public library uses -- Libby. In this video, I'll talk about the pluses and minuses of checking out digital media from the library. In the next video, I'll do a tutorial of the app.

I LOVE libraries. The library in my home town was this elaborate, old building with a copper dome and I still think of it as one of my very favorite places. I used to take out stacks and stacks of books as a teen -- that probably tells you a little bit about the kind of teen I was. My ADHD has always made keeping track of books and their due dates difficult, but I figured all of my late fees were just good donations to an important public service. That said, I was thrilled with the introduction of online library book renewal. I have a weekly task that reminds me to go online and renew my library books. And, up until pretty recently, I was at the library just about once a week to drop books off and pick others up. So, what changed? I started using Libby app.I live in Fairfax County, Virginia and we have a huge library system with over 20 branches. They have physical books and books on tape to loan obviously, but they also have a ton of digital books and audiobooks. The way they loan out electronic resources is through a partnership with Overdrive which is a digital media clearinghouse and distributor. Libby is the app that Overdrive provides to help you access your library's digital collection. First, let's quickly talk about thePositives
* Automatic returns - the app automatically returns your digital book at the end of your loan period. So, no late fees, no lost books, and no having to hoof it over to the library to beat the deadline. It just returns the book automatically.
* Digital Books - I've gotten to the point that I really prefer reading digital books over physical books. I know there are haters on this take, but I have my reasons. The problem is - I'm cheap. I only buy books that I KNOW I will read again -- so mostly non-fiction -- otherwise, I try to get everything else from the library. The Libby app allows me to have the best of both worlds - digital and free.
* Transfer to Kindle - And even better, instead of requiring that I read the book within the Libby app, for many books, I can choose instead to have it sent to my Kindle. I prefer this since my Kindle is light, has a long battery life, is is easy to see in the sunlight, doesn't have an LCD display (which can be bad for your eyes and your natural sleep cycle), AND I'm already super familiar with the controls.
* Audiobooks - I am in the car a lot and I always have either an audiobook or a podcast playing. I feel like I can get twice as much reading done if I listen to audiobooks regularly. Unfortunately, you DO have to listen to audiobooks through the Libby App and I don't like the interface quite as much as the Audible interface, but it'll do! And the slight aggravation is worth the $15 that I would normally have to pay! Now lets discuss the

Negatives
1. Titles aren't available - All of my negatives have to do with the fact that there is too much demand and not enough supply. Complaint number 1 is that I want EVERY BOOK in my library to also be available digitally and through audiobook, and of course, that's just not the case. There is a limited subset of books that are available -- BUT they are all FREE, so I have to remember that each one is a bonus!
2. Takes Forever - Even if Libby has the book you are looking for, and particularly if its a popular book right now, it can take months to be available. For example, I have a hold on Michelle Obama's book, which I placed 2 months ago and I still have approximately 13 weeks more to wait. Obviously, if you want to read a book right away, this would NOT be your preferred method.
3. Drop everything - Once your book DOES become available, you'd better be ready to drop everything else and read it right away. Digital books in my library system can only be checked out for 3 weeks. At the end of three weeks, they are automatically returned. Sure, if no one else has a hold on the book, you can recheck it out, but chances are there are going to be people waiting for it. Using my last example, Michelle Obama's book has 1,820 people waiting for it. So, if I don't finish it in 3 weeks, I have to put myself at the end of the hold queue and wait ANOTHER, like 5 months to read the rest. So, drop everything else and read fast once it is checked out to you . . .

[kajalsingh]

Some of the cons she mentions are features of the library system, not because of Libby. The number of books available depends on the library system. If the library has great resources, it can order more books. Same for the availability. If a library buys only so many licenses, and the books are popular there will of course be a longer wait period for the book to become available.

[BarbaraBatson-nx]

I cannot download audiobooks using Libby to my small MP3 player which I clip to my baseball hat. I can download to my phone, but I don't want to carry a phone when jogging. I miss OverDrive that loaded audiobooks so easily on my MP3. Unfortunately OverDrive was canceled on May 1, 2023.

[roseflowers]

Thank you for the video, I enjoy listening to digital books and my library system uses Libby and RB Digital.

[ROMEKBNY]

Yup. That’s my complaint. Why isn’t every book ever made available with unlimited borrows. Got lucky with my 1st book being available, but everything else has many people in line.

[timesayear]

Why not use the Overdrive Media Console/app instead? If it ain't broke, it doesn't need fixing. Sticking with the overdrive media console and app. No libby

[Shadow]

Why do holds exist at all? It's digital! A hundred people can read the same material simultaneously.

[kathycullenstern]

When a book that I have been waiting for in Libby is available I have the option of passing to the next person if I’m not ready to read it. I’m next in line. This can be done once.

[msmithsr]

This Libby App is such a major convenience.... For me, the Pro's out weight the Con's. Thanks for sharing

[chanamrithvateykim]

May I know what should I do if the app is not available yet in my country? I cant access to any library card in other countries either.

[David-gok]

You should do a pros and cons video regarding listening to Audiobooks vs Reading a book. I’d like to watch your insight and I think it’d be very helpful. :)

[rookie-]

What does available soon mean compared to available in 4 weeks

[shuvojyotirakshit]

The audiobook sound quality is not great at all . Are you facing this same problem ?

[firstlast]

Hello. Love your videos. Do you know how to use voiceover with Libby for reading e-books ? Please let me know

[jennajoon]

Why would there be a limited number of digital copies or digital audios of a book? That seems like an artificial constraint. I wonder why they chose to do that.

[catt]

Not to be a smart ass, technically the library is not free. In Ohio we pay property tax on our home. A portion of that goes to the library. Whether I use the library or not I still have to pay property tax. I find it a good value as I am a patron of the library and frequent the use of their services.

[hoshichiroiseji]

Where is your beautiful domed library?

[babyirene]

Nice info.
The vocal fry is VERY tough going.

[silentwarrior]

1 question when u have a book on hold and it’s available how long does it stay
Until it does something cause ur not borrowing it for too long

[India_first-kn]

Can anybody give me their library card? I am from India so it's not available here. And I cant sign in to any library from other countries.

[RusselHarding]

Turn on airplane mode and it won't be automatically returned