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They have made changes in how audiobooks are handled in Libby. Used to be, with the Overdrive app, you could copy the MP3 files from an audiobook download directly over to an MP3 player (like an old Sansa device like I still use on walks). You have to know where to find the MP3 files, but that was easy enough. Depending on the size of the audiobook, there were maybe half a dozen to two dozen MP3 files, numbered so that they would play in order.
Now, Libby downloads a ton of files for an audiobook. Nondescript naming, so you don't know the sequence. These are probably still MP3 files, but you couldn't tell that by the naming (file extension). I'm sure this was done to make things more difficult for people who want to steal audiobooks. But it made things no longer worthwhile to try to listen to your audiobook on an actually MP3 player device (these are going the way of the dinosaurs, but I still like the super small size and will continue using mine until it dies). But unfortunately, it appears I won't be using my Sansa with audiobooks anymore. It can't do Audible, and now library audiobooks are no longer simple MP3's that are named in a convenient manner for playback.
I've never really listened to many audiobooks. Mostly just random and rare occasions. I guess those occasions are going to get even more rare now that Libby has arrived. I hate listening on my smartphone, even though Smart Audiobook Player is a fantastic app. I am still a corded earbud user and the dangling cord and flat face of a smartphone screen (you can't do things by feel) are a killer for the user interface. I used to clip my nearly weightless Sansa to my shirt collar or sleeve and work the controls by feel, not looking at the device. That's why I like that MP3 so much (especially with Rockbox firmware installed).
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