Overdrive's New Lending App--"Libby"

[GtrsRGr8]

Was in my local bricks-and-mortar library today.

I noticed a little business-sized card telling about something called "Libby." I looked at it briefly. I noticed that there was something about "Overdrive" on it, and that really piqued my interest; I inquired of a library worker at the reference desk as to what it is all about.

Come to find out, Libby is an ebook lending app of Overdrive's. The library worker had the impression that any library that offers Overdrive, also supports Libby.

I probably have more questions than I do answers, at this point. However, this much I did find out:
- The app is _free_.
- The app is available at Google Play as "Libby, Overdrive App."
- The kudos for the app:
- It is #7 of the top _free_ apps (I suppose that that means at Google Play).
- It is an "editor's choice."
- It is rated 4.1 out of 5,000 ratings."

Great. There's nothing as bad (I'm speaking hyperbolically) as having to deal with a poor app.

But the question that I'm most interested in knowing the answer to is, are there additional ebooks that we will have access to, with this app, that we don't already have access to through our libraries' regular Overdrive subscription? My point in making this post is not so much to tell you about a new app (if it was, I know that this post would belong somewhere else on this website) as it is to tell you about a potential new source from which to borrow ebooks, free (and legitimately).

I'll leave it with you to do more exploring. Or, not. If you do some research on your own, please let us know what you found out!

[AnemicOak]

Not really a deal, but anyway you can find a few Libby threads around the forum if you're looking for more info. It's been around for quite a while.

No, the app doesn't give you access to anything more than what you're library(s) offer. It's just an alternative to the regular old OD app.

[sunnysmiles]

I found that it was easier to use than the other App.

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Not really a deal, but anyway you can find a few Libby threads around the forum if you're looking for more info. It's been around for quite a while.

No, the app doesn't give you access to anything more than what you're library(s) offer. It's just an alternative to the regular old OD app.

Genuine thanks, for several reasons.

The one thing that gave me pause, when I was preparing the post, is that there were 5,000 ratings--a little bit much for a new app, I thought.

No additional books huh? Too bad. Not that I've borrowed and read all of the Overdrive ebooks, yet, that I'd like to, from the two libraries where I have borrowing privileges. And I avoid installing apps like I avoid getting anywhere close to a Florida alligator.

Since it's an app, and apparently doesn't have additional books to offer, this is my last post about it. A parting word (a parting website would be more accurate): meet.libbyapp.com.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Genuine thanks, for several reasons.

The one thing that gave me pause, when I was preparing the post, is that there were 5,000 ratings--a little bit much for a new app, I thought.

No additional books huh? Too bad. Not that I've borrowed and read all of the Overdrive ebooks, yet, that I'd like to, from the two libraries where I have borrowing privileges. And I avoid installing apps like I avoid getting anywhere close to a Florida alligator.

Since it's an app, and apparently doesn't have additional books to offer, this is my last post about it. A parting word (a parting website would be more accurate): meet.libbyapp.com.

There's an advantage in the libby app over overdrive app: If you have more than a library card, you can see all of your loans and holds together, something you cannot do with overdrive.

[badgoodDeb]

I've heard of people getting library cards from all over the country. (I think -- chime in if you are one of those.)

[Atunah]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

There's an advantage in the libby app over overdrive app: If you have more than a library card, you can see all of your loans and holds together, something you cannot do with overdrive.

Yes this. I have used Libby for a while now. Can't recall when I first installed it. But not recently. I have access to 3 libraries. One is my local, another is same state that offers for in state and one I pay for out of state. With Libby I can easily switch between the 3 libraries to search for books. All the holds and borrows are in one place clearly marking which library they are with. I can also see how long I'll have to wait and its all right there. You can check out a book right from the app and send it to kindle. At least in theory. I tried only once in the past and for some reason it never came to my kindle. I'll have to try that again. You can of course use the app to read and listen, although I never tried that.

Its a really handy app, especially if you have more than one library or just borrow a lot of stuff.

[copyrite]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

I've heard of people getting library cards from all over the country. (I think -- chime in if you are one of those.)

I pay $50 / year to access Brooklyn NY's Overdrive and it's paid for itself a couple of times over. They are very responsive with purchasing suggestions, too, unlike Maryland's Overdrive that has never purchased a recommendation.

[GtrsRGr8]

Okay, I will have told a lie. Sort of. I said that I wouldn't write anything more on this thread. But that was because I felt that we were starting to talk about the Libby _app_ more than we were about ebooks.

The following _is_ a legitimate topic for this subforum and this thread, I'm sure.

I found out that you can borrow _audiobooks_ with Libby, as well as borrow ebooks. That may have gone without saying, since Libby is either part of Overdrive or thoroughly entertwined with them, and you can borrow audiobooks from Overdrive. But yours truly did not think about that possibility until he read an article about it just a little while ago.