I hate Libby

[Anonymous]

I’m so disappointed overdrive is going away. Maybe it’s me, but there are two things that are very easy to do with overdrive that I can’t figure out how to do in Libby.
1. If you recommend an unavailable book on overdrive, they will add you to the waitlist if the library purchases it. I do this for upcoming popular books of favorite authors that are not yet released and I know the library will get them when they come out.
2. I’m a member of multiple libraries. One library has the biggest catalogue and the other two are so-so. Each library has a limited holds list but for many books I can wait to read/listen to it. I like to use the library with the biggest catalogue for books I’m anxious to read and the other two are for books that I don’t mind waiting a long time. Libby will only let me put a hold with the library that has the soonest availability. I end up filling my holds list at the biggest library with books that are available months from now. BUT the book that is available in two weeks is only at this same library where my holds list is already filled. For example, the audiobook of Demon Copperhead is available at all 3 libraries, but I can only put it on hold at the library where I want to use my holds list for books that are not available at the other two.

Does anyone with better savvy know how to work around these issues? It’s really frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Is Overdrive going away everywhere, or just in your district? I haven’t used Libby yet, it doesn’t sound like an upgrade.

[Anonymous]

Public librarian here. Libby is Overdrive’s new(er) app. They have been saying for years that they’re going to stop supporting the original Overdrive app, but my understanding is that it’s finally happening. I have heard that when Libby first came out, Overdrive allowed libraries to turn off the “request purchase” feature, but they are changing that to force libraries to turn it on. I don’t know if that’s true, but you might check back to see if it appears.

You can force Libby to place the hold at your selected library, even if it has a longer wait time. Search for the book, then tap the library card icon that shows which card you’re using. It will show you copies held by all the libraries where you have cards, along with wait times. (This is a great new feature, actually; you used to have to search each catalog separately.) Choose the one you want and select Place Hold. It will tell you there is a library with a shorter wait time, but it will allow you to place the hold.

If you’re having trouble, stop in at the service desk at your local library. I’m sure they’d be glad to help.

[Anonymous]

You can absolutely put multiple holds on a book in Libby. I do it all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can absolutely put multiple holds on a book in Libby. I do it all the time.

Same here.

[Anonymous]

I have 10 books on hold through Arlington Public Library/Libby right now. I have really enjoyed using the app... and its free to get access to all these books! I love how if 3 books become available at the same time, I can pause the hold for a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can absolutely put multiple holds on a book in Libby. I do it all the time.

Librarian PP again. You can. It’s just confusing because it only shows the title once in your holds list, even if you have multiple holds on it. It tries to do some cute thing with the library card icon, like show half of it one color and half the other color, but it’s not very clear. If you tap on the book, it shows you all the holds you have on it.

But I think OP doesn’t want multiple holds, just to be able to choose which library the hold is at so she doesn’t go over the holds limit at the library that has both better selection and shorter wait times.

Also, OP, in case I wasn’t clear before, when you’re looking at the list of all the libraries that own the title, you have to press the library card icon to the far right to place the hold at the selected library. You can’t just press on the larger text block on the left.

[Anonymous]

OP everything you’re complaining about can be avoided if you use a web browser for recommendations or holds and the app for listening.

[Anonymous]

Why do you need to place multiple holds on the same book? I have two library cards and I just pick the one with the shortest line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can absolutely put multiple holds on a book in Libby. I do it all the time.

Librarian PP again. You can. It’s just confusing because it only shows the title once in your holds list, even if you have multiple holds on it. It tries to do some cute thing with the library card icon, like show half of it one color and half the other color, but it’s not very clear. If you tap on the book, it shows you all the holds you have on it.

But I think OP doesn’t want multiple holds, just to be able to choose which library the hold is at so she doesn’t go over the holds limit at the library that has both better selection and shorter wait times.

Also, OP, in case I wasn’t clear before, when you’re looking at the list of all the libraries that own the title, you have to press the library card icon to the far right to place the hold at the selected library. You can’t just press on the larger text block on the left.

OP, here, thank you, this is is it exactly. I want to choose the library, even if it’s a longer wait. I will try this, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP everything you’re complaining about can be avoided if you use a web browser for recommendations or holds and the app for listening.

How do you mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP everything you’re complaining about can be avoided if you use a web browser for recommendations or holds and the app for listening.

Yeah and that’s annoying

- not OP

[Anonymous]

Bless you librarian of DCUM, that was such a helpful explanation!

Fwiw I like Libby fine, just would like to have a horizontal reading option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need to place multiple holds on the same book? I have two library cards and I just pick the one with the shortest line.

Sometimes the estimate isn’t accurate because people have multiple hoods going for a book.

So you’re #3 in line, but two people ahead of you have multiple holds on the book and get it from another library. You get the book faster than if you are #2 on a list where the person ahead of you isn’t going to drop out. You can’t predict it.

Also, one of my libraries throws me to the front of the line sometimes. I can’t predict it. I place the hold and sometimes get a surprise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need to place multiple holds on the same book? I have two library cards and I just pick the one with the shortest line.

Sometimes the estimate isn’t accurate because people have multiple hoods going for a book.

So you’re #3 in line, but two people ahead of you have multiple holds on the book and get it from another library. You get the book faster than if you are #2 on a list where the person ahead of you isn’t going to drop out. You can’t predict it.

Also, one of my libraries throws me to the front of the line sometimes. I can’t predict it. I place the hold and sometimes get a surprise!

Librarian again. Overdrive wait time estimates are notoriously bad. I don’t know if any systems in the DMV do this, but in past consortial systems I’ve worked in, individual libraries can add copies that go to their cardholders first, and Overdrive doesn’t take that into account. A library system can also purchase extra copies of a title if there are a lot of holds, which will bring the wait time down. And in addition to people cancelling holds, there might be people in line ahead of you who aren’t ready for the book yet, so they go back in line and you get the title early. Or they return the book early, but the estimates assume everyone keeps the book for the full loan period. There are all kinds of variables.