There are three problems shared by almost every reader: wanting to read more; wanting our friends to read books we love; and being a little concerned with how much we spend at bookstores. Libby, a library reader app powered by OverDrive, answers all of them.
October 2020 was when I decided to start reading again for fun but had little idea where to start. When my local library system recommended Libby, I was excited to find I could apply for a library card through the app and immediately begin borrowing e-books and audiobooks. The app is incredibly user friendly; you can build reading lists, specifically filter search results, and send loans directly to your Kindle. One of the best features is being able to only see what titles are available immediately when you want something to read and don’t want to wait. Libby put audiobooks on my radar and turned my commute into an extra half hour of reading time each day. Access to thousands of titles and the ease of borrowing something I would not have bought in a store put reading back into my routine and broke me out of the decision fatigue so many people feel when trying to pick up a new book.
I recommend Libby to every single person I talk about books with. The record of previously borrowed titles on the app makes it easy to offer book recommendations or add a friend’s favorite book to a to-read list. In building a community around a shared love of books, Libby is a fantastic middle ground between “you should go buy this book at the bookstore” and “why don’t I lend you my copy.” The app creates more accessibility for reading and allows everyone to pick what format works for them. You and a friend might both read the same book, but one of you borrows the audiobook while the other only reads on their Kindle. Because the Libby is free it also removes the financial burden of reading, especially when reading new releases that cannot be easily found second hand.
There’s a balance between giving yourself the freedom to spend money on things that bring you joy and avoiding financial panic. So much time and effort is poured into book production that it feels dismissive to reduce it to a price tag, but there’s also something to be said for the stress of opening your credit card statement after a huge book haul. Primarily borrowing books through Libby has made me more comfortable budgeting for when I spontaneously pick up a new book at the bookstore or as I’m investing in titles I love. When I read Priory of the Orange Tree, by Samantha Shannon, I immediately purchased a hardcover copy because I knew I would want to display it. When Tasha Suri released Jasmine Throne, I chose to buy it at my local bookstore to support that author and encourage the store to carry more diverse, queer stories like it. Purchasing power is a really great tool for individuals to support products they believe in. By balancing buying physical books and borrowing from libraries, you as a consumer can choose where you will feel good about spending your money without restricting how much you can read. By engaging with libraries you can encourage them to grow their collection of titles and invest more in electronic borrowing as well.
With an ever expanding catalog of e-books and audiobooks across more than a hundred subjects there’s something for everyone on Libby. Whether you’re looking to get out of a reading slump, or are already a voracious bookworm, the app is a fantastic tool to read more for less.
Blog written by Samantha Gallasch.