Some weeks ago I noticed a profound change in the Libby app. It is absolutely not user-friendly and really pointless. Before, it was easy to choose, download read and return to library with simple clicks. Now it is complicated, does not do what it is supposed to do, I can't get to return to the library when I want and have lots of rubbish on my screen that I don't need. WHY? It was a brilliant app.
HS
HU-SilverGirl
How to imagine a worse audio app
How to imagine a worse audio app? Typical: I set a bookmark before nodding off to sleep. I wake some hours later, the book has gone on w/o me, as it were. I tap on the bookmark to return to my starting point. The wheel turns and turns and turns. The book does not return to the bookmark. If I go to "chapters" and tap the previous chapter, the wheel turns and turns and turns. It is beyond frustrating. At this point I give up and go to my audible account. Please reinstate overdrive. Always always reliable. I would appreciate feedback. Thanks! Victoria deMara
TB
Toto B.
Overall a good app
The app works great for me. I'm new to online libraries, so it takes me a good two days to understand the interface. After I get how it works, I like it. I put 4 library cards in it and the app suggests which library has the shortest waiting time. But waiting time can be so long, especially for new and popular books.
ML
Mary L.
Libby sucks!
I used to download an audiobook to my little clip-on mp3 player and listen while doing yard work or housework. I am 76 YO and vision impaired. Now I have to download onto my phone which absolutely will not play the book 3/4ths of the time. Even people at the library can't figure out how to make it play. Plus Libby runs down the phone battery which is not replaceable and phones are expensive. I manage a book club and am often unable to get a book to play by the time of the meeting. Also, book club members need to get a estimate of when a book on hold will be available so they have it in time for the meeting. But the new system doesn't give you this information. And the search function is useless. The books are listed, but with little info. You can't tell if the book is in English, how long it is, if it's a play or the actual book, etc. I will no longer vote for funds for the public library. If I have to subscribe to an audiobook service, why should I pay more taxes to support the library if it's not useable. Apparently the switch to Libby is an effort to get people to read less. Bring back Overdrive!!
CL
Carol L.
You can improve this company by getting…
You can improve this company by getting rid of it for the library.
VE
Vertetciel
The Libby app is complete crap
Libby won't open. I've got it on several devices and it won't work on any of them. On one of them I tried updating it and it still won't work. That was the device I use most often. I made the mistake of downloading an audiobook. I'm sure that's what killed it.
If you must use the damn' app (since the b@$+ards have killed overdrive) my recommendation is to never download more than 2 or 3 books at once, and never download an audiobook. Regard it as something that can only be used with an internet connection (despite its claims to the contrary). It seems to be able to handle at most a hundred or 2 hundred mb of data in the app simultaneously. Which is of course preposterous in this day and age.
And if you have an old version of the app, and it's working, never update it unless you have to, and back up all the data on it that you care about, library card numbers (don't forget pin numbers), tagged books, history, etc, with screenshots, regularly, in case it suddenly won't open and you can't access anything. Put it on several devices at once and be sure that you activate it on each device at least once a week so it keeps up. It seems to give it difficulty to have been offline for very long since the device you use is getting new books and returning old ones.
The Libby app is crap, but it's cornered the market so we're stuck with it, at least for now. Here's to any and all competent replacements for it. More power to them and I hope we meet them soon!
MA
MaryD
Not at all a friendly user interface
Not at all a friendly user interface. Overdrive was much easier and without the hitches Libby has.
The search facility is useless -example - I searched for an author and the search delivered 11 audio books and 17 books by this particular author. However when I clicked on the 17 books none of them were by the selected author! They were a random hodge podge of mystery/ thrillers . Dreadful app
DO
Dotty
Grabby
Libby have suddenly & without warning drastically reduced the amount of periodicals available at my library, while still charging them the same amount. If the company is so avaricious, maybe they should rename the app Grabby.....