Have you downloaded the Libby app and borrowed some eBooks and audiobooks from our OverDrive Collection? Libby, the one-tap reading app is the fastest way to reading happiness with it's simple and easy design. Here are a few features Libby offers that will improve your reading experience.
Save your search preferences
We'd love for you to browse through every eBook and audiobook your Library has to offer, but we know that's not realistic. Thanks to Libby, you can save your search preferences.
- Tap Preferences at the top of the home screen or any list.
- Adjust your filters (like format, language, audience, compatibility, and availability) and sorting option.
- Tap Apply Preferences.
Define a word
How many times have you been reading a book and stumbled across a word you didn't understand? With Libby, all you have to do is tap and hold on a specific word, and you'll find the option to define it. This is great for readers of all ages, but especially students as they work to read above their age level.
Reveal your reading estimates
You can easily see how far along in a book you are by checking the book progress displayed when you open a digital book. But if you're curious about how long it's going to take you to finish the book, Libby provides a handy reading estimate. Tap the menu button when you're reading or listening to a title, and then tap the name of the book in the top right corner of the screen. There you'll find how much time you've spent enjoying the book and about how much longer it will take for you to finish. This is handy for knowing whether or not to place another title on hold.
Help you get through an audiobook quicker
Switching between common playback speeds is as easy as tapping the small clock icon at the top of the screen when you're listening to an audiobook. Standard breakdowns between 1-2 times normal playback speed are included. You can also adjust the playback speed by tapping and holding the clock icon and then dragging it down the screen with your finger until you find your preferred speed. Speed listeners will be excited to know that you can go all the way to three times normal listening speed.
Rewinding and fast forwarding
Audiobooks are great for their ability to allow you to multitask. This multitasking can lead to you missing something in the audiobook. So, being able to quickly toggle through books is very helpful. In Libby's audio player, you can rewind by swiping right or fast forward by swiping left.
Show your estimated wait for a title on hold
After you place a hold, view your place in line by going to Shelf > Holds and tapping Wait List. This will display your approximate wait time for the title, as well as total holds, total copies and the number of people waiting per copy.
Suspend your holds
You've placed several titles on hold only to realize they're all going to become available to you at the same time. Thankfully, Libby can suspend some of those holds until you're ready so you don't lose the chance to read those books you've been waiting for. Suspending a hold lets you continue moving up on a title's wait list without the title becoming available for you. If you reach #1 on the wait list, you'll simply be in the first position to get the book once your suspended hold period expires. Learn how to suspend a hold with this easy help article.
Sample any book in your library's OverDrive collection
Do you like to read a few pages of a book before deciding whether or not to borrow it? You can do this with Libby. A major bonus is that you can sample titles even if they're currently being borrowed by someone else. Simply tap the jacket cover of a book you're curious about and hit Read Sample. You can read up to 10% of any book in our OverDrive collection whether there are available copies or not. It's a perfect way to decide what you want to borrow.
Libby Academy
OverDrive continues to add helpful features to Libby, and the best place to learn about the latest improvements is Libby Academy. When in the app, tap the Libby face in the top right corner, and then tap Learn Libby to see quick videos from the OverDrive Help team.
This article, 9 awesome things Libby does that you might not know about, was posted on OverDrive Blogs on Oct. 23, 2018.