The top 10 Libby and OverDrive questions answered
With all of the exciting updates to Libby and your OverDrive service as well as the constant stream of new books being added to your digital library, it’s understandable that your users may have some questions. Can I download the files? What about Kindle? Or even the standard, but often asked, “How do I get started?” To answer these and any other OverDrive-related questions we’ve created two handy websites that you and your patrons can access any time you need. OverDrive Help is your one stop shop for articles, videos and how to guides for your OverDrive service. If you have a more specific, Libby related question, there’s Libby Help to take a deep dive into all the tips and tricks of our award winning one-tap app.
Both of these websites provide the answers readers are looking for whether they’re first time eBook readers or they’ve been borrowing digital books for years. Some questions may be asked more than others so to help lend a hand, below are links to the most popular articles on both sites below.
Frequently Asked Libby Help questions
How do I send books to Kindle & How do I make Kindle my preferred way to read
Given that OverDrive is the only digital book company working with libraries to have Kindle compatibility, it makes sense your users will want to make sure they understand how it works. These are perfect articles to have readily available for sharing.
What’s the difference between Libby and the OverDrive app
This question may come up for current OverDrive app users. We suggest all users try Libby as their digital reading app and in the event your users are looking for the difference between the two, this article is the perfect answer.
Downloading or deleting titles
When you borrow a book on Libby one of the main benefits is the instant availability of the title, thanks to the ability to stream it through OverDrive Read. If a user asks how they can actually download the files, you can provide them this article. Here you’ll also find information on how to delete titles.
This is a great article to send to patrons that are worried about data usage. They can quickly pop into their settings in Libby so it only downloads titles when connected to WiFi, providing peace of mind.
Top OverDrive Help articles
What updates have been made to my library’s digital collection recently?
Our developers are constantly innovating the digital reading experience for your patrons. This article is great to have on hand to keep everyone up to speed with what’s new.
Getting started with OverDrive
Thousands of people are still discovering that their library offers eBooks and audiobooks for free, so this is still a highly sought out article. Keep it handy for those first time users.
How to enable cookies on your mobile device
OverDrive websites require the use of cookies for better performance and functionality. By default, browsers on mobile devices are set up to accept cookies, so you shouldn’t have to manual adjust anything. However, if you get an error telling you to enable cookies while browsing an OverDrive site on your mobile device, follow these steps below.
Getting started with Kindle Books from your library
As we mentioned above, users love reading on their Kindle, so be sure to take advantage of OverDrive’s exclusive compatibility in your promotions and conversations with patrons.
How do I get started using Libby?
And we’ve come full circle! This getting started guide is perfect for both current and new users looking to try out Libby. They’re sure to love the one-tap reading experience.
Videos
For all of your users who happen to be visual learners be sure to point them in the direction of both our Libby intro video and all of our OverDrive Help videos as well.
No matter what type of question a patron may have, these tools are sure to provide the right answers to get them back to creating reading happiness in your digital library.
After I have returned a book why do I have to redeem it if I wanted to read the book again?
Why can I only borrow and hold 5 books at maximum?
Your library will limit how many checkouts you can have at a time.
Using the latest version of Libby, I have several books downloaded and reading offline. A bug/defect with Libby is that it sometimes hangs when I try to open it when offline on my tablet. If I connect to wi-fi, it then initializes, then I can proceed. I have downloads set to manual so it should not be requiring a connection. Also, this happens when I do not have any books due.
I got a book available to borrow on overdrive, but I am using libby more. I’d love to know if there is a way to “borrow” ther same book and read on libby?
My library system don’t have many ebooks I like can I use other library systems instead?
Borrow some one else’s card in another city
In Ohio, you may get a card at any Ohio library. Thar increases the number of books available. Also there is a way to borrow from other Ohio libraries. Ask your library how to do this.
Many I use other library’s other than my local library
Hello, in Libby, do you have to use the app to listen to audiobooks, or can you download the audiobook and then specify a different app to read it?
My Libby account is set on books and audio books. I want ebooks also. I did have it but now can’t get books and I can’t get to the menu. Preferences doesn’t help either.
I like that when I select a book it tells me remove from history which I then know I have read it or add to history which tells me have not read . But now I am getting books saying add to history and when I start reading I realize I have already read them . Is there a time limit on this
I was reading a book yesterday using Libby, but when I tried to continue with it this morning, all I get using Libby is a blank screen. My other apps are working fine.
I was reading an audio book and was 3/4’s of the way through, when it disappeared. Now I have to wait 2 months to renew it again. Is there anyway to “read” it in one lend?
Some of my books and audiobooks show up in Overdrive but not Libby, and vice-versa. I hate having to search for where a book is checked out and having to use both apps. How can I make so I only have to use one app, either one, though I am a long-time overdrive user and am happy with that.
I second this!
I third this
Me too
How come some book are not available? It will have like the fourth in a series and the others will say not available at your library i thought that all the libraries were connected by these apps
Agreed! There are so many good books only available in audiobook which is not my preference.
My audiobooks take a very long time to download. I have the setting for Wi-Fi download and I am at a location where I have Wi-Fi. Sometimes the books only partially download or not at all. How do I improve this situation?
If i borrow the same ebook and audiobook can i go back and forth between the two on libby? You know read to page 63 and pick right up at that spot in audiobook or vice versa?
This article didn’t hep me at all. I am an avid user of audio books on Overdrive. If Libby is just another way of getting books, no thanks. I want an app that lets me increase the font sizes (Not on a book, on the app display.) I’d like to set defaults like only show me audio books. I don’t want to select audio books every time I do a search. Can Libbie do any of this? What does it o better than Overdrive?
I use Libby almost exclusively for listening to audiobooks. Occasionally, I will get an e-book with the same title so I can search the book for a lesser character to find all references quickly.
You can set it to search only for audiobooks as a default. Search a title, click preferences (left middle of screen, set “audiobooks”. All your future searches will only apply to audiobooks until you change the setting. I am certain, as I switch this off any time I want to find an e-book, then turn it back on.
You can set your preference to audiobooks and only audiobooks will be displayed.
http://www.masoncounty.lib.mi.us/4-frequently-asked-questions-about-libby-answered/
I mostly listen to Audiobooks also. I have a whole Wish List on Overdrive that I don’t want to lose. It doesn’t seem to transfer to L. And I don’t see a way of having a Wish List on L. Will all my History sync with Libbie? Doesn’t look like it.
Overdrive is asking for money? It says “Library server message–Greetings from Koha.–Patron owes $7.50.” What’s that all about?
You’ll want to contact your library. You may owe them late fees but we never ask users for money
Libby is terrible. I need to download books on a wifi, so I can read them without a connection. This site doesn’t mention Libby’s biggest failing.
Hi there- This is absolutely something you can do and have always been able to do on Libby: https://help.libbyapp.com/6022.htm?Highlight=offline
My daughter is not much of a reader. But she likes reading on her IPad. She has to read books she can test on at school. The Accelerated Reader (AR) books. So is there a way to determine these books on Libby? Thank you!!
At the moment we do not have AR identifiers on titles in Libby but you can always find those titles beforehand and then search in Libby 🙂
Either Overdrive or Libby will allow me to read a library book. Does either have the power to speak the book to me? If not, is there an iOS app that will speak any Overdrive or Libby book to me?
Hi Thomas, the OverDrive app works with screen readers like JAWS that will do this for you.
Try downloading audiobooks. If you have a large library system, they may have a huge collection. It will sound dramatically better because they are read by professionals. It will be a smaller batch of books available, but in large cities the collection of audiobooks is staggering.