New
Libby’s New Discovery Tool Helps Patrons Explore Their Library’s Digital Collection
Engaging search feature helps uncover books and stories in each local library’s catalog
Cleveland, OH — August 26, 2025 — Libby today announced the launch of Inspire Me, a new search and discovery experience that supports book discovery within a user’s local library collection. Inspire Me adds a fun and engaging option for readers to discover a list of personalized recommendations from the virtual bookshelves of their local library’s digital collection.
Unlike traditional search algorithms that prioritize generalized recommendations, Inspire Me is built upon each library’s unique digital collection. Patrons can explore books through guided discovery prompts called “inspirations” and/or based on their previously saved titles in Libby. When a user taps an inspiration, Libby surfaces five relevant titles from their library’s digital collection, each accompanied by a brief explanation of how the book matches the inspiration. The feature prioritizes titles that are immediately available to borrow, allowing readers to start their newly discovered titles right away.
“Inspire Me uses responsible AI integration to help patrons dive deeper into the incredible catalogs their local libraries have curated,” said Jen Leitman, OverDrive’s Chief Marketing Officer. “By surfacing titles that align with what readers are searching for, Inspire Me helps patrons discover more of the books their libraries have already invested in. It’s not about replacing human insight, it’s about making discovery easier, smarter, and more intuitive.”
“Every library collection is unique because it reflects the needs and interests of its community,” said Ryan Fish, EVP of Product Management. “Inspire Me complements librarian-led discovery by helping make those existing collections easier to explore, building stronger engagement and circulation across digital collections.”
Roll out is already underway and patrons can expect to have access to this new feature in September. The feature can be found by clicking the Libby icon in the center of the menu at the bottom of the app. Upon first use, patrons will see a clear explanation of how recommendations are generated, along with links to Libby’s privacy, content rights, and environmental impact statements, reinforcing OverDrive’s commitment to transparency and responsible technology use.
About OverDrive
OverDrive is a mission-based company that supports libraries and schools. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 87,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries with the industry’s largest digital catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, video and other content. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading app, the Kanopy video streaming app, and TeachingBooks. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA. www.overdrive.com
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