I recently discovered an app called “Libby” that connects you to your local library, and so far I really like it. You can place a hold on books (join waitlist), or borrow them for a certain amount of time. There are no late fees as they automatically take the book back from you once your allocated time is up, and everything is completely free, it’s also kindle compatible. What is your preferred way of reading/listening to books and what are some of your favorite features in the apps/tech you use?
by littleprettypaws
29 Comments
Libby is mine as well! I love that it’s free.
I do use Audible ocasionally when I don’t want to wait for a loan… usually I try to find a free trial or a reduced price 😅
For Kindle books, I also do Amazon if I don’t feel like waiting for the loan as well 🙂
Bundles of thinly-distributed bleached cellulose compound bound with high-adhesive epoxy between graphically illustrated printed flaps of thicker cellulose compound.
My favorite is Hoopla.
Same concept as Libby, but there’s no waitlists. The app is easy to use and their audiobook collection is quite large. The only downside is my library’s limit on check-outs but since I only use it for my work commute it doesn’t bother me.
Just a fun fact: you can add multiple library cards to your Libby! So if you have friends in other locations y’all should share!
MoonReader+ for my digital reads. so many features! so many display options!
SmartAudiobookplayer for my digital listens. speeds up playback without having the narrators sound like chipmunks.
I have a broad spectrum of approach and use everything to get the best price. I use Libby which doesn’t always have the books I want but it’s useful. I use Chirp for deals. I use Apple because they sometimes have books I’m looking for at little cost. Audible is my usual though. I buy extra credits but often the book I want has a price lower than the cost of a credit. I just bought something for $3 instead of using an $11 credit.
I hate to say it because they’re not great to artists so I assume they’re not great to authors but Spotify has stepped their audiobook game up relative to what it used to be. For no extra money I’ve been able to listen to audiobooks without waiting for credits or Libby wait times.
While I have been using it quite a bit lately I’m going to deep dive into how they’re compensating authors because I can’t believe that this amount of ease and lack of cost can be ethically done.
Libby for me as well! I also use the Kindle app and Kindle Unlimited. Really good deals on there for books to buy as well.
I use Libby to check out books sometimes. I like to read in the Kindle app, which is much more user friendly than the iBooks app IMO.
Hoopla and Libby. Oh, and Scribd, which now calls itself Everand.
For audiobooks I use Libby with two different library cards, Hoopla, and Everand. Between the three I pretty much always have something to listen to.
For digital reading, I have a Kobo E-reader and depending on which library card I use, it’s either through Overdrive (which is Libby), or Cloud Library (which requires me to transfer books from there to Adobe Digital Editions, then to my Kobo). That last bit sounds more annoying than it actually is.
I try not to buy books in any form to save both space and money. If I can’t borrow something for whatever reason, I will check the Kobo store first since the digital versions are almost always much cheaper.
Libby is my #1
And now that Spotify has free audiobooks for premium members I can use that as a backup!
Libby, Boundless, Cloud Library, Everand, Kindle Unlimited are some I use.
I use Libby and Hoopla through the same library. They tend to have different books. I just put a hold on a book on Libby that I will apparently be lucky to get hold of by this time next year.
Spotify suddenly has 15 hours of audiobook time included a month in their membership I pay for. I listen to books only in the car and I don’t commute daily so it’s perfect for me.
Libby and Hoopla are my free accounts through the library. Then I have kindle unlimited. But I also buy books when I really want to read something.
You have no idea how much I hate to corporate shill, but audible is pretty great.
I’ve never not been able to access a book I wanted to listen to in under a minute if I have internet access.
And having permanent (or at least until papa Amazon decides to do some tomfoolery or whatever) access to everything I’ve ever listened to whenever I want has been amazing to me. All downloaded on my phone (100s of gigs) and accessible all the time.
Just finished a book and don’t have a plan for the next book? Better listen to Rosamund Pike narrate the life of Elizabeth Bennet for the dozenth time on my walk home. Want to destress and calm down? Perdita Weeks is there to talk about lonely Circe on her island.
It’s just so incredibly convenient, always there, always exactly what I want, and never any waiting or loss of access or really, anything negative, except that it costs money and I’ve seen posts about some authors complaining about how Amazon treats them.
I’ve used Overdrive, now Libby, for years to check out books from my library to read on my 3rd gen Kindle paperwhite & to listen to audiobooks.
I occasionally listen to Audible books from Amazon if they’re free.
I read graphic novels on my old inherited 3rd gen ipad through my library.
I occasionally get free ebooks to side load to my Kindle from Haymarket Books.
I mean the kindle app is insane to me, I have an apple phone and tablet, two windows pcs, and an android tablet. It keeps my books synced everywhere. I’m talking I close the laptop and take out the phone and it’s like do you want to go to page xyz? Yes, yes I do. I haven’t carried a book out of the house in years.
When the book I want isn’t available on Libby and i don’t want to spend money for an audiobook but already have the ebook (for books on kindle unlimited, for example), I just turn on the Spoken Content feature in the Accessibility section of the iPhone and my phone just reads aloud what’s written on the screen and switches pages automatically! I usually use it on the Kindle app and I find that the voice isn’t too robotic! You can also adjust the speed
I love Libby as well. I browse and check out the book on my phone and then send it to my Kindle e-ink device.
LPT, if you think you’ll run out of time before your loan is up (and can’t renew because of wait-list) then put your device in airplane mode. You’ll be able to keep reading beyond the due date!
Libby and my kindle. I don’t like supporting Amazon so heavily but my kindle is like the one purchase in my entire life that has gotten the most mileage and has been arguably the most useful (excluding something like a car, I mean for leisure).
Getting a kindle seriously changed the amount I read, and adding Libby to that made it from an Amazon machine to a library machine. I now usually have books on me but also have a kindle book going that I can read on the kindle or seamlessly on my phone if I happen to not have the kindle with me. Having a backlight is so much better than a booklight too.
I am legally blind and so I mostly “read” audio books. I use Libby, Scribd, audible, and BARD which is an online app for the library of Congress for the blind and vision impaired.
I recently downloaded the Kindle app. I like it, my physical Kindle doesn’t. 😅
Though the Kindle menu in general is a bit clumsy at times and could do with a small makeover.
Readera
The problem with Overdrive/Libby is they’re getting a stranglehold
https://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/worldwide_community_activists_protest_overdrive_and_others_forcing_drm_upon_libraries
Libby for audiobooks, graphic novels, and comics (all through my library)
Kindle for most books.
Blue Fire Reader for PDFs and other formats.
I use a Kobo. It’s DRM policy is much more ratoinal than Amazon’s. It also works with Overdrive (the app that sits “under” Libby) in Canadian libraries.
Whatever is free with my card(s): Libby, Hoopla and CloudLibrary
I also buy from Chirp sales and get books under $3.
Or free borrows for being an Amazon Prime member