Hey, champ! Let’s sit down and have a chat. You’ve been using Libby a lot recently and it has become your favorite way to read. Your friends are doing it, your family is doing it — hey, it was probably your local librarian that introduced you to Libby.
And this stock photo of a librarian wants you to know that you’re doing great!
There comes a time in a reader’s life when you’re discovering new and exciting ways to read and you’re going to have questions. Listen, sport, I get it. Sometimes you’re embarrassed to ask. Maybe you don’t want to sound naïve, but I remember back when I was just like you — I was wondering:
What is a Notify Me Tag and how does it work?
Sometimes the eBook or audiobook you’re looking for doesn’t show up when you search for it in Libby. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. These items still show up with Deep Search. What’s Deep Search? Deep Search is an optional Filter in Libby that shows you the thing you are looking for even though it isn’t currently available to you. You’ll know something isn’t available because instead of having the options to either “Borrow” or “Place Hold”, you’ll get the option: Notify Me.
A Notify Me Tag does exactly what it says on the tin: you put a Notify Me Tag on an item that you want to be notified about when it is added to the Libby collection. Folks commonly use a Notify Me Tag with their favorite magazines so they know when the latest issue becomes available. Very useful.
Want to practice real quick?
I’m looking for the book What the Dead Know: Learning About Life As a New York City Death Investigator by Barbara Butcher. See how that item isn’t listed in the results below? At the bottom of your Libby search page, you can click where it says “Deep searching is available in the filters of this list” and it will open your Filters (you can also select “deep search” any time in Filters).
Scrolling down through your Filters you will see the option to enable Deep Search. Select “deep search”, then click where it says “Show (#) Titles”, and you’ll also start seeing things not already owned.
See how when I select “deep search” it turns purple? Like I always say: highlighted purple = good to go, highlighted gray = you’ll never know.
Above, you can see examples of materials with the Notify Me option are now intermingled with items you can place a hold on or borrow. Next to the Filters button, it shows that Deep Search is enabled.
After you place a Notify Me Tag on an item, you’ll be…notified when it becomes available on Libby! It’s truly that simple. Fair warning: a Notify Me Tag doesn’t automatically place a hold for you. When you are notified, act fast so you can either Borrow or Place a Hold (depending on availability).
So, if you don’t see the eBook or audiobook you’re looking for on Libby, try enabling Deep Search! Then all you’ll need to do is hit the Notify Me button and wait for the magic to happen!
Of course, if you ever have questions, reach out to your local library.
Good chat, tiger. Wake me up in about 15 minutes, will ya? I want to check to see if my Holds came in.
Derek, South Park Twp Library