Libby

New feature now available in Libby!

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One of the most often requested updates to Overdrive’s app Libby is now available – to request titles not yet owned by your home library, right in the app! This update includes two features called “Deep Search” and “Notify Me.”

Deep Search allows you to discover titles that are not yet in your library’s collection. Expanded search results will show when:

·        You search for something that returns no results, or

·        Your search results contain fewer than 100 titles and you manually turn on a filter called “Deep Search.” Libby will then show results not owned by your home library.

You can also add a “Notify Me” tag to titles that are not in your library’s collection. If your library purchases a title you have tagged, you will get a notification with the option to borrow (if available) or place a hold on the new item.

Watch this video from Libby on how this updated feature works!

Please Note: Users who previously accessed a similar feature called “Recommend to Library”  in the classic Overdrive app or website will note that this option will be ending in April 2023, along with the discontinuation of the classic Overdrive app. Be sure to update to the Libby app or link to https://libbyapp.com/library/acla to keep accessing your library’s collection and to use the new features available for title suggestions.

— Heather Auman, Western Allegheny Community Library

Continue ReadingNew feature now available in Libby!

Exciting Libby News 

On March 21st Libby will be getting a shiny new update for libraries and their patrons to enjoy! This news means that Libby is introducing two new features called deep search and notify me. The deep search feature will allow patrons to find more titles, ones that may not be in the library’s collection yet. And Notify Me tag is actually a part of the tags feature that already exists within Libby now!  

Deep search will allow everyone to see titles that may not be in the collection. Once you find something you are interested in but is not in the collection you can then use the Notify Me tag to let the libraries know you are interested in that title. And in turn if that title is added you will then be notified of its addition so that you can read or listen to that title! 

This does mean that the Recommend to Library feature that some people may be familiar with is officially going away. This is going hand in hand with the OverDrive App’s formal sunset at the end of April.  

So, this is a good time to remind everyone – if you are still using the OverDrive App and have not yet switched to the Libby App – now is the time! OverDrive will be going away officially at the end of April along with its Recommend to Library feature but fear not Libby will still be here with its handy new deep search and Notify Me tags to help us meet your library needs! 

P.S. For those not yet familiar with Libby’s tag feature please take a peak at their handy help page here all about tags and how to use them: https://help.libbyapp.com/en-us/categories/tags.htm . And to get more familiar with Libby please don’t forget to checkout https://libbyapp.com/library/acla .

Happy Reading  

~Adrianne 

Northland Library 

Continue ReadingExciting Libby News 

Original OverDrive App Update

As you have probably heard, the original OverDrive app is being discontinued to help libraries welcome more users to Libby. The goal is to simplify how libraries promote digital collections, train staff, and support users.

OverDrive recently shared an update regarding the status of the original OverDrive app (which was officially removed from app stores last February).

Upcoming steps from OverDrive

  • OverDrive plans to fully discontinue the OverDrive app in early 2023. In the meantime, library staff are being asked to actively encourage OverDrive app users to switch to Libby.
  • Starting the week of July 25, the following message will be displayed to users in the OverDrive app:
In early 2023, the OverDrive app will be discontinued. Upgrade to Libby today. In Libby, you'll find the same great titles from your library, in a beautiful, modern, easy-to-use app. Your loans, holds, and wish list items will be waiting for you in Libby. Have a Kindle Fire tablet? Learn how to install Libby.

Later this year, this in-app message will be updated to remind users about this change. Libraries will receive advance notice and more information ahead of this update.

But What About Fire Tablet Users?

Great question! While Amazon has not yet accepted OverDrive’s submission of the Libby app to the Amazon Appstore, Kindle Fire users can now download the app onto their device manually. This work-around is supported on Fire tablets running Fire OS 5 and up.

Fire tablet users who do not wish to install the app manually can also use LibbyApp.com. This browser-based version functions almost exactly like the Libby app.

Additional Resources

OverDrive encourages library staff to use the following resources to help your library and users through this transition:

For library staff:

For users:

-Richelle Klug @ Sewickley Public Library

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eTips for Library Patrons

Read more about the article eTips for Library Patrons

Do you often have patrons ask you what the best library app is or what they should use to access library materials from home?

Well the Digital Resource Committee (the librarians you see post here) are here to help and we even have an updated eTips handout for you to use! You can access this handy tip sheet via this website. Just click on Marketing Materials at the top of this page and then scroll down to the eTips handout where you can print off these handy sheets to give to patrons whenever the are struggling to pick the app that best suits their needs.

eTips Handout

You can also click the link above to be taken directly to the eTips Handout!

-Adrianne, Northland Public Library

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