Has your library changed from RBDigital to Libby app? Views . . .

[Whippet]

Libby (Overdrive) apparently bought RBDigital which was our library (in the UK) provider of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines etc.

I HATE the Libby app!

• I'm finding it so difficult to find what I want and it's not so easy to browse things that I might like, rather than just searching for a specific title.
• I'm sure there are fewer UK titles now - many more US.
• The education section which included access to 'The Great Courses' has disappeared

Anyone else?

So many more Australian magazines. No national geographic and less history etc.

I also preferred RB Digital

Ours did. Tbh I didn't think RB Digital was that good and Libby isn't that great either. The choice of books isn't any better but there seems to be more copies available of what they do have.

I much prefer BorrowBox which the other library I belong to uses.

Ours recently changed to Libby, but I hated RB digital, it was terrible. I haven't really used the Libby app yet, but so far looks a bit better at least.

I used to have BorrowBox with my previous library before I moved and that was brilliant, wish they could all use that.

Yes! Libby is rubbish. Also, and I might just be being stupid here but I don't understand how my local library can only have so many copies of an audiobook that is streamed through Libby, so I have to place holds on things.
Surely if they're streamed directly there should be an unlimited amount? Or am I missing something?!

Yes I was wondering that about audiobooks, I don’t understand how they can run out of copies.
I think Libby is fine if you know what you want but I like to browse and agree it’s not very easy and they seem to recommend me some really random stuff!

I think the limited copies thing is to do with cost and licensing, so they buy access to a limited number of digital copies which are then effectively loaned out and returned.

I'm finding the selection of books so poor. Couldn't find any of the women's prize titles or things like Maggie O'Farrell's 'Hamnet'. Just lots of graphic comics and commercial fiction with covers which all look the same!

@Whippet

I think the limited copies thing is to do with cost and licensing, so they buy access to a limited number of digital copies which are then effectively loaned out and returned.

I'm finding the selection of books so poor. Couldn't find any of the women's prize titles or things like Maggie O'Farrell's 'Hamnet'. Just lots of graphic comics and commercial fiction with covers which all look the same!

Ah okay. That would make sense, even though I still think it's daft in this digital age! I only use it for audiobooks at the moment, and there isn't the biggest selection I have to say! However it's free so can't complain at that

I’ve only read one book on Libby and found it so annoying to see what page I was on! Also, they seemed to have practically nothing I wanted to read, so I’m having far more success ordering reasonably current stuff to collect from my library.

The titles available are decided by your library and not to do with the app. I am a member at two different libraries and that means there's is more to choose from.
If you log in to your account through your browser on overdrive you can recommend titles that they don't have!

I do like how Libby gives you flowers if you return a book early. Our library has both borrowbox and Libby which is great. Libby is best for international titles and borrowbox for UK.

My library offers both Libby and Borrowbox. I find Libby quite hard to navigate. I have potential reads on my 'shelf' but then struggle to work out how to view them! It's not very intuitive.

I don't like the Libby app at all. I'm still using Overdrive as it's easier to navigate. I'm not sure what the situation is elsewhere, but our library uses both.

@FunnyWonder

I don't like the Libby app at all. I'm still using Overdrive as it's easier to navigate. I'm not sure what the situation is elsewhere, but our library uses both.

Can you use Overdrive to view the library's Libby content then? I'd much prefer that.

I can’t work out how to just see a list of what’s available on Libby. I have to search every time. And there’s no way to just filter for UK magazines which is really annoying. It’s a bit shit.

A pp mentioned the library decides the content but some things I had in my wish list and some favourites I wanted to re-listen to aren’t there in Libby :( I also don’t understand why everything is only for 7 days? Finding it quite hard to listen and read that quickly!

@Whippet
I know you definitely can for books and audiobooks. I have both apps on my iPad, but mostly use the Overdrive app. Magazines have recently been added to Overdrive, so I imagine they would be the same. I must have a nosey!

Afaik Libby is just the app version of overdrive, the content is the same. The interface is a bit different.
As for things only being leant for 7 days- that can be changed when you borrow the item.

To filter magazines for UK titles just put UK in the search, so if you want gaming magazines, but just UK ones, search 'gaming UK'. It's not perfect though- for some reason that search also suggested Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy!

@Whippet I've got the overdrive app, but I keep being told to try Libby. Had to use it once when I'd forgotten my phone, but went straight back to OD

Thank you Schroeder I’ve now been able to borrow for longer than 7 days. From my research it looks like you can’t borrow to kindle in the U.K. so need to read on the iPad. If anyone finds any different I’d appreciate if you could let me know!

You can only borrow library ebooks on a kindle here if it's the kind of kindle where you can install apps. Paperwhite and similar can't do it. Blame amazon.

I can get the Overdrive app on my Kindle Fire, but not the Libby app. Obviously something Amazon doesn't like or want on their app store. Never mind, Overdrive is easier to navigate anyway.

I love Borrowbox, but also have to use Overdrive on my other Library membership.