Borrow Box frustrations

[Eve]

I love Borrow Box and listen to at least 2 books a week ( long commute) but find it so frustrating when I get into a series and there are gaps or as today , series of 8 and only 1-6 available.

Guess I need to get Audible and buy the missing ones.

I know. I've found that too. I want to read/listen to the Bridgerton series, but only some of them are there. I've reserved what I can and have bought two more. It's been the same with other series too. I had to use Audible to complete the Simon Serrailler series by Susan Hill.

I tried the Irish equivalent and found that the libraries didn't have much in the genres that I like and those they did have had long waiting lists. I pay for Everand which is a streaming service so I can listen to as many as I like, it also has ebooks with a really good range of reference books (I quilt and crochet and it has loads on those subjects) as well as novels. I pay $85 a year, which works out well considering I listen to at least three books a month, often loads more. For the most part, if I'm listening to a crime series they have all the audio books in the series except perhaps the three most recent ones. The same for sci-fi.

Not everything is on Everand, some of my favourite authors are only on Audible. I've been an Audible member for years, what I do now is cancel my membership (I can still access books that I have previously bought). Often there will be an offer to stop me cancelling, eg a free credit, so I will take that and stay another month. Otherwise I will continue to cancel and then wait until they email me a good offer to sign up again. Usually after six months I will get an offer to have half price membership for three months and I'll take that and get books that I have put on my wishlist in the meantime.

You could see if Libby have them.

I also wonder why there is a waiting list for some Borrow Box books.
I'm sure I must be missing something but it is just an electronic thing-why can't it be loaned out dozens of times at once?
It's not as if it has is a physical book that has to be brought back and given to the next reader on the list.

@ChurchCats

i’m being very dim - but how do I get a libby library card - there seems to be very few uk libraries ?

@Eve
You access through it through your own library card, in much the same way as you do Borrow Box.. It is completely free: the choice isn't as wide but between Borrow Box and Libby, you might be able to find a complete series!

Google Libby audio books and the search will return Libby. Look for the section entitled: Getting Started With Libby and it will tell you how to download the app and how it works.

I'm not very bright with apps but even I was able to download-and now use it-on my phone.

Hope this helps and that it will be of some use to you!

It's because they only have a license for so many copies.

Also for both libby and borrowbox you could try joining different libraries in neighbouring counties . They may have different selections

Ah! Thank you for explaining @Swiftie69

@Eve Libby have two and a half thousand audio books available now-I've just looked.

That's true-@Swiftie69 The two and a half thousand are what is available in my area.

My authority has 3650 audio books on Libby

If the first six are on borrowbox there’s a chance those last two won’t be on audible, they might still be being processed for borrowbox

It doesn't surprise me that my authority has 1000 less than yours!😡

My county has a very good library system

Mine isn't too bad, I suppose-despite having a 1000 less on Libby! They do get most new hardbacks in and if they don't have them, they nearly always buy them if they're requested.

Long live libraries! 👏😍

My area doesnt have Libby - only borrowbox, but using DM address I was able to get a card in her area and its got 7K audiobooks!

That will keep you busy, @Eve

I've joined libraries all over the country to use the ebook service. I live in Yorkshire and have membership in a Carmarthen library. It doesn't seem to matter that my address is 100's of miles away from the physical library.

I'm a bit confused as to how I can join borrowbox in different areas? I am a member for my own area. Could anyone help me work out how to set up memberships elsewhere please?

I just joined using my own address. Apparently they get a card ready to be connected in the library concerned, but I've never picked them up. They give you a PIN number and card number on an email ( if I remember correctly as it was a few years ago now).

I've just joined a nearby local authority's library service online and I've already used their Borrowbox. My understanding is that most (all?) public library services allow you join as long as you have a UK address.

How do you find out how many your local authority has?

Blimey, my local authority only has 380 books in Libby... I rarely use it.

@CrossPurposes @nickyschof do you know whether you can only have membership to one Borrowbox location?

I'm a member of two local authority library services and can use Borrowbox via both of them.

I have one BorrowBox account but you can add different county library cards to the same account to increase the offering. Libby is useful as well.

I’ve found a lot on Spotify as well. Loads of free books, and also a lot more come free with the paid account - we share a family plan with some friends.