How to set it up (step-by-step)

• Download Libby or go to libbyapp.com.
• Open the app and tap "Find my library" (or search for the name of your city/county library).
• Choose your library from the list.
• Sign in with your library card number and your PIN/password. (If you don't know your PIN or password, contact your library; some cards use a default PIN like the last 4 digits of your phone number.)
• Start browsing - borrow a title with the Borrow button. It opens immediately in Libby for reading/listening or can be downloaded for use offline.

Borrowing basics

• Borrow or place a hold: tap Borrow or Place Hold next to the title you would like to choose, the title is added to your loans or to your Holds list.
• Reading/Listening: read or listen from the Libby app or when you tap the  Borrow button of your chosen title, select the Kindle option. This will open Amazon.com. Login to your Amazon.com account and tap or click on Get Library Book, tap or click again on Read Now in the Kindle App button. You can read the eBook from your Kindle app on your phone/tablet or send it to your Kindle or Kindle Fire to read from there. 
• Loan length: set by your library, the item will return automatically (with notices as the due date approaches for you to decide to renew or place on hold again if you have not finished the book) - no late fees.
• Holds: if a title is checked out, place a hold; you'll get an alert when it is available.
• Renewals: may be allowed if no one else is waiting.
• Returns: you can return a title early from the Loans screen or wait for it to automatically return.

Audiobook Features

• Variable playback speed (from 0.5x-3x for slower or faster listening speeds)
• Sleep timer.
• Bookmarks and position syncing across devices.
• Download for offline listening.

Kindle & other formats

• Some titles support Send to Kindle - availability varies by publisher.
• Libby supports epub and audio formats; it will tell you what formats are available for each title. 
• Reading/Listening - read or listen from the Libby app or when you tap the  Borrow button of your chosen title, select the Kindle option. This will open Amazon.com. Login to your Amazon.com account and tap or click on Get Library Book, tap or click again on Read Now in the Kindle App button. You can read the eBook from your Kindle app on your phone/tablet or send it to your Kindle or Kindle Fire to read from there. If you have not linked your Amazon.com account to your Kindle device, do so. If you need help linking the account to your Kindle device, contact your library for assistance. 

Holds, availability & wait times - what to expect

• Digital libraries have limited simultaneous copies, so popular titles can have waits.
• Put titles on hold and Libby will notify you when it is available. If you are not ready to read the title you had placed on hold, suspend the hold for your preferred amount of time.
• Libraries regularly purchase new titles; availability usually improves over time.

Tips & tricks

• Sample before borrowing: many books have a sample you can read.
• Tagging & wish list: tag items to save for later.
• Exporting notes/highlights: Libby supports highlights/bookmarks; check the app for export options.
• Use offline: download books before travel or low-connectivity situations.
• Accessibility: Libby supports screen readers, adjustable text sizes, and a dark mode for when the white background is too harsh.
• Filters: on the homepage of your Libby app use the various filters to limit to the newest or most popular titles, items available now or on demand, or limit what format you wish to see - only eBooks or only eAudiobooks. 

Troubleshooting common problems

• Card not recognized - confirm library card number and PIN with your library.
• Cannot log in - close the Libby app and restart your device before trying to login again.
• App crashing or will not download - update the app, restart the device, reinstall, or wait a short time before trying these options again, it might be that Libby is down for everyone and will need time to come back online.
• Cannot send to Kindle - this feature is not supported for all titles; check in the title's details to see if it is not available on Kindle.
• If problems persist, contact your library - they can manage your account through OverDrive's backend and can fix card or PIN issues.
• An error occurs and you lose your place on the Holds list - contact your library, they can adjust your place in the Holds line in the OverDrive administrative backend.
• Lost your library card - if you have lost your card and get a new library card number, let your library know. They can merge your original Libby account with a new account connected to your newest library card number (you will need to create a new account in Libby before the librarian can connect the two accounts).

Privacy & Fees

• No purchase or subscription is necessary - borrowing is free.
• Libraries and OverDrive/Libby handle borrowing data; check your library's privacy policy if you are concerned about usage history. 

Libby Alternatives

• Some libraries also offer platforms like Hoopla, Kanopy, and ComicsPlus for access to movies, documentaries, music, or digital comics.

Manage Holds

• Select the Support menu option in OverDrive Marketplace.
• Under End-user support, click on Manage Holds.
• Enter the patron's library card number in the User ID field and select Update.
• A list of holds for this patron will be pulled up in a report.
• Select the item that needs to be moved up the holds list.
• At the top of the report you will see: Remove hold(s), Move position and Run new report. Click on Move position.
• Use the arrows to move the patron/user to a higher position on the wait list - which will actually lower the number/place in line.
• Click OK.
• This will not cause the patron to immediately have access to the item, they will still need to wait for a copy of the item to become available. 

Merge User IDs

• Select the Support menu option in OverDrive Marketplace.
• Click on Merge User IDs.
• Enter the old library card number in the Original user ID field.
• Click Search to bring up the library patron account.
• Click on the select box to designate this account as the original account that needs to be replaced.
• In the New user ID field, add the new library card number - please note that the patron will need to have created a new Libby account with their new library card number. 
• Click Search again to bring up the new account that the original account will be merged into.
• Click on the select box to designate it as the new user ID that will replace the original user ID.
• When both the original user ID and the new user IDs have been selected, click on Merge.
• A pop up window will appear asking: Are you sure you want to merge these user IDs? It gives a warning that the IDs cannot be unmerged with the Merge User IDs tool. If you are sure, click YES.
• The patron will now have one Libby account with the new library card number as their login. All of their holds and loans should transfer to this new account. If anything is missing, use the Manage Holds how-to-guide above to help them get their holds back in place. 

For libraries that would like to promote Libby to their patrons by using premade fliers from Libby

• Select the Support menu option in OverDrive Marketplace.
• Under Help and resources, click on OverDrive Resource Center.
• This will open a new window for Resources for OverDrive Partners.
• Click on Public Library.
• Select Marketing & Outreach button.
• This page will give you a variety of resources to promote Libby to your community - social media ready posts, print on demand book marks, fliers, promotional posters, how-to and getting started guides, button templates, and outreach materials - official Libby logos, newsletter templates, and press release templates. 
• The Resources for public libraries also have other resources to help librarians beyond promotional materials. Find webinars and how-to-videos, collection development pre-made lists, and options for libraries to customize their Libby platform with personalized book carousels to highlight new displays or programming at your libraries.