by Spencer Stevens, Cataloging and Technical Services Librarian
The Lynnfield Library offers many online services for you to use! One of our most popular is Libby, by OverDrive, an app which lets you borrow ebooks and e-audiobooks. Today, I’m going to give you a “behind-the-scenes” look at how Libby works and how you can get the most out of it.
What is Libby, by OverDrive?
Libby, by OverDrive (or just “Libby” for short!) is an app that lets you browse a massive ebook collection–tens of thousands of titles! OverDrive is the name of the company that manages this massive collection and is where our library purchases e-content from. The Lynnfield Library has access to the OverDrive collection and the Libby app thanks to our membership in the NOBLE library consortium. Most library systems in Massachusetts also use Libby.
Who Owns Ebooks?
Think of Libby like the physical library catalog. The ebooks you find may be owned by the Lynnfield Library, by another NOBLE library, by our NOBLE consortium, or by OverDrive. However, you may borrow the book regardless of which library owns it, just like how you can borrow a physical book owned by the Beverly Public Library even though you live in Lynnfield!
Does the Lynnfield Library buy ebook copies?
Yes! We buy copies of ebooks and e-audiobooks based on popularity, critical assessment, or by your suggestions! We buy ebooks and e-audiobooks through OverDrive. Some e-content never expires, but some expires after 1 or 2 years and we do not own that copy any more. Most often, ebooks may only be checked out by one person at a time just like a physical book.
How Much Does an Ebook Cost?
An ebook costs anywhere from $10-$60 based on the publisher and popularity. A self-published book or one from a small publisher is cheaper than a book from a “big” publisher. An e-audiobook typically costs $40-$120. For example, the currently popular book Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros costs $60 as an ebook and $109 as an e-audiobook. Digital copies of this title can be checked out by one person at a time.
Why Do I Need to Put an Ebook on Hold?
Many people wonder why there are holds lists for ebooks. Think again of this huge digital collection like our physical library. In the physical library, there might be 10 copies of a book. It works exactly the same way with Libby. There might only be 10 copies of an ebook. When an ebook is checked out to someone, nobody else can check out that copy until the borrower returns it. If every copy is checked out, you have to put it on hold just like a physical book. Popular books will have long hold times. [This is a rule set by the ebook publishers, and we cannot change this.]
Quick tip: If you have a Lynnfield library card (starting with the numbers 21384), you can skip the line on ebooks our library owns!
What If I Can’t Find an Ebook I Want to Read?
OverDrive has something called a Reciprocal Lending Agreement. This means that you can borrow ebooks from other library systems in Massachusetts–not just NOBLE! If the Lynnfield Library and NOBLE do not own an ebook you want to read, you might be able to borrow it from another system. The systems are:
- Boston Public Library
- Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC)
- CW MARS (Central and Western Mass)
- CLAMS Library Network (Cape Cod Libraries)
- Minuteman Library Network (MLN)
- Old Colony Library Network, and the SAILS Library Network.
Check out our blog post on this topic for more information.
If you have any more questions or would like help getting set up with Libby, visit us at the Reference Desk, email lfd@noblenet.org, call 781-334-5411. Happy reading!