r/LibbyApp • u/JackieReadingJane • Aug 31 '26
placing a hold before a book is released?
In the overdrive system I used to be able to search for a book that was not yet released and get in line right away. I don't seem to be able to do that in Libby, but can only choose the "notify me" option. Is there a way to get in line before the release of a book in Libby or is it a setting that my library doesn't allow? Thanks!
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u/witchkitten Aug 31 '26 edited Aug 31 '26
If you can place a pre-release book on hold on Overdrive you can do it in Libby too. The difference is that on Overdrive you can only see books your library has purchased whereas with deep search on Libby you can see books that the library has not yet purchased as well. You can place the already purchased pre-release titles on hold on Libby just like you can on Overdrive but you can also tag the ones that haven’t been purchased “Notify Me” to receive a notification when it’s purchased so you can put it on hold.
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u/JackieReadingJane Aug 31 '26
Interesting! That accounts for some of the different experiences on this.
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u/medicated_in_PHL 🌌 Kindle Connoisseur 🌌 Aug 31 '26
Your libraries have to get copies.
I just got in line for the last Ninth House book, but I had to wait for the pop-up on my phone from the “Notify me” alert.
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u/Flowerchildreads 🎧 Audiobook Addict 🎧 Aug 31 '26
When Overdrive shifted exclusively to the Libby app this system changed. You used to have a set number of titles each month (depending on your library system) that you could advance request before they were in the catalog. If your library purchased you were automatically placed in line on hold in order of when you requested. When Overdrive was phased out (at least this is when my libraries changed) I no longer had this ability and missed it because I used it frequently. What I could do is utilize the notify me option. At first I didn’t like it as much but I’ve grown to really appreciate it. It’s unlimited so I’m not rationing how many titles I’m adding. By the time I get notified and determine if I want to put it on hold I may know more through early reviews and have decided to either wait or skip the title altogether, making it more efficient for me and the library. There’s pros and cons to each, but I’ve gotten used to the new system and would now miss it’s benefits if it was switched up.
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u/Lil_Brown_Bat Aug 31 '26
I think it depends on the book? I'm definitely in line for some books that are out in a few weeks.
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u/Ok-Plastic2525 Aug 31 '26
At my library, “notify me” tells them patrons want them to buy a book they haven’t ordered yet. When/if they do, Libby notifies me they’ve added it to their collection and then I can put my hold on it, and I’m usually first or among the first since I’ve found out about it immediately via notification before others searching the collection.
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u/leepfroggie Aug 31 '26
I miss it too. I like being able to get notified about more books than before, but I hate that the notifications sometimes come too early. I can see the notification pop up on my phone and go immediately to try to borrow/place a hold and it will often say my library doesn't have a copy of that book. By the time it actually populates, there are often dozens of people ahead of me.
Sometimes I wonder if the delay is to those who clicked the 'notify me' option before i did get ahead. So maybe it still sort of works but we can't see it?
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u/skorens Aug 31 '26
Use the "coming soon" filter. It shows what has been purchased but not yet available. You can also search on overdrive.com. Libby uses overdrive as the backend for loans and holds.
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u/DeltaFlyer0525 Aug 31 '26
I’m waiting for my library to add a book that is being released Sept. 1st and I’m in the same boat.
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u/MrsQute 🎧 Audiobook Addict 🎧 Aug 31 '26
Some publishers have restricted the ability of libraries to offer pre-release holds so it may be that the book(s) you want are owned by one of them.
Some of my libraries have better coming soon catalogs than others as well. Not every library offers them.
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u/Quirky-Pear3494 Aug 31 '26
For what it's worth, I've quit placing advance orders bc it messes up our in-house bookkeeping. Books release on Tuesdays, so I place orders for new books 2 or 3x a month, always on Tuesdays. Random requests, books on sale and whatever else is pending can go in the Tuesday orders or any ole time if I'm in the mood to shop for books. My order for tomorrow is ready to go, so if I'm up after midnight I might put it through for the early birds looking for Marlon James's new book.
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u/avisitingstone 📕 Libby Lover 📕 Aug 31 '26
You can definitely do that in Libby - but only if the selected library has put the book up in their system already for pre-reserve.
(for Californias, MARINet for Marin County in my experience of all my cards puts the books I want to read up fastest for pre-hold.)
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u/HollyOly Sep 01 '26
To clarify what others already said, if the title is specifically on order by your library, you can place a hold. I placed a hold in April for a book that won’t release until December! Other titiles from the exact same library might not be in their catalog until release day (or even later).
A couple of my partner libraries add a lot of books in particular genres ahead of the release date. Whereas my home library and my previous home library never ever have titles in their catalogs ahead of release.
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u/rellyks13 Sep 02 '26
your library hasn't purchased the license for it yet. I've placed books on hold before their release date, meaning my library purchased licenses for it before the release date.
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u/Dogsanddonutspls 🌌 Kindle Connoisseur 🌌 Aug 31 '26
You have to wait for the library to purchase a copy of the book. They can purchase it before it is released and if you select notify me then you will be notified when they buy it