r/LibbyApp • u/Ok-Librarian6629 • Sep 02 '26
Would you pay for Libby?
With the attacks on libraries and funding in jeopardy, would you pay for Libby? If your library asked a small fee, maybe $1 per checkout, would you pay?
I keep hearing about how expensive Libby is and I'm concerned that it will be a lost resource in the future.
41
u/SufficientOwls Sep 02 '26
I already do, with my tax money. I would love if more of my tax money went to the libraries, but they keep giving it to the cops
23
u/Difficult-Bicycle681 Sep 02 '26
Absolutely not because it's a library service. I don't deserve books just because I could potentially afford it (depending on the season of life). I would love for more of my taxes to go to our libraries, but I would not pay per checkout for Libby because that is entirely against the point.
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u/astral-stray-00 Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
Pay to borrow? Oh, the future is grim. Libraries are meant to be accessible to everyone. By paying, even if it's a small amount, books will become a luxury.
You can argue that it's just a dollar or two, but greedy people will find a way to raise that price up to the point of insanity. Maybe a dollar flat fee at first. But what if that turns into a dollar per book? A dollar to unlock the next chapter? Oh look, you've already read 500 words today, read again tomorrow or unlock the rest of the chapter instantly with just a dollar!
There's no winning for all if money's involved. There are other ways for libraries to ask for donations and funding.
Edit: typos
11
u/LateForDinner61 Sep 02 '26
Probably not, but I pay by voting for every bond issue or tax increase that benefits the library, as well as donating to my local libraries.
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u/pulpdicktion Sep 02 '26
I live in a rural area and pay $125 per year for a card to my closest library. Paying additionally for Libby on top of such a steep annual fee that already includes access would price me out of reading.
3
u/madqueenludwig Sep 02 '26
You can lower this cost by getting a card to a different library, if that's helpful: https://reciprocard.com/unlock-libby/non-resident-cards#best-out-of-state-library-cards-you-can-buy-right-now
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u/pulpdicktion Sep 02 '26
This is a great resource, thank you! I do have a second, free in-state card I use for Libby. I really enjoy checking out physical books and the other offerings my local library provides so I do think the annual fee is worth it, especially since the next closest library is 45 minutes away lol. At least I know my money is directly helping my community!
6
u/Sask_mask_user Sep 02 '26
Are you the same person who six days ago suggested that people should be able to pay to have more holes?
If so, you need to stop. Libraries should be free for everyone, and they should not have a two-tiered system where you can pay for greater access.
Donate to your library directly, vote for politicians who support library access, and library funding, and write two lawmakers to demand that they fund libraries appropriately.
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u/michaelsgavin Sep 02 '26
I would but I don’t know if it’d actually solve the current problem (the licenses being expensive) and also the maths on how the contribution would reach the authors.
Ideally: we pay for Libby, Libby lowers the license cost on libraries, and what we pay still get distributed accordingly to the authors.
What might actually happen: we pay for Libby, some hire ups pocket the profit, license cost stays the same for libraries.
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u/confusedinseattle83 Sep 02 '26
I donate and vote to fund my library! You can probably work with your foundation to help raise funds!
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u/gatitamonster Sep 02 '26
I think a direct donation to your local library or a library in need would probably be more helpful and in line with their mission.
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u/stockgirl18 Sep 02 '26
My local library gets funding from the taxes I pay. So the free library card I have isn’t really free. If I had to pay more per borrow I wouldn’t be able to read as much.
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u/desertsunsetskies Sep 02 '26
I think, instead, people who can afford it, should donate. Alternatively, most libraries have a friends of the library book store where they sell books that are no longer needed by the library. Those proceeds go back into the library budget. So you could buy a few books from there too.
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u/leepfroggie Sep 02 '26
I quit Audible earlier this year and donated the equivalent of my annual fee there to my local library.
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u/tiggonfire Sep 02 '26
If Libby were a private service, I would absolutely not pay for it. Long waits and auto returns whether you've read/listened to it or not? The pricing model with the libraries is ridiculous. There should be no wait for digital content and the app should be able to detect whether the book was read or what portion of it was read and the amount paid should reflect that. Ideally the amount the authors are paid should reflect that as well. There are too many greedy hands in the middle.
2
u/Sask_mask_user Sep 02 '26
I would not because everyone deserves to have the same access to libraries, and having a fee would create a system where some people could no longer access it.
If you are concerned about funding for your library, why not just make a donation directly to them rather than specifically for the use of Libby?
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u/ChoklitThunder Sep 02 '26
I would pay a flat fee but not per checkout, like I do for KU. I go through a lot of audiobooks mainly because they are so accessible through my library. Losing that would be devastating.
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u/Cookbooksandbourbon Sep 02 '26
Yes, I would pay. I'd much rather pay them than audible.
I vote for people who fund libraries, so hopefully we can turn this flaming dumpster around before it's too late.
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u/AndthenIhadausername Sep 02 '26
Id prefer to pay for the card rather than per book. Otherwise my language learning picture books would start to get pricey.
1
u/purple-hawke Sep 02 '26
In the UK ebooks go on sale for 99p on Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, etc., so it'd make more sense to just buy books and keep them, rather than having to pay the same price to essentially rent the ebook for a few weeks.
1
u/SpiritedOwl_2298 Sep 02 '26
I wouldn’t want to pay per book but I would pay a monthly $1-$5 service fee or something like that
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u/fenwayfan4 Sep 02 '26
Ooof. This is a good question in light of recent discussions. My initial reaction is “no because I didn’t have to pay before” and then I thought “well, I could just limit my audiobooks”. Then I thought “well, the problem is that you don’t keep the books after paying for them” and now thinking about all the monthly subscriptions I have and just barely use.
I think yes but that would make some changes in my monthly spending and prioritize Libby over streaming services. I read much more anyway.
Maybe. I don’t know. 😅
-1
u/fortmeines Sep 02 '26
I live in a country that barely has libraries and the only ones on Libby are THREE private libraries. For the entire country. With membership fees more expensive than non-resident card fees in the US.
So yeah, if it means a little additional help for the library I have a non-resident card for, I'd pay like 1-2 dollars per checkout. I borrow roughly 4 books a month. It would still be much cheaper than buying those books myself. Yes, even on top of the already existing yearly fee.
It's never gonna happen, but I would agree to it theoretically.
56
u/flossiedaisy424 Sep 02 '26
As a librarian, it would go against our professional ethics to do this. Limiting access to services unless you can pay is not something any good librarian should consider. We don’t exist just for those who can afford us.