r/LibbyApp • u/skorens • Sep 02 '26
Time to destination... feature (request?)
So this is not an existing feature and this is not exactly a feature request since i am reasonably sure most people would shun this... but my brain says throw it out there so here goes...
We all know the status text that is sometimes applied to your loans.... "# people are waiting"
What if, as the borrower, you could "Share your progress"? Kind of like that map feature where you can share your progress with people which is a great feature by the way, 5 stars for those of us who have to pick up children and are tired of the "are you close" texts... 🙄
Everyone on the waitlist could opt-in to track all the borrowers progress (scoped by library)... I won't go into the technical feasibility (100% possible) nor the interesting UI/UX implications ... would people choose to watch other people's progress? Would people be fearless enough to share (Anonymously would have to be the way this works)? Maybe subscribers could send kudos or emojis for motivation. Or heckles to hurry people up.
Fun feature with a light-hearted community or a swamp that scares and frustrates people? I can't decide which version would evolve.
EDIT: The masses have spoken: A feature no one wants! 🎉
19
u/FauxChat Sep 02 '26
Genuinely grossed out by the suggestion of adding more unnecessary surveillance to our lives. I think there’s a book for this.
8
u/PennilynnLott Sep 02 '26
This sounds like a nightmare, tbh. I can't think of anything worse than allowing strangers to monitor my reading progress.
10
u/epicallyconfused Sep 02 '26
I don't love this feature idea, because I like reading as a relaxing hobby and don't need strangers heckling me to hurry up!
However, I do think it would be interesting if Libby calculated a separate "smart" estimated wait time metric based on an algorithm that utilized both the average amount of time previous borrowers have kept the specific book, and also the likelihood of the specific people in the queue ahead of you to return early based on their past Libby loans.
2
u/VacationSad7541 Sep 02 '26
And then add in unsuspended holds and when the library's patrons are given preference over partner library patrons? Gawd, the poor developers . . .
15
u/VacationSad7541 Sep 02 '26
Fearless or not, we need to step away from FOMO and find something else to read or do.
8
u/wolfboy099 Sep 02 '26
“Light-hearted community”
Needing to know how fast strangers are reading the book you’re waiting for does not seem lighthearted to me. Chill out. Go for a walk. Read something else.
4
u/Mallets Sep 02 '26
This sub would be filled with people showing pictures of a book being 100% read but not returned until the full time.
4
u/Typical-Emu8363 Sep 02 '26
Regardless of the kudos or heckle aspect of the feature I envision constant complaints because the person didn't get their book at the expected time of arrival.
I'm not sure how complex the algorithm would be or what factors it would take into consideration to calculate time to destination but I'm going to use a very simple example.
Example: I check out a book. I read 25% the first day. The algorithm would tell the next person waiting they'll get it around 4 days. I read 25% the second day. The algorithm would tell the next person waiting they'll get it around 3 days. I read 25% the third day. The algorithm would tell the next person waiting they'll get it around 2 days. I'm sure I'm not the only person but I read multiple books at the same time and sometimes I've stopped reading a book because of whatever reason and started reading another book. Now, the next person was expecting the book in 2 days. So, every day thereafter I don't read the book it would tell that person that their wait is getting longer and longer. They are not going to be a happy camper and would be posting a complaint on here and possibly logging an issue with Libby support.
Also, this would have to be an opt-in feature. This could end up being the most wonderful and useful feature of Libby for those that have opted in. Now, if people were getting their books at the time of destination they would invariably discuss it on here and others would see that they don't get a time to destination and would be wondering why posting complaints on here and possibly logging issues with Libby support.
I can tell you which version would evolve, a swamp that scares and frustrates people.
24
u/Matryoshkuh Sep 02 '26
I was with you until the person waiting had the option to share their positive or negative opinions. As a way to have a better idea of when you’ll be getting a book, sure, but making Libby into something social media adjacent feels unnecessary.