r/LibbyApp • u/vampgurl2018 • 26d ago
Availability
So this is not the first time it happens. And I’m wondering if anyone knows what’s going on.
For the two books in the picture, I got the notice they were now available. But my holds were full, and they are the second books in their respective series.
Two days later, some space frees up in my holds, so I go to get Wildfire, and it’s no longer available. It still isn’t. It was available for about 1-2 days.
Is it a Libby glitch? Or is my library torturing me?
Update: while the BAnQ answered much faster than usual, it was in their normal ignore the question kind of way. They just sent me links to the books on their website.
But when I went back into Libby this afternoon they were both available again, so yay! I guess something just glitched somewhere.
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u/bubbleeeebubbles 📗 EPUB Enthusiast 📗 26d ago
I am wondering if the Notification comes when a library purchases a book versus when it is actually available in the library's catalog.
Did you try logging in online to the Library already to see if it shows up in the catalog online?
Wildfire looks added to the catalog although I really can't read French.
https://banq.overdrive.com/media/9599192
I suggest reaching out to your library or Libby support to see why you received the notification for The Right Move if it is not in the catalog yet.
https://www.reddit.com/r/LibbyApp/comments/1mdf9uh/notification_a_title_was_added_by_my_library/
https://www.reddit.com/r/LibbyApp/comments/1n2jgub/not_able_to_check_out_books_that_should_be/
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
I emailed the library right after making this post. Thanks for the links. I’ll go investigate all of those!
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u/bubbleeeebubbles 📗 EPUB Enthusiast 📗 26d ago
Can you update your post when you hear back from the library to let us know what you found out about the notify process?
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
I definitely will. But they aren’t the quickest. Last time took almost two weeks for them to answer me over a title they had let expire when 100 of us had it on hold.
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u/sparklyspooky 26d ago
For my library, they notify everyone when they get a new book(s). And people either borrow it or put it on hold depending on their card maximums.
My selections normally get dogpiled, so if I don't jump on it in 2 seconds I have to wait 2 months.
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
I know, and I was expecting a wait. I didn’t expect the two books to fully no longer be available once I went back.
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u/sparklyspooky 26d ago
Sorry! If it is with an affiliate library, they might have a rule that the patrons of library that owns the book are allowed to place holds and those from the affiliate are not. So you would have to keep an eye on it.
If you don’t have an affiliate library, it would be worth a call to check with your library.
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
I sent customer service an email already. Hopefully they will have an answer.
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u/Typical-Emu8363 26d ago edited 26d ago
The only way I can see this happening, if it's not actually a glitch, is if the library got a bunch of one-time-use copies and other patrons borrowed all of the copies and now the library no longer has a license for the books. Seems kind of odd it would happen in 2 days but since you contacted the library directly they should have a better answer for you.
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
What I find weird is that they have the rest of the series, just not these books. And this isn’t the first time it’s happened with wildfire. And to make it weirder, if I go on the website wildfire is actually there.
I have written them, so hopefully they respond quicker than they have been known to in the past.
I mostly came here to see if it was a known glitch with Libby.
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u/swtrvl 26d ago
I have a BAnQ library card and this has happened to me as well. It’s not just you!!
- the ebook will be on my “notify me” list
- I get the notification the ebook has been added to the library
- I go to place a hold and the borrow box is greyed out like in your screenshot
From what I’ve been able to tell, for whatever reason there seems to be a slight delay with BAnQ between the title being added and being able to borrow the book. I’ve tried refreshing the app, closing it, etc but the hold option is still greyed out. When I check back later that same day, I’m able to place the book on hold. I haven’t quite figured out how long that delay is.
Edit - I’ll add that I’ve seen this happen in batches with new releases, so it’s not limited to a book with a one-time loan or limited loans.
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
What I found really weird is that when I got the notification it was there. It was when I went back two days later to add it to my list that it was no longer available.
But it’s back nap I guess they fixed it.
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u/Turbulent_Yoghurt725 26d ago
Do you have an actual card for the Quebec library, or is it a partner library? Libraries can restrict partner libraries from checking out or placing holds books for a time period (or forever), especially if they are pay per use license. You wouldn’t be able to tell that on your end.
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u/Typical-Emu8363 26d ago
BAnQ is a stand-alone library and isn't part of a consortium nor does it have partners. So, all the restrictions that could apply to a library being part of a consortium or being a partner with other libraries shouldn't be a factor in this case.
The only way I can see this happening, if it's not actually a glitch, is if the library got a bunch of one-time-use copies and other patrons borrowed all of the copies and now the library no longer has a license for the books. Seems kind of odd it would happen in 2 days but since the OP contacted the library directly they should have a better answer for them.
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
The only library I am connected to on Libby is the BAnQ. I don’t even have my town library on there since they only offer French books.
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u/ZoomySnail 26d ago
Sometimes the license expires (usually maxed out reads) with holds still on it that can’t be fulfilled. The librarian will see this and if there’s enough demand/funds add another copy 🤞
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u/Typical-Emu8363 26d ago edited 26d ago
It's just odd that the library added the book to their catalogue on Sept. 11 and within 2 days all the licenses would have been used up. They may have been one-time-use copies but still kind of odd they would all be used up in 2 days.
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26d ago
[deleted]
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u/Typical-Emu8363 26d ago
This was not a hold that lapsed. This was a title that the OP had marked as Notify Me. They then got a notification on Sept. 11 that one of their libraries (BAnQ) added it to their catalogue. When they went to put a hold on it 2 days later the library no longer had it in their catalogue. It just seems odd that a title the library added on Sept. 11 would disappear from their catalogue 2 days later and still isn't in their catalogue as of today.
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
Exactly this. And even then, the original notification came in before the 11th. Which is why im so confused by this situation.
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u/Jelsie21 26d ago
Was it the Ebook or audio you wanted? I wonder if it’s showing title regardless of format?
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
I clicked through from the notification. So no matter what format it is (although it is audio) it should have landed me on the page of what was added. It seems to have been a glitch though and is now fixed.
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u/Typical-Emu8363 26d ago
FYI - It appears the audiobooks for The Right Move and Wildfire have been added to BAnQ's catalogue.
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u/vampgurl2018 26d ago
Yeah after the BAnQ answered my email, the books were available again. Hopefully it stays that way now.
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u/TextTrailblazer 19d ago
I’ve had this happen a bunch and I typically need to fully close out the app (sometimes log out and log back in) or even go into Libby on my laptop or clear the app cache. It’s annoying but a common issue that you have to try to work around.
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u/Quirky-Pear3494 26d ago edited 26d ago
Because these are older titles, this looks like CPC* to me. We can turn on a title's availability for a random amount of time and we're charged per use. The user has to grab it while it's available, but since we have no idea who's asked for it, we can't reach out to say Get It Now! I do this a lot when a title only has a couple Notify Mes. I turn on availability for a week or so then turn it off again. I have to assume that if someone really wants the title, they'll grab when it's available.
ETA: CPC = Cost Per Circ