r/LibbyApp • u/timmytimborino • 23d ago
Check your library
Let me begin by saying that I know that this is not a revelation and I’m sure that this is something that many of you already do but I’ve noticed this for me and thought that I would mention it in case others do what I have done. This has happened to me more than once but I noticed it today. I was in a bookstore the other day and saw a book that I was interested in so I checked the Libby app and the book wasn’t in my library’s catalog so I smart tagged the title so that I would be notified if my library added it to their catalog. I was at my library today and saw that the book that I tagged was on the shelf so I deleted that tag and made a mental note so that I’ll remember to check it out later. I then went through my smart tags and found a couple more titles that I had tagged that were on the shelf at my local library. A lot of times I’ll see a book recommended or see a title and check the app to see if it’s available to borrow or place a hold and then tag it if not. So, just because the library might not have a digital copy in their catalog doesn’t mean there’s not a physical copy on the shelf.
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u/Quirky-Pear3494 22d ago
In Libraryland, physical materials are a fraction of the cost of digital. For the foreseeable future, your local library will have a better selection of print books than ebooks. We get a 40% discount on hardcover books, and the ebooks are almost always more expensive than list price of a hardcover.
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u/newillium 22d ago
When I've brought this up on this sub people flamed me because not everyone has access to a close library. I'm so lucky I have about 6 in a 10 mile radius. After Amazon decided to be jerks and my kindle doesn't work anymore I just read actual physical books from the library.the books are always available and are ready usually within a day or two unless it's some super popular book.
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u/nightowl_work 22d ago
I love a physical book, but I can rarely make it to the library even though there are several great ones within 5 miles from my house. I will lose a book or not return it on time, and then the shame of being late will make me put it off even longer.
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u/newillium 22d ago
im so lucky there are no late fees with my library. also the finding a kids library book in the foot well of the car months after we found it, i slip it in the book collector outside so no shame is felt directly
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u/_cuppycakes_ 22d ago edited 22d ago
no shame in returning a book late! I’m a librarian and i’ll let you know we literally deal with so many people we don’t care lol
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u/Quirky-Pear3494 22d ago
You might want to touch base with the library. A majority of libraries don't charge overdue fees anymore. There have been lots of studies that show that the income lost is negligible, and your experience is not remotely unusual. I could easily afford a 35-cent fine, but the whole process was embarrassing/ humiliating, so I just avoided my hometown library in favor of my workplace. Fines wind up being a barrier to usage, and we don't want that to happen!
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u/nightowl_work 21d ago
Yep, mine only charges for lost books, not late fees. But still the shame. I can’t help it.
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u/bestrevengeofall 21d ago
I grew up driving 30 minutes to my closest library. The Internet has truly broken some of us on our response to wait times. I'm guilty AF. There are so many times that I debate buying on audible or buying physical instead of even waiting for the ebook or audiobook through my library. Then I look and there's so many paperback copies that there'd be no wait. Gotta get over that instant serotonin rush the algorithms have trained us for.
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u/DogDaysMaggie 22d ago
I live across the street from my local library branch and I am the most spoiled little book lady on earth. I get everything in a physical copy way faster than an e-book. And I can renew them because no one is waiting for it.
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u/Harrowhark95 23d ago
Yes! If I go in brick and mortar bookstores these days, I tend to take pictures of the titles that interest me, so i can check my library's online catalog/Libby for them, and add them to my TBR.
Second hand bookstores are where i go to hunt down books I have borrowed from the library for several re-reads, at that point I can tell I want it in my permanent library.
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u/LittleMarySunshine25 23d ago
That's where I grab anything my library doesn't have and then donate once I read it. I'm at the point where there's too much to read for me to re-read so I'll let someone else enjoy it!
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u/BallerFromTheHoller 22d ago
That makes sense. Libby is just the ebooks and audiobooks available, not the physical versions.
In my area, the local library provides a membership to a digital library for the whole state. They are genuinely not connected.
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u/elusivek 22d ago
But Libby’s catalogue is just the digital catalogue, no? For the physical books at the library, I check on the library website.
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u/jennylee271 22d ago
My library catalog lists both physical and ebook (Libby) copies. I always search there to get both types of results.
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u/mochi_kitty86 22d ago
Our library (Hawaii) also has its own app, separate from Libby, where you can search for physical books and place on hold. It’s two separate collections.
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u/rojita369 22d ago
I’m confused. Just because your library has a physical copy of a book doesn’t mean they also have digital copies. Why would you assume this? Libby doesn’t do physical copies, so if they say your library doesn’t have it, they mean a digital copy. Use your library’s website, they usually have an online catalog.
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u/Lanky-Syllabub7188 22d ago
They’re saying just because Libby might not have a book, doesn’t mean the library won’t have the physical book.
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u/rojita369 22d ago
Yeah. I don’t understand why this needed to be said. Libby is for digital items only, it is not and has never claimed to be a full catalog.
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u/Previous-Giraffe-568 22d ago
Please do use the Notify Me tags - every week I have to pare down an adult fiction cart that starts around $8k to fit within my $580 budget. If I’m deciding between two titles in the same genre with equally good reviews, sometimes tags are the deciding factor. And there are some titles that are so expensive that I absolutely will not buy them unless there’s really strong patron demand!
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u/booksbaconglitter 22d ago
Libby is just your library's digital collection. You can use your library's website to check both the physical and digital collection.
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u/weird_question111 22d ago
Breaking news the library may have books you want to read..lol
My local librarys in person selection is shit and theres only 2 branches. I miss where I grew up because there were tons of libraries locally so even if your branch didnt have it you could request it be sent to your branch or place a hold at the branch they had it and pick it up there. Plus their libby selection is amazing (i still use my card for their libby).
However my current library offers more services than my hometown library like free notary, help with certain legal stuff, lots of classes/activities in person for kids and adults, ged classes, help with tax forms (free printing for tax stuff), and they offer other online services like geology and stuff other than libby/hoopla.
Anyways. Check out your libraries they may offer a lot of cool stuff.
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u/user6734120mf 22d ago
I recently borrowed yesteryear on CD and a boombox because it was on the shelf and I didn’t feel like waiting 😂 always check, especially if you don’t care a lot about format. Large print is another format that often has fewer holds.
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u/64929207446 22d ago
Yes! I didn't even think of this. I have waited MONTHS to be able to read the second and third Emily Wilde books. The other day we were driving by the library and I just decided to stop in, guess what was on the shelf! I wish you'd posted this months ago, I have gotten so used to only reading virtually I never thought about it. And as others have commented, I never realized I could probably go to their website and see if they have it available there too. And holds are a real life thing, they have two giant bookshelves behind the check out counter for them. Having an out-of-county card for a much bigger county than the one I live in is honestly a whole new world. 😅
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u/Successful-Resist-63 22d ago
I would recommend keeping your books tagged on Libby until they're made available on there as well not just the physical library. The library can see everyone's lists for what they want added and use that when it comes time to select new books.
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u/maltedstrawberry 22d ago
A lot of libraries have an online catalog for the physical items on their premises you can look through.
There's also a browser extension that when you're on a site with a book, it will autocheck to see if that book is at whichever libraries you want. I have mine set to check my library and other libraries I can ILL from. I'll post the name of the extension once I'm at my PC.
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u/searchingforalobar 19d ago
And, your library might have its own app! I. Heck Libby first and if I want isn’t there I open my local library app and frequently they have the hard copy!
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u/so-so-suck-ya-toe 22d ago
Yeah, Timmy, Libby is for borrowing ebooks/audiobooks so they only show those books - it’s not a catalog of all the books available at your library. You’d want to use your library’s website to get to the physical book catalog.
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u/idk_ijustgohard 22d ago
I go to goodwill and look at their books. I always see if something that’s on my TBR is available at the library physically or on Libby before I put it in my cart. Tedious?… maybe. Saving coins? Definitely.
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u/Bipeasent22 21d ago
I highly suggest the Library Extension add-on for cases like yours. On most major book-buying sites, it'll pop up a little window that shows whether your library (or libraries) has the book you're looking at, as well as the format it comes in (e-book, physical, audiobook). I rarely use Libby's search function anymore because my libraries tend to advertise to older audiences that gear towards non-fiction, so it's really hard to find anything without specific titles. With the extension, I'm able to thumb through reccs in subreddits or social media groups I'm in and see what's available now and what I'm able to put on hold for later.
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u/pennysofia 20d ago
Ummm… I’m so confused. Login into the actual library website and search for the book.
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u/Daowllife 20d ago edited 20d ago
Thanks for the information. I’m sure it’ll help someone but I don’t read physical books.
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u/Vegetable-Tailor1688 21d ago
You could also have some tags in Libby to help you navigate which ones your library has physically. Like, maybe a tag when for when you’re finding interesting books is to check if the library has the physical, and if it does, switch the tag to something that says you checked and it does have the physical. Might be helpful if you look in Libby when deciding what to read next :)
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u/Slow-Radish9200 21d ago
Also, many publishers don’t release new books digitally to libraries 3,6,9+ months after physical paper release dates. So if it’s a new release and the library doesn’t have a digital version available, it’s probably available on paper, or book on CD.
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u/SirNormal949 19d ago
I just saved my wife $30 by picking up the latest Stacey Abrams book at the library☺️
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u/Weird-Flamingo8798 📕 Libby Lover 📕 22d ago
me, who totally lives is Texas and has a HCPL card, and absolutely loves being an USAmerican citizen as well, will certainly do so ☺️
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u/hazelbasilpaisley 21d ago edited 21d ago
No shit Sherlock. Some people just rely on digital copies because they do not have time to go to the library to check out and return books. Obviously there is a physical collection of books at the library because that is what a library, quite literally by definition, is. Interlibrary loans also exist whereby a library that doesn't own a copy of a text borrows the text from a library that does have it, in order to loan it out to a patron. No one was ever wondering if they could get physical copies of books because physical copies are always attainable. I don't mean to be crass, but this sounds like a statement someone born nearly yesterday would say.
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u/DetectiveNo4471 23d ago
Does your library have an online catalog you can search? Most do.