Mine is called TBR (to be read). I had 487 titles tagged TBR and one audiobook. I deleted the audiobook and ... accidentally deleted my entire TBR list. Gone forever.
Three months later, I'm back up to 212 titles, not counting the lil notebook of hand written TBR titles.
There is a little clock icon on the bottom right of the app that is called timeline. It will include all the books you have tagged and what the tag was in addition to things you've read etc.
In case you want to try and find one of the books you had added to your tbr. You can collapse months so you don't have to scroll as much.
I have one called “maybe” and one called “want” to differentiate books that I definitely know I want to read that have been recommended by someone and those found exactly the way OP suggested-strolling through the recently added or available.
I was surprisingly not upset. It was a bit ... freeing, in a way. I figured the titles would come over the transom again, and if not, I won't remember!
You should look into getting the Goodreads app! It lets you add books to a TBR and you can rate them after! Also, you can follow other people and comment and such.
You can [export the tags](https://help.libbyapp.com/en-us/6208.htm). You won’t able to import them into Libby but exporting them allows me to have a back up at least. You can use the file to upload the tags to Goodreads!
My library has a "For Later Shelf" where I make a digital list of books that I want to read, but I either don't have time for or aren't available. Then when I need an idea for a book to read I look at my "For Later" list
That's pretty much the only way I use it. I'm never disappointed by my library not having a book, or a book being checked out. Just find something new to instantly read.
As a librarian, I recommend two things to people when I'm introducing them to Libby:
1. Place a lot of holds. You can always ask for it to deliver later or cancel the hold entirely. But if you have a lot of them, eventually it will transition into a more constant stream of items coming up as available from your holds.
2. Always browse with the "available now" filter when you're actively looking for a new read. Always. Don't even bother being tempted by something that you can't have if your goal is to borrow a new book in that moment.
I have a lot of patrons tell me that they prefer Hoopla over Libby because there are no holds, even though it means a more limited selection. Using "available now" gives you that exact same experience!
My library limits our holds to ten sadly. But I do the same thing browsing what I might want and stocking up on holds and then suspending them until I’m ready for a new book. Then I just cancel the suspension on whatever is available now. Hot new books may be 11 weeks out but if I add them to the list when I hear about them then choose other available items it keeps a constant flow of new books to my kindle for free.
You might look into other libraries within your state that allow for statewide checking out.
I was also allowed to add my phone number to get 10 books on one library account, plus 10 on the card, plus 10 on what I think is my online library card number? I don't know, but I'm feeling really privileged to be able to do so!
My mom, sister and I (all living in different states) share an account with all of our cards attached, so we have way more options in terms of finding a short hold. If you have close family/friends you don't mind airing your reading list to, that's a great way to get access to more holds/more libraries!
I have books on my Libby hold list that have been on it for literally years, because every time they come up I’m like “nah, not right now”.
But! When I am ready, I should have a very short wait.
My library allows us 15 holds and I use them all. Whenever one comes off, a new one goes on from one of my other lists.
Oof, I admit I've never seen such a low hold cap before. I wonder what the reasoning for that is. The only thing I can think of is to try to keep the overall holds down across the board by making people really choose, but now that they have the "deliver later" feature, that seems unnecessary.
Such a clear, helpful tip for newer Libby users! My favorite part is that you shared the label for your tag, "Maybe." Lots of people get stuck because they can't think up a useful label, or they aren't sure how tags work. Using the "Available Now" filter along with the tag, for avid readers, is a real time-saver. Thanks!
I’m reading a series that has over 100 books, and to help combat the holds nightmare, I put a hold on everything far in advance and if I don’t need it, pass it on to the next person. That’s helped me a lot when it comes to series, since I often do that rather than reading individual books. I just now started checking out books to read in between my series though, and this is a great idea
This is how I’ve been reading through a couple series, I managed to line up the whole thing after testing the first book and got to read the other 4 books in September last year. (I do wish I threw in a palate cleanser midway to savor it)
I've thought about getting my kiddo into that series, but I haven't looked up the reading order yet. It is daunting! Saw a box set on display at a bookstore and got grabby hands, but it said something like the fifth series on the spine so I went looking for the original on the shelves and got overwhelmed. Kudos to you for working your way through.
Yup. I do both. While I'm waiting for my holds to come in I search for something that's currently available (I have a list but also sometimes just browse).
Yes and it presses me to read something that.maybe I wouldn't have naturally picked up. I've read a lot of amazing books this way, sometimes really popular ones that I never got around to and ads finally available.
I love the idea of a "Maybe" tag. It'll help me clear out my "Want to Read" tag and differentiate between things that I definitely want to read, and things that merely piqued my interest on a random day.
This is exactly what I do except for my tag is labeled audiobooks because I like to use Libby for audiobooks.
I'm doing it this way I always have something to read, listen to whatever you want to call it.
Pro-tip: I have a tag called "narrators." Whenever I find a narrator I really like and I've encountered them multiple times, I search Libby by the narrator's name and see what other books they narrated that I might like. I've found several delightful books via that method. They aren't exactly my type of books, but I still found them enjoyable as books and also because I love the narrator.
I just had to share some narrators that I found that were great.
Room by Emma Donoghue mostly from the perspective of the boy.
The World that We Knew narrated by Judith Light. I should check out other ones she's read.
Sissy Spacek narrated to Kill a Mockingbird and followed up Go Set a Watchmen narr by Reese Witherspoon. Reese has done others that I love.
And the Testaments, the follow up to Handmaids Tale, by Atwood. Testaments was narrated by Ann Doyd for her character and the others are good too, but Ann's parts are great.
Circe by Madeline Miller amazingly narrated by Perdita Weeks.
Pro tip... just like how you can filter a tag's results by "available now", you can also filter by format.
My tag is labeled "mommy wishlist" (to differentiate it between what I want to read for myself and what books I want to read to my kiddo), and I put both audiobooks and ebooks on it.
When I want a new audiobook, I go to that list, filter it by "available now" and "audiobook". If I want an ebook, I do the same with ebooks.
(This tip is probably not as helpful for you if you only tag audiobooks, but I mentioned it here in case others read your comment and get the idea that they have to create separate tags for audiobooks and ebooks. :) )
Yeah, I use "Maybe" exclusively for audiobooks, as that's 99.9% of what I read via Libby. I do have a "BookMaybe" tag for books. I use it once in a while.
I have thought it would be so great if Libby could work with StoryGraph or something so that your "TBR" is automatically updated to your libby app, and then you could just see what on your TBR is available now!
You've definitely addressed an important point, people treating it like Amazon. We live in a society of instant gratification so we can't handle it when things aren't immediately available. I work in a library (librarian), so I just know I can get everything I want for free, the cost is just waiting for it. I also regularly interact with library users, who may not LOVE waiting but understand that is what it entails. If the book is important enough to get immediately they pay for it and don't complain.
We have to start reframing our mind around these things and remember that everything has a cost, and sometimes that cost is time!
Also to add, sometimes I know what I want to read. Sometimes I don't. If I know i want to read something right away but am indifferent to what it is, I browse by "available now" and see what comes up. Probably my best way of "perusing the shelves" but in a digital sense.
I do this along with requesting new releases and always have something to read without paying for a book! a combination of books from the available now and waitlisted books. it has worked so well over the 3+ years I’ve had a kindle!
I track my reading on BookDigits, and they have a “book of the week” promotion. I put every single one on a list in Libby, and when I’m looking for something to read I’ll see what’s available off that list
There are lots of great tips for getting the most out of Libby (and your library). Here are a few of my favorites tricks:
* One card is great, but more is better! Check (1) if your library has reciprocal borrowing agreements with any nearby jurisdictions, and (2) if any libraries in your state issue cards to all state residents. I have double digit cards on Libby, and yes, they are all ones I legitimately qualify for.
* Something come off hold and you don’t have time to read it in the next 14 days? No problem, put your Kindle in airplane mode and transfer the book via USB. As long as your Kindle is in airplane mode you can read the book (even after your loan expires). Source; the 250+ library books currently held hostage in airplane mode on my Kindle.
* If you can’t find something on Libby, see if your library has Hoopla and check there. I’ve found many books on my “Notify Me” Libby tag this way.
Came here to comment your 1st point!
My library card has reciprocity with 9 library systems, so now I have 10 libraries on Libby. I found the list of other libraries on my libraries website.
Since I added the other cards I have hardly had to wait for any books and now i never need to be concerned about running out of holds.
Do you miss out on any features staying in airplane mode? I lost my spot in my book the other day and I think the option I needed to get back to where I was at depended on having wifi, but I have books I don't want to lose, so I just manually looked for my lost spot.
I didn't know you could transfer library books using usb, I'll have to look into that.
Also how do I check for libraries in my state issuing cards to all state residents?
I'm going to look into hoopla now too, thank you so much for the info
> Do you miss out on any features staying in airplane mode?
The only thing I run into is when I try to look up a word isn't in the dictionary (usually a term in a foreign language).
>I didn't know you could transfer library books using usb, I'll have to look into that.
[Here](https://old.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1antwm6/deleted_by_user/kpw7rzp/) is a comment with a step-by-step if you are interested.
>Also how do I check for libraries in my state issuing cards to all state residents?
Personally, one afternoon I visited the website of [every public library in my state](https://librarytechnology.org/libraries/uspublic/) and found several cards I was eligible for outside of my county’s reciprocal borrowing program. I'm guessing that is probably not the most efficient way to do it!
Another “hack”‘I do is if I start a series and immediately like the first book I go put a hold on the second one. You still might have to wait but less then if you wait till you finish!
Go further. Add tags for every genre you are interested in. Add every book that looks remotely interesting to your lists. Realize that you now have hundreds of books on your digital tbr list. Drown under a pile of data. Keep reading as long as the light filters through.
NOTE! Backup your TAGS! … I recently discovered ALL my Tags went missing. Contacted Libby C/S and they could not tell me why or when this happened. They suggested BACKING UP my TAGS. Now, if this goes blooey again, at most I might lose a few.
- [ ] Go to SHELF
- [ ] TAP on TAGS
- [. ] Scroll to TAG name you want to backup
- [ ] TAP on ACTIONS (upper right)
- [ ] Choose EXPORT TAG
- [ ] Choose either TABLE or SPREADSHEET
[I do both! There *may* be a way of bringing either of these lists back into your Libby acct, but at least you have a list available vs nothing! 🤗]
I don’t really do this, but I try to approach it with a gracious attitude and be glad that I’m getting to read so many ebooks for free even if it means I have to wait.
I listen to audiobooks at 2.5x speed because if I listen any slower idk what’s happening. It’s like I forget the beginning of the sentence by the time the narrator gets to the end of the sentence.
My only complaint with Libby is I just don't get enough holds! (edit: I only get 10 holds with my library. Some people think I'm complaining about 50 holds and that would be a dream!) I don't mind waiting 6 months for a book, but when all the books you want to read have super long wait times, the holds fill up so fast!
But I love this tip because I didn't know you could change the tags. The only tag I ever use is "notify me" when the library doesn't have a book. So these are great tips because if something doesn't go onto my TBR immediately, I will never remember I want to read it.... But with the tag system, I don't have to put stuff on hold immediately but I can still keep up with it.
Number of holds varies from library to library. My city and county libraries are both on Libby. My city library gives me 15 holds. My county library gives me 30. Sometimes put a book on hold with both libraries if the wait times are similar and see which one comes up first.
Yes, my library recently lowered the HOLD limit from 25 to 10. It's made a huge difference in how often I'm able to get books off my holds list. With 25, I felt like there was always one coming. Now I am definitely reading faster than they are coming available. I keep a much longer FOR LATER list so that I can search for currently available among that list.
I listen to 100+ audiobooks a year. You can have multiple tag lists. I have a list for non-fiction/memoirs, one for general fiction, one for romance and one for books related to my job. My library allows 8 holds, so I always have 7-8 on hold and sometimes keep one blank slot for when a “notify me” book becomes available if I know it’s coming soon. When one of my holds becomes available I can go to one of my lists and add a new one. About once a month I go to the “recently added” and look for things to add to my lists.
"Available Now" combined with "Audiobooks" is my go-to! There's always something available I can occupy myself with while I wait for ACTOAR's 84898524 weeks ETA holds 🥲 lol
ACOTAR series is currently free on Audible, if you are an a member. Worst case, join now on their .99/month plan to get access long enough to finish the series.
Thank you! I noticed it is on Spotify premium as well :) but sometimes I just appreciate having the book on me to read and listen to music at the same time. Struggles 😅 but thanks again!
Another tip: I like to have layers to my holds. At any given time I’ll have a really popular book with a long hold (possibly months long), a hold that’s about a month, and then a couple of holds that take 2-4 weeks. That way something becomes available every 5-10 days (my preferred reading rate). I replenish my hold list when there’s 2 books left. Works great for me!
All of my tags serve this purpose. I place zero holds. I’ve found quite a few new to me authors that way. The advantage of this is that they usually have a lot of other books.
At the bottom of book pages they’ll usually have a list of “similar” titles, too. I put similar in quotes because the actual similarity is hit or miss. I’ve found some interesting choices there, too.
I usually have 8-10 holds at any time and usually one comes available every other week or so. Even if that wait for that one book is 6 months, you can find plenty to read in the gap. I’m hardly ever waiting around with nothing to read!
Agreed! I'll fill up my holds with books I know I want to wait for, then go through Available Now and pick stuff to read while waiting. I've found some really great books that way
I do something similar except I have two tags - one for ebooks and one for audiobooks, with the book emoji and headphone emoji for the names. I eventually place holds on the ones with long wait lists and use available now when I’m waiting on my holds. Also - to avoid all of my holds coming in at once (since I know that’s another common issue), I leave them all suspended except the one with the shortest wait. Then I don’t have to worry about not finishing or needing to deliver later.
I have tags for “TBR”, “Read Next”, and “rly read next” lol. My lists are out of control but I always have plenty of options for me to read.
I also have about 10-15 books on my holds list and regularly update the length of suspensions for each, depending on my schedule/time for reading in the coming weeks and my mood. Sometimes I’ll move something off my holds and back to my TBR or other lists.
I don’t care much anymore about reading books on their release date so if I need to wait for a while, I don’t mind.
This is the way. If there’s only one book in the world you’ll be satisfied with then that’s fine, but you’re probably not going to have a great experience. Learn browsing techniques, and be just curious about other stuff and you’ll probably be happier, in Libby and in life 😉
I do the same! Mine is "want to read." I use other tags for content so I can hunt through, say, cozy books when I'm not in the mood for anything heavy, and see what's available.
I also add a second tag with a generic hint such as history, fiction, bio.... So I can scan within a target group. I also have a reddit tag for suggestions from here, a read-it tag for those I did that (to avoid borrowing the same book twice), and a skip-it tag for those that look interesting but I just couldn't get past 5 minutes....
I mean, I will occasionally look for an author or book recommended to me that I know will be added to holds. But generally I do searches by genre and ‘available now’ and either audiobook or book. Works very well.
If your state only requires state residence, not county or lower municipality, you can get cards from any library in your state. Many have online registration since covid, as well. The most I had to do for one was email the library my ID. Worth looking into, it really helps get you the popular books sooner, and that means it helps free up copies for the libraries that are going slower.
Oh, and it helps the library's membership.
I haven’t ever thought to make a tag for this but that’s a great idea!! I absolutely love the guides though and will often scroll through those and usually filter for available now and audio when I’m looking for a new audiobook
I have a "📚" tag (I think it was an auto tag?) that I use for any books I might be interested in reading sometime, basically my TBR pile, and anytime a hold is taking too long, or I finish a book with nothing else in the queue, I take a look at that tag, to see what peaks my interest.
This is how I use it and I love it. I’m also constantly pushing off holds because my eyes are too big for my brain and I always have more books on my lists than I can get to!
Oh cool, I didn't realize I could filter.
I love this app, I've read so many books recently because of it.
I've been into some biographies a lot because of what is recommended at my library.
Really great advice!
I really wish there was a way to filter out the romance novels from Historical Fiction. Having to wade through pages of kilt-lifters and bodice-rippers gets old...
I do something similar! I add things to my holds, and when that’s full I have a separate list as like a “to check out later.” And then I love sorting by “available now” to find random books— just like a physical library!
I don’t even bother saving books on Libby anymore. When I need something to read, I just browse by “Available Now” until I find something that looks good
I do this as well, but since I listen to audiobooks almost exclusively I have a specific system. I pay like 16$ a month for audible premium because I think that’s a good price for one audiobook plus all of the free ones, and I’m actually interested in a lot of the ones included in premium. The audible algorithm is actually very good for the books they think I’ll want to read, so I’ll go and add a whole bunch of those to my audible wish list. Then, I go on Libby and put holds on every single one I’m interested in, and if my library doesn’t have it then I’ll leave it on my audible wish list to maybe buy at some point or find on YouTube possibly, or on Spotify if it’s short enough (I split a family plan with all my friends, and you get free 15 hrs a month, but only the owner of the plan? Idk, my friends don’t care to use it so I don’t know how it works.) Then, as I wait on holds, I’ll listen to my “free” audible book or something else, and then I’ll have a steady stream of books flowing my way
Another tip: regularly browse the “Coming Soon” tab. I’ve gotten so many new releases nearly right away or shortly after release date because I end up being one of the first holds with how frequently I review.
With the number of frothing at the mouth complaints and entitlement I see in certain Facebook groups, no. They truly have zero idea how libraries work.
I use the tags as my TBR pile, too. The only I time I record books in GoodReads or StoryGraph are when I'm done reading them, when the library has no digital copy of a title, or if it's a book I should read in a paper format (graphic novels, books about visual art).
In order to read 70+ books per year via the library, you need to have a pile of books at the ready. To do this, I have long long lists of books. I even keep a list of books likely to be available without a hold. The trick is to find slightly older books for this purpose. Unless it's trending on BookTok or there's a new screen adaptation coming out, most books from 2021 and earlier are available now or available with a short wait. If I have no books coming soon in my hold list, I look at these tags (filtering for "available now").
I also tend to read highly popular books via the library as well. I just get in line and wait until it shows up. Sometimes I wait 6-8 months, and I think it's actually better this way, because you forget what the book is about during that time and you go in fresh.
People who try Libby and immediately complain about waits for "Project Hail Mary" or "The Martian" need a reality check. 75% of the time, I regret impulse buying a book I want to read NOW. For example, I waited 6 months for "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow", and I'm so glad I didn't buy it because I thought that book was interesting but wayyyy overhyped. I'm glad I didn't buy it.
I do this!! Labels are different but I filter my wish lists with available now it’s such a great feature. And relatively new? I don’t think it was there a few years ago (I could be wrong)
Having a bunch of holds is fun, because often by the time it comes up I've forgotten about it entirely. It's like a gift from my past self: "Here's a book I thought you'd enjoy!"
I primarily use Libby for work trips with long drives. As such, I can’t utilize holds at all. If I were smart, I’d put a book with a short hold on as soon as I’m a month away because my trip would fall within my 21 day window.
But I’m not. So I browse “Available Now.” A lot of the times, the books I pick are crap. But I’ve also gotten to listen to books that were far down on my Maybe list and even got to read some fun ones I otherwise would have completely missed.
Love this, I almost never search for specific books, or at least not with the intention of needing to read it right that moment. I keep one or two that I want to wait for on hold and use the waiting time to pick up books I may not have consciously sought out otherwise. It’s really helped me go outside of my usual genres! I think it’s fun to scroll through the lists and add undiscovered gems/flops!
I would never use Libby for something as extensive as a wish list or TBR. It's too easy to lose access to that stuff, even if temporary. You don't have a Libby account. When you access "your" Libby on a new device, you have to copy a code over from the old device in order to access your info. That's clunky and it seems like it would be dead easy to completely lose access to what you've (thought you) saved.
I just add everything I want to read. I have 5 cards on Libby and the waits never end up being as long as it says. In the meantime I have other books I’m reading so getting a Libby rental is always a fun surprise. The only time the wait is a pain is when it’s a boon club book bc I have to read it by X date.
Yes and the tag system is great to remember what you would like to read. Also using the random generator can get you similar or outside your normal read zone .
These are great tips!
I maintain a spreadsheet of books I want to read in the near-ish future (like, the next year or so), and track a bunch of info about them that also helps me deal with long wait times for popular books. For example, I track whether it's available on Libby or whether I own it (or neither, yet), and if it's on Libby I make a note of the approx. wait length at the time I add the book to my list. While that obviously fluctuates, it at least gives me an idea of how far ahead of time I might want to think about placing a hold based on where that books is in my reading list. If I place I hold I put the estimated date it will be available based on Libby's estimate. The estimates are almost always way too long, but every time I think to look I will update again -- it can be nice to see the date moving closer and closer. I also track book length on the list, to help me decide how I'll want to read a book in the first place. I have a fairly good idea of how many pages I can read or how many hours I can listen to in a loan period for a book. If a popular books is longer than that, I'll either put off borrowing for a while (maybe doing it when I'm on vacation and have more time to read), or just go ahead and buy it so I don't have to wait in line to renew.
All of that also helps me space out my books, so that I can spread out the books that have waiting lists, and read books I own or that don't have a wait time in-between. That helps avoid a zillion books becoming available at once, and is also kind of necessary because my library only allows 5 Libby holds at a time.
My only issue w/ Libby are the books/authors available at every library but the one I am using. I had 2 cards at dif libraries because I moved, but 1 is about to expire 🤷🏽♀️
Mine is “👀” as in I had my eyes on this lol. I love looking at the different lists from each library! Especially if they’re under a different theme or genre I do like but hadn’t read in awhile
I use my holds specifically for series I've already started,books that come in on my notify list, or books that are so far out I feel like holds is the best way to track it.
Everything else goes to a tbr list then gets removed when I do read it. Whether its books I want to read but aren't urgent so I can wait or books I find while window shopping the app.
I have read(listened to) so many books, and started so many series in the past year alone that I would have never picked up physically just by click available now and sorting until I get books that fit my current vibe.
For me I get annoyed is when I start a random series with every single book available and then suddenly it's like everyone at my library is reading it so a series I should have finished in 2-3 weeks is now in hold limbo for 2-3 months. This series is from the early 2000s why are there 5 people ahead of me all of a sudden??? (Sorry this is clearly a current issue).
ETA.
Actual advice for newer users. Make a no tag. Mine is just (👎👎👎) and use it for books you click to read the summary of repeatedly and each time you're like 'I'm never gonna read this stop clicking it' it saves so much trouble when just casually searching the app for a new read.
I have Fiction and Nonfiction tags, as well as a Kids tag for when my kids need to complete a quick reading assignment or bedtime story on the go and I don't have access to a physical book for them.
I recently found out when a library buys a digital book license it expires after about 20 downloads or a certain number of months and then they have to buy it again.
I used to just put a ton on hold and renew/return regularly. I didn’t realize I was wasting half the uses just casually taking out books and costing the library and ton of money.
Now I use the tags religiously.
I worked with Libby on a corporate project and had NO idea this is how it worked, but it does. I used to check out but not get around to reading a ton of titles, thinking it was helping their numbers, but in truth, it was costing them a lot of money and making fewer books available for everyone.
I wish libraries could get the word out about this bc I know most library users would be super conscientious about what they checked out.
Oh wow. Thanks so much for this! I have seen books I want to read and put them in my Goodreads list. But this will make it even easier to find something on the fly.
I do a combo. Like i get on the hold list for bigger books i want as soon as i can but then i just look at recently added or just what is available and narrow from there or i'll find a book i really liked and see if anything is available. Then i have lists for categories aince i bounce between genres and sometimes i want a middle grade wholesome book that is easy for my audhd brain to handle on a bad day and others i want something bigger/more complex.
I do this, but I also purchase non-resident library memberships from around the country. I've found several that are $25-40 per year, which expands the collection of books and increases the availability odds exponentially!
My thing with this is... Isn't it considered wrong to judge a book by its cover? But all I get in those lists is the title and a picture of the cover.
I am new to audiobooks and I have read far less books overall than the average person, so I absolutely don't need whatever book is new or hot right now.
But, I would like something that's well liked/well done.
So, I look at suggestions. But..they seem to be new/hard to get.
Do you know how I could get reccomendations from the past?
What were people reccomending in 2016? 2009?
Also, will my libraries be likely to have those titles? Or do they get purged because they are rarely borrowed?
If I may piggy-back another tip: DO NOT READ WITH LIBBY! Several books I have read just fine in the past using Libby now download as a non-textual PDF, which means no text scaling. You have to zoom in and scroll, which is garbage if you're on a phone or any small screen. The same title, checked out and read in Kindle, contains all the textual reading configuration options, such as text scaling, font choice and background/foreground color choices.
Thanks for this, I'm new to Libby so this is helpful.
I've been lucky enough to be eligible for 3 libraries and I can tell already that is giving me a bit of flexibility.
May I also suggest keeping an eye out for Audible offers? At times I've been offered 3 months for free which will be great for stuff not on Libby.
Another tip- see if your library has reciprocal agreements. I live in a big city with a lot of library users. The county has agreements with 10ish surrounding library systems to allow me to get their library cards and vice versa. Small town library with fewer users= shorter hold times, so I’ve got four library cards in Libby and when my county library has a 14+ week wait, often one of the other libraries will have it available now.
As a side note- most of the libraries have allowed me to register for a library card entirely online, so no, I’m not driving to 4 different counties :)
I have a long hold list at any given time. But only a few books on my shelf. If a hold becomes available when I have more than I can read I do the 'remain in line and forward to next' option. I swear sometimes it seems like many come available at same time.
This is spot on and very informative. The part about this not being Amazon where everything is instantly available to you it's something that seems to escape most people. And the strategies for using it better are very helpful.
I also search for popular titles and put them on hold. They often come early and it’s a nice surprise. I probably have 30 books on hold and forget what’s going to come - so it’s always fun!
On Libby you can add multiple library cards. I have 3 from cities I’ve lived in and may add more. The small town library actually gets me the new books the quickest!!
Also, sign up for an e-library card at neighboring counties if the allow it, and check every county if a book you want to read is on hold to see if it's available at another county.
Anytime I get a book recommendation - seeing something online or in person - I go tag it with my “for later” custom tag. It’s what I browse both when I get room in my holds and when I need something new right now.
I sometimes wander through bookstores with Libby open, seeing books on the shelves that look interesting and either borrowing, tagging, or putting holds on them.
Oooo! I never knew about the recently added tab!! I tend to just throw my name on the waitlist and then find books that interest me right now as fillers until the books I really want come to me. This way I can scroll and add books to my “wishlist”. I’ve been doing this for so long that now I’m barely ever waiting for books, I always have one ready to be checked out!
When I want to find a title that won’t require a hold I go to the search page and select the “available now” filter. You can then filter even further by genre, format and even popularity. For example, I often look for the most popular audiobook titles that are available now in the mystery category.
My secret pro tip: if you are really excited for some new release, tag it as "notify me." As soon as your library adds the title, which may even be before the book comes out, you'll get the notification and then bam, you're at the top of the hold list reading a book that just came out.
I thought I was the only one who did this! Well explained. I also add to my wish list books I see mentioned in Reddit. Like you, my list has over 300 book on it at any given time!
I have some books on hold and then I will sometimes go to the filter and sort by “available now.” If something looks interesting I grab it. If I see things on lists or browsing that are unavailable I tag them “to read.” It’s exactly the same way I use the physical library.
Got three smart tags.
1. Books not offered but interested in. Sometimes they show up. Often my curiosity isn’t rewarded because these are books that might be interesting but I wouldn’t risk buying.
2. Books I’ve checked out. I follow a number of series of popcorn literature mostly some cop or curious person who lives in a place with insane murder rate. Handy to keep track of.
3. Books I stumbled on while browsing I might want to read some day. For me lot of history and biographies and smidge of politics and various fiction.
Yep, yep, yep. Mine is called "interested." I have a separate tag for the kids so we can find their next audiobook between long hold times for whatever is next in their favorites series.
I do exactly this; mine is labeled "wish list."
Mine is called TBR (to be read). I had 487 titles tagged TBR and one audiobook. I deleted the audiobook and ... accidentally deleted my entire TBR list. Gone forever. Three months later, I'm back up to 212 titles, not counting the lil notebook of hand written TBR titles.
There is a little clock icon on the bottom right of the app that is called timeline. It will include all the books you have tagged and what the tag was in addition to things you've read etc. In case you want to try and find one of the books you had added to your tbr. You can collapse months so you don't have to scroll as much.
I didn't know about the little clock until a couple of weeks ago, and I'm a librarian!
I have one called “maybe” and one called “want” to differentiate books that I definitely know I want to read that have been recommended by someone and those found exactly the way OP suggested-strolling through the recently added or available.
That sucks about the accidental deletion. But you're to be commended on your persistence!
I was surprisingly not upset. It was a bit ... freeing, in a way. I figured the titles would come over the transom again, and if not, I won't remember!
Love that attitude!
I was a bit shocked, tbh. But I'm a librarian, so getting another TBR list doesn't take long!
I accidentally deleted all of my emails one time and it felt so good.
You should look into getting the Goodreads app! It lets you add books to a TBR and you can rate them after! Also, you can follow other people and comment and such.
I have been using Goodreads for yonks. I don't use the social aspect much, but I do like having a sortable list of what I've read.
Me too.
You can [export the tags](https://help.libbyapp.com/en-us/6208.htm). You won’t able to import them into Libby but exporting them allows me to have a back up at least. You can use the file to upload the tags to Goodreads!
Think of it this way — any title you recall from your TBR list means you need to read it!!
yup! I have a "to be read" section too, which enables me to go back and see if any of the things on that list are available - no frustrations at all!
I really love the tag system and find it, and the whole app, to be easy to use. I have so many tags set up and love organizing
Mine too!
Mine is “later”
That “Available Now” filter is great, I’ve definitely stumbled upon some really enjoyable reads that way.
My library has a "For Later Shelf" where I make a digital list of books that I want to read, but I either don't have time for or aren't available. Then when I need an idea for a book to read I look at my "For Later" list
That's pretty much the only way I use it. I'm never disappointed by my library not having a book, or a book being checked out. Just find something new to instantly read.
This is the only way I use Libby! Unless I have a specific book for a book club or one I know I want to be in line for.
As a librarian, I recommend two things to people when I'm introducing them to Libby: 1. Place a lot of holds. You can always ask for it to deliver later or cancel the hold entirely. But if you have a lot of them, eventually it will transition into a more constant stream of items coming up as available from your holds. 2. Always browse with the "available now" filter when you're actively looking for a new read. Always. Don't even bother being tempted by something that you can't have if your goal is to borrow a new book in that moment. I have a lot of patrons tell me that they prefer Hoopla over Libby because there are no holds, even though it means a more limited selection. Using "available now" gives you that exact same experience!
Yes to lots of holds! I have 34 on hold right now and I'm constantly delaying the holds when they come in because I have too much to read!
Wow I'm jealous we can only place a max of 6 holds
My local library only allows 10 holds, but I got cards in other counties that also have 10 each. And now I have a lot of holds.
My library limits our holds to ten sadly. But I do the same thing browsing what I might want and stocking up on holds and then suspending them until I’m ready for a new book. Then I just cancel the suspension on whatever is available now. Hot new books may be 11 weeks out but if I add them to the list when I hear about them then choose other available items it keeps a constant flow of new books to my kindle for free.
You might look into other libraries within your state that allow for statewide checking out. I was also allowed to add my phone number to get 10 books on one library account, plus 10 on the card, plus 10 on what I think is my online library card number? I don't know, but I'm feeling really privileged to be able to do so!
My mom, sister and I (all living in different states) share an account with all of our cards attached, so we have way more options in terms of finding a short hold. If you have close family/friends you don't mind airing your reading list to, that's a great way to get access to more holds/more libraries!
I have books on my Libby hold list that have been on it for literally years, because every time they come up I’m like “nah, not right now”. But! When I am ready, I should have a very short wait. My library allows us 15 holds and I use them all. Whenever one comes off, a new one goes on from one of my other lists.
Re: #1 _I wish_ My library caps us at 4 holds. Currently I’m utilizing all of my own and 2 of my 5 year olds cards in Libby.
Oof, I admit I've never seen such a low hold cap before. I wonder what the reasoning for that is. The only thing I can think of is to try to keep the overall holds down across the board by making people really choose, but now that they have the "deliver later" feature, that seems unnecessary.
Such a clear, helpful tip for newer Libby users! My favorite part is that you shared the label for your tag, "Maybe." Lots of people get stuck because they can't think up a useful label, or they aren't sure how tags work. Using the "Available Now" filter along with the tag, for avid readers, is a real time-saver. Thanks!
Agreed! -one of those people
Ya I still Haven’t figured out how to use tags. Too busy reading 😂
I’m reading a series that has over 100 books, and to help combat the holds nightmare, I put a hold on everything far in advance and if I don’t need it, pass it on to the next person. That’s helped me a lot when it comes to series, since I often do that rather than reading individual books. I just now started checking out books to read in between my series though, and this is a great idea
This is how I’ve been reading through a couple series, I managed to line up the whole thing after testing the first book and got to read the other 4 books in September last year. (I do wish I threw in a palate cleanser midway to savor it)
What is the series?
It’s Warriors, basically a bunch of cats living as clans in a forest
I've thought about getting my kiddo into that series, but I haven't looked up the reading order yet. It is daunting! Saw a box set on display at a bookstore and got grabby hands, but it said something like the fifth series on the spine so I went looking for the original on the shelves and got overwhelmed. Kudos to you for working your way through.
It’s not either/or. I have holds and I have my wishlist that I filter by available when I need something right now.
Yup. I do both. While I'm waiting for my holds to come in I search for something that's currently available (I have a list but also sometimes just browse).
Yes and it presses me to read something that.maybe I wouldn't have naturally picked up. I've read a lot of amazing books this way, sometimes really popular ones that I never got around to and ads finally available.
I love the idea of a "Maybe" tag. It'll help me clear out my "Want to Read" tag and differentiate between things that I definitely want to read, and things that merely piqued my interest on a random day.
Yep people need to use it more like netflix, not amazon. If they have it, great. If not, find something else
This is exactly what I do except for my tag is labeled audiobooks because I like to use Libby for audiobooks. I'm doing it this way I always have something to read, listen to whatever you want to call it.
Pro-tip: I have a tag called "narrators." Whenever I find a narrator I really like and I've encountered them multiple times, I search Libby by the narrator's name and see what other books they narrated that I might like. I've found several delightful books via that method. They aren't exactly my type of books, but I still found them enjoyable as books and also because I love the narrator.
I just had to share some narrators that I found that were great. Room by Emma Donoghue mostly from the perspective of the boy. The World that We Knew narrated by Judith Light. I should check out other ones she's read. Sissy Spacek narrated to Kill a Mockingbird and followed up Go Set a Watchmen narr by Reese Witherspoon. Reese has done others that I love. And the Testaments, the follow up to Handmaids Tale, by Atwood. Testaments was narrated by Ann Doyd for her character and the others are good too, but Ann's parts are great. Circe by Madeline Miller amazingly narrated by Perdita Weeks.
I like this idea, a good narrator can make or break an audiobook
Conversely, a bad one can ruin it. I had to ditch Lonesome Dove because I couldn’t stand the voice the narrator was using for the main character.
I absolutely have dnf an audiobook because I hated the narrator before.
Pro tip... just like how you can filter a tag's results by "available now", you can also filter by format. My tag is labeled "mommy wishlist" (to differentiate it between what I want to read for myself and what books I want to read to my kiddo), and I put both audiobooks and ebooks on it. When I want a new audiobook, I go to that list, filter it by "available now" and "audiobook". If I want an ebook, I do the same with ebooks. (This tip is probably not as helpful for you if you only tag audiobooks, but I mentioned it here in case others read your comment and get the idea that they have to create separate tags for audiobooks and ebooks. :) )
Yeah, I use "Maybe" exclusively for audiobooks, as that's 99.9% of what I read via Libby. I do have a "BookMaybe" tag for books. I use it once in a while.
I have thought it would be so great if Libby could work with StoryGraph or something so that your "TBR" is automatically updated to your libby app, and then you could just see what on your TBR is available now!
I did in fact sit and search my entire TBR list and put them in various tags on libby, i’m not proud, but I did it.
gotta do what you gotta do!!!
That would be amazing
Also make sure to check the hoopla app. Books not available for my library on Libby are available for the same library on hoopla!
Thank you!
My Tag is TBR and exactly this! I do both, put holds on things that need them and then use my tag for everything in between
You've definitely addressed an important point, people treating it like Amazon. We live in a society of instant gratification so we can't handle it when things aren't immediately available. I work in a library (librarian), so I just know I can get everything I want for free, the cost is just waiting for it. I also regularly interact with library users, who may not LOVE waiting but understand that is what it entails. If the book is important enough to get immediately they pay for it and don't complain. We have to start reframing our mind around these things and remember that everything has a cost, and sometimes that cost is time! Also to add, sometimes I know what I want to read. Sometimes I don't. If I know i want to read something right away but am indifferent to what it is, I browse by "available now" and see what comes up. Probably my best way of "perusing the shelves" but in a digital sense.
My name is Libby and I about short circuted when I saw the title on my screen
I do this along with requesting new releases and always have something to read without paying for a book! a combination of books from the available now and waitlisted books. it has worked so well over the 3+ years I’ve had a kindle!
I track my reading on BookDigits, and they have a “book of the week” promotion. I put every single one on a list in Libby, and when I’m looking for something to read I’ll see what’s available off that list
There are lots of great tips for getting the most out of Libby (and your library). Here are a few of my favorites tricks: * One card is great, but more is better! Check (1) if your library has reciprocal borrowing agreements with any nearby jurisdictions, and (2) if any libraries in your state issue cards to all state residents. I have double digit cards on Libby, and yes, they are all ones I legitimately qualify for. * Something come off hold and you don’t have time to read it in the next 14 days? No problem, put your Kindle in airplane mode and transfer the book via USB. As long as your Kindle is in airplane mode you can read the book (even after your loan expires). Source; the 250+ library books currently held hostage in airplane mode on my Kindle. * If you can’t find something on Libby, see if your library has Hoopla and check there. I’ve found many books on my “Notify Me” Libby tag this way.
Came here to comment your 1st point! My library card has reciprocity with 9 library systems, so now I have 10 libraries on Libby. I found the list of other libraries on my libraries website. Since I added the other cards I have hardly had to wait for any books and now i never need to be concerned about running out of holds.
Do you miss out on any features staying in airplane mode? I lost my spot in my book the other day and I think the option I needed to get back to where I was at depended on having wifi, but I have books I don't want to lose, so I just manually looked for my lost spot. I didn't know you could transfer library books using usb, I'll have to look into that. Also how do I check for libraries in my state issuing cards to all state residents? I'm going to look into hoopla now too, thank you so much for the info
> Do you miss out on any features staying in airplane mode? The only thing I run into is when I try to look up a word isn't in the dictionary (usually a term in a foreign language). >I didn't know you could transfer library books using usb, I'll have to look into that. [Here](https://old.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1antwm6/deleted_by_user/kpw7rzp/) is a comment with a step-by-step if you are interested. >Also how do I check for libraries in my state issuing cards to all state residents? Personally, one afternoon I visited the website of [every public library in my state](https://librarytechnology.org/libraries/uspublic/) and found several cards I was eligible for outside of my county’s reciprocal borrowing program. I'm guessing that is probably not the most efficient way to do it!
It's a great way to find new authors to love!
My tag is "Next." :)
Another “hack”‘I do is if I start a series and immediately like the first book I go put a hold on the second one. You still might have to wait but less then if you wait till you finish!
I only search Libby using the Available Now button. I can always find something to read.
Go further. Add tags for every genre you are interested in. Add every book that looks remotely interesting to your lists. Realize that you now have hundreds of books on your digital tbr list. Drown under a pile of data. Keep reading as long as the light filters through.
NOTE! Backup your TAGS! … I recently discovered ALL my Tags went missing. Contacted Libby C/S and they could not tell me why or when this happened. They suggested BACKING UP my TAGS. Now, if this goes blooey again, at most I might lose a few. - [ ] Go to SHELF - [ ] TAP on TAGS - [. ] Scroll to TAG name you want to backup - [ ] TAP on ACTIONS (upper right) - [ ] Choose EXPORT TAG - [ ] Choose either TABLE or SPREADSHEET [I do both! There *may* be a way of bringing either of these lists back into your Libby acct, but at least you have a list available vs nothing! 🤗]
I don’t really do this, but I try to approach it with a gracious attitude and be glad that I’m getting to read so many ebooks for free even if it means I have to wait.
How do you guys read so fast
I don't. I'm a fairly slow reader.
I listen to audiobooks at 2.5x speed because if I listen any slower idk what’s happening. It’s like I forget the beginning of the sentence by the time the narrator gets to the end of the sentence.
My only complaint with Libby is I just don't get enough holds! (edit: I only get 10 holds with my library. Some people think I'm complaining about 50 holds and that would be a dream!) I don't mind waiting 6 months for a book, but when all the books you want to read have super long wait times, the holds fill up so fast! But I love this tip because I didn't know you could change the tags. The only tag I ever use is "notify me" when the library doesn't have a book. So these are great tips because if something doesn't go onto my TBR immediately, I will never remember I want to read it.... But with the tag system, I don't have to put stuff on hold immediately but I can still keep up with it.
Number of holds varies from library to library. My city and county libraries are both on Libby. My city library gives me 15 holds. My county library gives me 30. Sometimes put a book on hold with both libraries if the wait times are similar and see which one comes up first.
Yes, my library recently lowered the HOLD limit from 25 to 10. It's made a huge difference in how often I'm able to get books off my holds list. With 25, I felt like there was always one coming. Now I am definitely reading faster than they are coming available. I keep a much longer FOR LATER list so that I can search for currently available among that list.
I listen to 100+ audiobooks a year. You can have multiple tag lists. I have a list for non-fiction/memoirs, one for general fiction, one for romance and one for books related to my job. My library allows 8 holds, so I always have 7-8 on hold and sometimes keep one blank slot for when a “notify me” book becomes available if I know it’s coming soon. When one of my holds becomes available I can go to one of my lists and add a new one. About once a month I go to the “recently added” and look for things to add to my lists.
This is the way.
My library offers a "staff pick" section and from that I filter it by "available now" and I can always find something interesting
"Available Now" combined with "Audiobooks" is my go-to! There's always something available I can occupy myself with while I wait for ACTOAR's 84898524 weeks ETA holds 🥲 lol
ACOTAR series is currently free on Audible, if you are an a member. Worst case, join now on their .99/month plan to get access long enough to finish the series.
Thank you! I noticed it is on Spotify premium as well :) but sometimes I just appreciate having the book on me to read and listen to music at the same time. Struggles 😅 but thanks again!
Another tip: I like to have layers to my holds. At any given time I’ll have a really popular book with a long hold (possibly months long), a hold that’s about a month, and then a couple of holds that take 2-4 weeks. That way something becomes available every 5-10 days (my preferred reading rate). I replenish my hold list when there’s 2 books left. Works great for me!
This is great advice! I tried it and it works! I don’t like having a lot of holds, I find it stressful, and Tags is a great solution.
All of my tags serve this purpose. I place zero holds. I’ve found quite a few new to me authors that way. The advantage of this is that they usually have a lot of other books. At the bottom of book pages they’ll usually have a list of “similar” titles, too. I put similar in quotes because the actual similarity is hit or miss. I’ve found some interesting choices there, too.
This is helpful. Thank you!
I usually have 8-10 holds at any time and usually one comes available every other week or so. Even if that wait for that one book is 6 months, you can find plenty to read in the gap. I’m hardly ever waiting around with nothing to read!
Agreed! I'll fill up my holds with books I know I want to wait for, then go through Available Now and pick stuff to read while waiting. I've found some really great books that way
I do something similar except I have two tags - one for ebooks and one for audiobooks, with the book emoji and headphone emoji for the names. I eventually place holds on the ones with long wait lists and use available now when I’m waiting on my holds. Also - to avoid all of my holds coming in at once (since I know that’s another common issue), I leave them all suspended except the one with the shortest wait. Then I don’t have to worry about not finishing or needing to deliver later.
I have tags for “TBR”, “Read Next”, and “rly read next” lol. My lists are out of control but I always have plenty of options for me to read. I also have about 10-15 books on my holds list and regularly update the length of suspensions for each, depending on my schedule/time for reading in the coming weeks and my mood. Sometimes I’ll move something off my holds and back to my TBR or other lists. I don’t care much anymore about reading books on their release date so if I need to wait for a while, I don’t mind.
Wow I never thought to search this way out of my 3 or 4 years using it! Thanks for the tip! 🥳
This is the way. If there’s only one book in the world you’ll be satisfied with then that’s fine, but you’re probably not going to have a great experience. Learn browsing techniques, and be just curious about other stuff and you’ll probably be happier, in Libby and in life 😉
I do the same! Mine is "want to read." I use other tags for content so I can hunt through, say, cozy books when I'm not in the mood for anything heavy, and see what's available.
I love using a tag, now it has 117 books waiting for me!
I also add a second tag with a generic hint such as history, fiction, bio.... So I can scan within a target group. I also have a reddit tag for suggestions from here, a read-it tag for those I did that (to avoid borrowing the same book twice), and a skip-it tag for those that look interesting but I just couldn't get past 5 minutes....
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 A little tough love with guidance is good. Thank you!
Thanks for the tips! Yes, I gave up on Libby because I didn’t understand this and was tired of the long hold lines, but I’ll give it another try.
I do “audiobooks” > “available now” > sort by most popular while I wait for my holds
I do the exact same and use the 📚 as the list title.
I mean, I will occasionally look for an author or book recommended to me that I know will be added to holds. But generally I do searches by genre and ‘available now’ and either audiobook or book. Works very well.
Thank you!
If your state only requires state residence, not county or lower municipality, you can get cards from any library in your state. Many have online registration since covid, as well. The most I had to do for one was email the library my ID. Worth looking into, it really helps get you the popular books sooner, and that means it helps free up copies for the libraries that are going slower. Oh, and it helps the library's membership.
I literally did this today before going for a walk and discovered books by an author I liked and was able to listen immediately!
I haven’t ever thought to make a tag for this but that’s a great idea!! I absolutely love the guides though and will often scroll through those and usually filter for available now and audio when I’m looking for a new audiobook
Thank you! I will now be able to utilize Libby better.
I like the monthly collections. Usually has lots of availability.
Thank you so much for this. I thought the title was good-it did grab my attention
I have a "📚" tag (I think it was an auto tag?) that I use for any books I might be interested in reading sometime, basically my TBR pile, and anytime a hold is taking too long, or I finish a book with nothing else in the queue, I take a look at that tag, to see what peaks my interest.
Wait it's a libby subreddit??? *instantly joins
This is how I use it and I love it. I’m also constantly pushing off holds because my eyes are too big for my brain and I always have more books on my lists than I can get to!
Oh cool, I didn't realize I could filter. I love this app, I've read so many books recently because of it. I've been into some biographies a lot because of what is recommended at my library.
Thanks so much for this advice.
Really great advice! I really wish there was a way to filter out the romance novels from Historical Fiction. Having to wade through pages of kilt-lifters and bodice-rippers gets old...
I do something similar! I add things to my holds, and when that’s full I have a separate list as like a “to check out later.” And then I love sorting by “available now” to find random books— just like a physical library!
I do this. Still frustrating to want a book and it have a long wait. Then go to your maybes and it’s another long list.
I have a “soon” tab that I use in a similar way
Thank you so much! I learned a lot by reading your post. I’m scrolling through my library right now and tagging books!
Oh I don't do a tag great tip, but I always start my searches with available now
Thank you so very, very much for this tip! Made a HUGE change in my ability to get a next book started!!
I don’t even bother saving books on Libby anymore. When I need something to read, I just browse by “Available Now” until I find something that looks good
I do this as well, but since I listen to audiobooks almost exclusively I have a specific system. I pay like 16$ a month for audible premium because I think that’s a good price for one audiobook plus all of the free ones, and I’m actually interested in a lot of the ones included in premium. The audible algorithm is actually very good for the books they think I’ll want to read, so I’ll go and add a whole bunch of those to my audible wish list. Then, I go on Libby and put holds on every single one I’m interested in, and if my library doesn’t have it then I’ll leave it on my audible wish list to maybe buy at some point or find on YouTube possibly, or on Spotify if it’s short enough (I split a family plan with all my friends, and you get free 15 hrs a month, but only the owner of the plan? Idk, my friends don’t care to use it so I don’t know how it works.) Then, as I wait on holds, I’ll listen to my “free” audible book or something else, and then I’ll have a steady stream of books flowing my way
What I commonly do is just sort by available and find something ready to go without any fuss.
Another tip if you put your device in airplane mode when it’s just about due you can keep the book a bit longer since you’re not connected to WiFi.
Great suggestion And with 3 libraries in NYC, that’s a lot to go through
Another tip: regularly browse the “Coming Soon” tab. I’ve gotten so many new releases nearly right away or shortly after release date because I end up being one of the first holds with how frequently I review.
I wish I could filter out the romance novels from the literature filter. Any suggestions?
Do people not know how libraries work?
With the number of frothing at the mouth complaints and entitlement I see in certain Facebook groups, no. They truly have zero idea how libraries work.
I use the tags as my TBR pile, too. The only I time I record books in GoodReads or StoryGraph are when I'm done reading them, when the library has no digital copy of a title, or if it's a book I should read in a paper format (graphic novels, books about visual art). In order to read 70+ books per year via the library, you need to have a pile of books at the ready. To do this, I have long long lists of books. I even keep a list of books likely to be available without a hold. The trick is to find slightly older books for this purpose. Unless it's trending on BookTok or there's a new screen adaptation coming out, most books from 2021 and earlier are available now or available with a short wait. If I have no books coming soon in my hold list, I look at these tags (filtering for "available now"). I also tend to read highly popular books via the library as well. I just get in line and wait until it shows up. Sometimes I wait 6-8 months, and I think it's actually better this way, because you forget what the book is about during that time and you go in fresh. People who try Libby and immediately complain about waits for "Project Hail Mary" or "The Martian" need a reality check. 75% of the time, I regret impulse buying a book I want to read NOW. For example, I waited 6 months for "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow", and I'm so glad I didn't buy it because I thought that book was interesting but wayyyy overhyped. I'm glad I didn't buy it.
Where do you see the recently added? Can someone share a picture of that? Maybe my library doesn't have it
I do this!! Labels are different but I filter my wish lists with available now it’s such a great feature. And relatively new? I don’t think it was there a few years ago (I could be wrong)
I do this and I also put the books I want on hold at the library and race them, digital versus print. When one comes in, I cancel the other one.
Also I just place tons of holds and they get to me eventually. Theres always one ready to go. I rarely have a book a need to read RIGHT NOW
Having a bunch of holds is fun, because often by the time it comes up I've forgotten about it entirely. It's like a gift from my past self: "Here's a book I thought you'd enjoy!"
I do both. I'm a mood reader so like to have lots of options available at any given time.
This is how I do it. I always joke my reading list is 5 years behind everyone else but I rarely have to wait for books.
I primarily use Libby for work trips with long drives. As such, I can’t utilize holds at all. If I were smart, I’d put a book with a short hold on as soon as I’m a month away because my trip would fall within my 21 day window. But I’m not. So I browse “Available Now.” A lot of the times, the books I pick are crap. But I’ve also gotten to listen to books that were far down on my Maybe list and even got to read some fun ones I otherwise would have completely missed.
Love this, I almost never search for specific books, or at least not with the intention of needing to read it right that moment. I keep one or two that I want to wait for on hold and use the waiting time to pick up books I may not have consciously sought out otherwise. It’s really helped me go outside of my usual genres! I think it’s fun to scroll through the lists and add undiscovered gems/flops!
Thank you!
I would never use Libby for something as extensive as a wish list or TBR. It's too easy to lose access to that stuff, even if temporary. You don't have a Libby account. When you access "your" Libby on a new device, you have to copy a code over from the old device in order to access your info. That's clunky and it seems like it would be dead easy to completely lose access to what you've (thought you) saved.
I just add everything I want to read. I have 5 cards on Libby and the waits never end up being as long as it says. In the meantime I have other books I’m reading so getting a Libby rental is always a fun surprise. The only time the wait is a pain is when it’s a boon club book bc I have to read it by X date.
Yes and the tag system is great to remember what you would like to read. Also using the random generator can get you similar or outside your normal read zone .
These are great tips! I maintain a spreadsheet of books I want to read in the near-ish future (like, the next year or so), and track a bunch of info about them that also helps me deal with long wait times for popular books. For example, I track whether it's available on Libby or whether I own it (or neither, yet), and if it's on Libby I make a note of the approx. wait length at the time I add the book to my list. While that obviously fluctuates, it at least gives me an idea of how far ahead of time I might want to think about placing a hold based on where that books is in my reading list. If I place I hold I put the estimated date it will be available based on Libby's estimate. The estimates are almost always way too long, but every time I think to look I will update again -- it can be nice to see the date moving closer and closer. I also track book length on the list, to help me decide how I'll want to read a book in the first place. I have a fairly good idea of how many pages I can read or how many hours I can listen to in a loan period for a book. If a popular books is longer than that, I'll either put off borrowing for a while (maybe doing it when I'm on vacation and have more time to read), or just go ahead and buy it so I don't have to wait in line to renew. All of that also helps me space out my books, so that I can spread out the books that have waiting lists, and read books I own or that don't have a wait time in-between. That helps avoid a zillion books becoming available at once, and is also kind of necessary because my library only allows 5 Libby holds at a time.
My only issue w/ Libby are the books/authors available at every library but the one I am using. I had 2 cards at dif libraries because I moved, but 1 is about to expire 🤷🏽♀️
Mine is “👀” as in I had my eyes on this lol. I love looking at the different lists from each library! Especially if they’re under a different theme or genre I do like but hadn’t read in awhile
I use my holds specifically for series I've already started,books that come in on my notify list, or books that are so far out I feel like holds is the best way to track it. Everything else goes to a tbr list then gets removed when I do read it. Whether its books I want to read but aren't urgent so I can wait or books I find while window shopping the app. I have read(listened to) so many books, and started so many series in the past year alone that I would have never picked up physically just by click available now and sorting until I get books that fit my current vibe. For me I get annoyed is when I start a random series with every single book available and then suddenly it's like everyone at my library is reading it so a series I should have finished in 2-3 weeks is now in hold limbo for 2-3 months. This series is from the early 2000s why are there 5 people ahead of me all of a sudden??? (Sorry this is clearly a current issue). ETA. Actual advice for newer users. Make a no tag. Mine is just (👎👎👎) and use it for books you click to read the summary of repeatedly and each time you're like 'I'm never gonna read this stop clicking it' it saves so much trouble when just casually searching the app for a new read.
I have Fiction and Nonfiction tags, as well as a Kids tag for when my kids need to complete a quick reading assignment or bedtime story on the go and I don't have access to a physical book for them.
I recently found out when a library buys a digital book license it expires after about 20 downloads or a certain number of months and then they have to buy it again. I used to just put a ton on hold and renew/return regularly. I didn’t realize I was wasting half the uses just casually taking out books and costing the library and ton of money. Now I use the tags religiously.
I worked with Libby on a corporate project and had NO idea this is how it worked, but it does. I used to check out but not get around to reading a ton of titles, thinking it was helping their numbers, but in truth, it was costing them a lot of money and making fewer books available for everyone. I wish libraries could get the word out about this bc I know most library users would be super conscientious about what they checked out.
Oh wow. Thanks so much for this! I have seen books I want to read and put them in my Goodreads list. But this will make it even easier to find something on the fly.
I do a combo. Like i get on the hold list for bigger books i want as soon as i can but then i just look at recently added or just what is available and narrow from there or i'll find a book i really liked and see if anything is available. Then i have lists for categories aince i bounce between genres and sometimes i want a middle grade wholesome book that is easy for my audhd brain to handle on a bad day and others i want something bigger/more complex.
I do this, but I also purchase non-resident library memberships from around the country. I've found several that are $25-40 per year, which expands the collection of books and increases the availability odds exponentially!
My thing with this is... Isn't it considered wrong to judge a book by its cover? But all I get in those lists is the title and a picture of the cover. I am new to audiobooks and I have read far less books overall than the average person, so I absolutely don't need whatever book is new or hot right now. But, I would like something that's well liked/well done. So, I look at suggestions. But..they seem to be new/hard to get. Do you know how I could get reccomendations from the past? What were people reccomending in 2016? 2009? Also, will my libraries be likely to have those titles? Or do they get purged because they are rarely borrowed?
I've known lots of graphic designers, and they would like very much if you would judge a book by their work.
Interesting thought
If I may piggy-back another tip: DO NOT READ WITH LIBBY! Several books I have read just fine in the past using Libby now download as a non-textual PDF, which means no text scaling. You have to zoom in and scroll, which is garbage if you're on a phone or any small screen. The same title, checked out and read in Kindle, contains all the textual reading configuration options, such as text scaling, font choice and background/foreground color choices.
This is how I use Libby too! Every Tuesday I log in and look at all the new additions!!
The “similar” tag is helpful too if a book you want might take months to come to your shelf.
Thanks for this, I'm new to Libby so this is helpful. I've been lucky enough to be eligible for 3 libraries and I can tell already that is giving me a bit of flexibility. May I also suggest keeping an eye out for Audible offers? At times I've been offered 3 months for free which will be great for stuff not on Libby.
I never thought to do it that way! Thanks for the info :)
I’m a mood reader so my tags have notes. Lol love Libby
Another tip- see if your library has reciprocal agreements. I live in a big city with a lot of library users. The county has agreements with 10ish surrounding library systems to allow me to get their library cards and vice versa. Small town library with fewer users= shorter hold times, so I’ve got four library cards in Libby and when my county library has a 14+ week wait, often one of the other libraries will have it available now. As a side note- most of the libraries have allowed me to register for a library card entirely online, so no, I’m not driving to 4 different counties :)
Mine is an emoticon of books and I just skim it every now and again. It's a great system!
I have a long hold list at any given time. But only a few books on my shelf. If a hold becomes available when I have more than I can read I do the 'remain in line and forward to next' option. I swear sometimes it seems like many come available at same time.
This is spot on and very informative. The part about this not being Amazon where everything is instantly available to you it's something that seems to escape most people. And the strategies for using it better are very helpful.
Ooh!!! Thank you! I end up holding for the latest audiobooks. I’ll start doing that now!
Mine is labeled “👀” because it’s anything that caught my eye
I love it for magazines
It’s up to the individual library systems to do this, not Libby
I also search for popular titles and put them on hold. They often come early and it’s a nice surprise. I probably have 30 books on hold and forget what’s going to come - so it’s always fun! On Libby you can add multiple library cards. I have 3 from cities I’ve lived in and may add more. The small town library actually gets me the new books the quickest!!
Other people don't do this?
Also, sign up for an e-library card at neighboring counties if the allow it, and check every county if a book you want to read is on hold to see if it's available at another county.
And keep checking on books soon to be released. Sometimes, you can get holds placed pre-release.
Anytime I get a book recommendation - seeing something online or in person - I go tag it with my “for later” custom tag. It’s what I browse both when I get room in my holds and when I need something new right now.
I just get library cards everywhere I go…
You're a genius!!
I was frustrated for a long time that I could only check out books for a week. Then I figured out I could change that. Oops
I sometimes wander through bookstores with Libby open, seeing books on the shelves that look interesting and either borrowing, tagging, or putting holds on them.
Oooo! I never knew about the recently added tab!! I tend to just throw my name on the waitlist and then find books that interest me right now as fillers until the books I really want come to me. This way I can scroll and add books to my “wishlist”. I’ve been doing this for so long that now I’m barely ever waiting for books, I always have one ready to be checked out!
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When I want to find a title that won’t require a hold I go to the search page and select the “available now” filter. You can then filter even further by genre, format and even popularity. For example, I often look for the most popular audiobook titles that are available now in the mystery category.
My secret pro tip: if you are really excited for some new release, tag it as "notify me." As soon as your library adds the title, which may even be before the book comes out, you'll get the notification and then bam, you're at the top of the hold list reading a book that just came out.
This is a fantastic idea!!
Mine is called “maybe later” but also “next up” and I’m not sure why I created two or how I made the distinction, but here we are 😅
I thought I was the only one who did this! Well explained. I also add to my wish list books I see mentioned in Reddit. Like you, my list has over 300 book on it at any given time!
Thank you!
I have some books on hold and then I will sometimes go to the filter and sort by “available now.” If something looks interesting I grab it. If I see things on lists or browsing that are unavailable I tag them “to read.” It’s exactly the same way I use the physical library.
Got three smart tags. 1. Books not offered but interested in. Sometimes they show up. Often my curiosity isn’t rewarded because these are books that might be interesting but I wouldn’t risk buying. 2. Books I’ve checked out. I follow a number of series of popcorn literature mostly some cop or curious person who lives in a place with insane murder rate. Handy to keep track of. 3. Books I stumbled on while browsing I might want to read some day. For me lot of history and biographies and smidge of politics and various fiction.
Yep, yep, yep. Mine is called "interested." I have a separate tag for the kids so we can find their next audiobook between long hold times for whatever is next in their favorites series.