Libby, by OverDrive for Windows

Libby by OverDrive offers a friendly way to access ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines from your local library without fees or subscriptions. The program lets you sign in with a library card and borrow digital titles anytime, providing convenient and flexible access across different reading preferences.

Libby by OverDrive creates a warm reading experience by syncing bookmarks, notes, and progress across devices, allowing smooth transitions between sessions. The program keeps your place whether you use a browser, Bluetooth listening, or car audio, making digital reading and listening feel seamless, consistently accessible, and adaptable to different daily routines.

Performance and user experience

The program stands out for its extensive catalog, offering thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines curated by participating libraries. Its ability to stream or download titles ensures offline access, making reading and listening convenient anywhere. The audiobook player supports adjustable speeds, a sleep timer, and smooth navigation, giving users flexible control. These strengths make it appealing for those who want a dependable and adaptable digital reading experience.

Libby by OverDrive’s interface, offers strong customization options, letting users adjust text size, background color, and layout to match their comfort. Readers of comics or illustrated books benefit from zooming for fixed-layout titles, which maintain clarity. The app also supports essential accessibility features, such as screen reader compatibility, keyboard shortcuts, and dark mode, allowing a broad range of users to enjoy a comfortable, well-tailored experience across different devices.

Where it can improve is in reliance on library availability, leading to long waitlists for popular titles and inconsistent catalog sizes across regions. Accessibility concerns also appear, with some readers finding text size options less flexible than on dedicated e-readers. Another drawback is the removal of MP3 downloads, limiting use on certain external players. These limitations don’t break the experience but highlight areas that may affect long-time or high-volume readers.

A friendly digital library

Libby by OverDrive is a well-designed, feature-rich reading app that makes borrowing digital content from your local library both seamless and enjoyable. Although the experience depends on your library’s catalog, Libby’s offline mode, extensive customization options, and strong accessibility features create a versatile and user-friendly experience. For readers and listeners who want convenience, flexibility, and consistent syncing across devices, choosing Libby over other platforms is a practical and worthwhile decision.

• Added Sleep Timer for audiobooks at chapter end
• Improved book downloading performance
• Guided welcome setup for quick library sign-in
• Reorganized menu for easier navigation, with advanced options tucked away
• Setup Codes to copy library cards across devices
• Enhanced support: report issues, ask questions, take surveys
• List preference to filter ebooks or audiobooks
• Sort holds by estimated wait time
• Easy relinking of library cards
• Supports Windows Fall Creator’s Update
• Bug fixes for audiobook playback, downloading, and storage
• Increased Windows app stability and crash fixes