In addition to the books, audiobooks, music, DVDs, video games, and other collections you are used to seeing in the library, we also offer eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines at no cost to you through an app named Libby. You can download them anywhere you have an internet connection using your library card. Here’s a quick video introduction to Libby.
As with tangible library item loans, most eContent can only be borrowed by one patron at a time, for a set loan period. If an item is not available, a user can ask to be put on a waiting list and notified when the item becomes available.
How to Sign Up
All you need is a library card in good standing (not expired and under the fine/fee threshold for your resident library), and you can use Libby to download content to your device. If you are using a smart device, download the app to get started. To use a computer browser or an e-ink device (like a black and white Kindle), head to https://libbyapp.com/library/uhls.
When you first open the app, it will prompt you to search for your library or use your device’s location to find one. Select “Upper Hudson Library System”
Navigation Bar
After you have associated your card with the app, it will bring you to the digital collection’s landing page. At the bottom every screen, there is a navigation bar:
Search: Opens a search field for keyword, author, title, and series search
Library Collection: Return to the home page for the collection
Menu: Add libraries, manage cards, find help, or change settings
Shelf: See items you have checked out (loans), what you have requested (holds), and reading history (if enabled)
Tags: See items you have tagged
Browsing the Collection
Tap the second icon that looks like a library to get to the collection home page. Scrolling down, you will see items arranged by topic or age group for easy browsing:
In addition to the curated collection on the home page, you can use filters to narrow the field for browsing. Click on the menu icon at the top of the page to select filters. (The items to the right are suggested filters.)
Filters
Filters can be used at the start of browsing or can be added later to refine a search in progress.
Examples of available filters include subject/genre, format (book/audiobook/readalong), availability, audience, language, and “read with” (device type). “Sort by” options are also available in this area.
When finished setting your filters, click the “show [number] titles” button in the upper right of the screen to see the results.
![screenshot of the "show [number] titles" button](https://techtips.colonielibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-4.png)
Searching for a Specific Title/Author
If you know what you’re looking for, click the magnifying glass in the navigation bar, then click in the blue box at the top of the screen to type in a search term.
As you type, suggestions will appear below the search bar, along with a badge for the library you are currently searching. Tap on one to go to that page without continuing to type or finish typing and tap the search icon.
Scan the results list for your desired title. You can also use filters (see above) to narrow your search further if needed.
What If I Can’t Find What I’m Looking For?
The library can’t possibly purchase every title that comes out in an electronic format, and not every title is available in an electronic format. If you search for a title that the library doesn’t have, you may see a result where “notify me” is in place of borrow/place a hold.
“Notify me” lets the purchasing librarians know someone is interested in reading an item. Click on it to be notified if the library purchases the item.
It is also possible that no items will appear. If that is the case, click on the filters icon and select “deep search.” If the title still does not appear, it is not available for libraries to purchase.
Title Information
The information around a book cover summarizes what you need to know about it.
Availability: If you can check it out right now, you will see “borrow” at the top. If someone else has it checked out, you will see “place hold.” This is also indicated by the icon on the top right. A plus indicates it is available, while a clock indicates a waitlist.
Format: If you see an earphone icon with a time designation, it is an audiobook
Series: At the top, you will see series information, if applicable.
Additional Information: Select read/play a sample or click on the book cover for more information.
Borrow a Title
After clicking “Borrow” you will see a screen showing the book cover (not shown) along with how many loans and holds you currently have. To adjust your borrowing period, click on the number of days (in red) to see options.
Click the red borrow button. From your shelf (book pile icon in the navigation menu), click “read with” to either send to a Kindle or read in the Libby app.
Place a Hold
To join an item’s waitlist, tap on “place a hold.” The next screen will give details of an estimated wait time. If you are using Libby on a mobile app, you can activate push notifications to get an alert on your phone. If push notifications are disabled for Libby, you can get notified by email, instead.
To enter or change the email address associated with your account, tap the menu icon, then settings, and then manage notifications. Tap the bubble next to “receive email notifications”, then “Next.” On the next screen enter your email address. You will receive an email when the book is ready for you.
From the time the notification is sent, you have three days to borrow it, choose a later delivery, or cancel the hold before it becomes available for the next user.
Read a Book
Go to your shelf and tap on a book to open it. In the app, swipe left and right to turn pages. In a browser, click on the right or left side of the page to turn it.
To see progress and access options in the app, tap in the center of the screen.
eBooks
Options in the top menu include adjusting font face/size or page lighting, searching within the book, and bookmarks/highlights. The device you are reading on will save your progress, so bookmarks/highlights are for passages you would like to return to later. To place a bookmark, tap the top right corner of the page. to create a highlight, tap and hold a word, then swipe left or right. This action can also be used to define a word.
To exit the book, tap in the center to reveal the menus, and then tap “back” in the upper left.
eAudiobooks
eAudiobook controls stay on the screen while listening. The giant play/pause button is self-explanatory, but the icons on either side of it are used to go back or forward 15 seconds.
At the top, you can adjust the playback speed, set a sleep timer, access bookmarks, and place a bookmark. To place a highlight, tap and hold the “place a bookmark” icon.
To exit the book, tap “back” in the upper left.
Return Early or Renew
To return a title early or see if a title can be renewed, start by finding the title on your loan shelf and tap “Manage Loan.”
Titles available for renewal can be renewed up to three days before the loan expires.
Getting Help
If you need more information, we have lots of resources for you. Check out this quick start page with links to tutorial articles and videos. The folks at Libby have also created a great set of help resources on this page: https://help.libbyapp.com/en-us/index.htm. Need more help? Schedule an individual appointment for a demo with a member of the library staff.
Happy reading!
