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Audiobooks @ Memorial Library

Introduction

In response to faculty interest in providing multi-modal access to books, Memorial Library has added an audiobook platform to complement print and ebooks. The company is OverDrive and their app is called Libby. You may be familiar with Libby from your public library (and you can link your Memorial Library and public library Libby accounts!).

Our start-up collection is small, with faculty selections to support the curriculum as well as student recommendations that may be curricular or leisure reading. As the collection grows, all members of the Berry community will be able to make audiobook recommendations. 

Getting Started with Libby

Step 1

Download or open Libby on your device:

Step 2

In Libby, follow the prompts to find Berry College and sign in with your Berry email username and password.

Step 3

Browse our catalog and borrow a title.

Step 4

Borrowed titles appear on your Shelf (Shelf) and download to the app automatically when you're connected to Wi-Fi, so you can read them when you're offline.

On your Shelf, tap loans at the top of the screen. From there, you can:

  • Tap Read With... to choose where you'd like to read the book (Kindle or Libby), then finish sending to Kindle (U.S. libraries only) or start reading in Libby.
  • Tap Open In Libby or Open Audiobook to start reading or listening in the app.
  • Tap Manage Loan to see options like Renew and Return.

Watch the getting started video:

Libby FAQ

  1. Can more than one person use the same Libby book simultaneously?
    Most Libby books are designed to be one user per copy (just like a print book). Occasionally there is a purchase model that allows multiple users at the same time. To find out, click on a book to see details, then scroll down to see how many copies are available. Usually it will say "1 of 1 available" but sometimes the number will be higher. 
  2. How many Libby books can I check out?
    You can borrow up to 3 books at a time.
  3. How long is a checkout?
    You can borrow a Libby book for 7 days, and renew it an unlimited number of times if no one else has a hold on it.
  4. How do holds work?
    If a book is unavailable, you can place it on hold and you'll be notified when it is ready for you (there may be people in line ahead of you). You can place up to 5 books on hold at any one time. 
  5. Can I download part or all of a Libby book to keep?
    No, sorry.
  6. How do I share a link to a Libby book?
    Click on a book to see details, then use the share icon to the left of the cover image. Keep in mind that anyone you share with will need a Libby account at a library that has that book in order to listen to or read it. When they open the link, Libby will use their computer IP address to "guess" at a nearby library they might have access to.
  7. How many Libby books can I recommend?
    As many as you want. We probably won't be able to buy them all, though, so be strategic!

For Faculty

We are using OverDrive/Libby for two situations:

  • When you only want the audiobook
  • When you want both ebook and audiobook and it makes sense for both to be on the same platform

Although Memorial Library's subscription is to OverDrive/Libby Academic, the platform is still primarily designed for public libraries. There is no way to restrict access to a book to only certain users, returns and holds happen automatically, and the shortest available borrowing period is 7 days.

Lending Models

Publishers set the lending models for Libby books:

  • One Copy/One User is the model for most Libby books. As soon as User One borrows a book it becomes unavailable to anyone else (just like print!). Other users can place a hold on the book while User One has it checked out. User One gets to keep the book for up to 7 days, but they can return it early. If they don't return it early, their checkout expires at the end of 7 days. In either case, when the book is returned, the next user in the queue is notified and has a chance to borrow the book. And so down the list of users with holds.
  • Metered Access Concurrent Use is available at a higher cost for some books. The copy comes with a set number of borrows - for example, 100 checkouts. 100 users could check the book out simultaneously, or the title will be available until it has circulated 100 times. When the checkouts are exhausted, the book is no longer available.
  • Simultaneous Use titles can be checked out by an unlimited number of users simultaneously for a set amount of time. In general simultaneous use is available for collections rather than on a title-by-title basis. 

Request eAudiobooks

  1. Use the online request form 
  2. Contact your liaison librarian

In either case, we'll follow up with you to go over options.