#Microblog Monday 553: Libby Changes
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I am not a fan of Libby’s new holds system. I’ve heard the “why” behind the decision to force people to suspend instead of delay holds, but I haven’t heard “how” the new system will achieve that “why.” Unless they explain how the new system will be more efficient and help stretch library budgets, it seems like an arbitrary decision that makes things slightly harder for the user without actually changing anything for the library.
It may end up using up budgets faster if people check out more books than they can reasonably read instead of delaying, and then let the checkout sit on their shelf until it auto-returns, and then get back into the holds queue again.
I’ll keep using Libby because libraries are awesome, but I really wish the rollout came with an explanation of how this system will be better, not just state that it will be better.
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5 comments
I kinda forgot about Libby. I have 2 other library apps I use all the time, and another I use once in a while.
It sounds like they’re just moving the ebook on if you suspend,which will decrease wait times?
I’ve never used Libby, but I agree that too many times companies will roll out a “new & improved” version of their product which too often doesn’t prove to live up to its billing…!
I completely agree!
I use Libby all the time! Actually, I quite like suspending holds, which I can then activate when I’m ready. I kind of use “holds” as my “to-read” list, and so felt stressed when I might have them all delivered at once, or in bunches. I’ve used “delay hold” a lot, but still have always been over-optimistic about how quickly I can read books. With the new system, I can look at all my books on suspended hold, and go in and select the timings a little more easily. That’s my theory. Let’s see if it will work! lol
I had my hold books suspended 7 days apart (7, 14, 21, etc.) and since the change I’ve gone and unsuspended them all. I guess I will get them when I get them unless I go back and resuspend.
My current problem is that some of the libby books are only available on kindle and not the overdrive that kobo uses. I also don’t like how difficult it has become to return books compared to being able to return them several different ways before. I’m forever getting error messages and recently had to use the kindle checkout just so I could return via amazon even though I’d read the entire book via kobo.