4 ms·

I am scribd user. Recently, I discovered Libby -- free app from the public library (SFPL and NYPL for me). Libby is x10 better experience than scribd, is free a

I am scribd user. Recently, I discovered Libby -- free app from the public library (SFPL and NYPL for me). Libby is x10 better experience than scribd, is free and has all books you may find in the library. The benefits of scribd is if you're an avid reader you can consume more than 3 books/audiobooks at a time, which is a restriction on Libby- requires you to return them etc. For those interested: https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/ https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/ Just figured I would post as I have been incredibly impressed with Libby.

sebmellen 6y ago
Thank you, this looks amazing! I've missed perusing the shelves at my local library since the pandemic started — maybe this can serve as a replacement.
neeleshs 6y ago
Thank you for this. I just got access to more than 40k books from my local library using Libby!
Lammy 6y ago
Cool app, but I think I'll stick to the regular old library checkout system where the only party tracking what I read are the feds, and even that is still one party too many. From its Privacy Policy: https://company.cdn.overdrive.com/policies/privacy-policy.htm https://company.cdn.overdrive.com/policies/privacy-policy.ht... "In addition to information that you may willingly submit to OverDrive, such as your library card number, school ID number, and/or email address, OverDrive may collect and store certain Personal Information and non-PII related to your interactions and use of our Services, including but not limited to, IP address, device type, device ID, operating system, library card number, Adobe ID, library name, lending history, holds, reading progress, bookmarks, highlights, notes, and online activity." "We collect information from you in order to: - Personalize our Services to better reflect particular interests and preferences and in certain instances for remarketing." "We retain information for as long as OverDrive deems necessary to provide the Services or as otherwise permitted by applicable law." "Given that the Internet is a global environment, using the Internet to collect and process information necessarily involves the transmission of data on an international basis. Therefore, by using the Services, you acknowledge and consent to the transfer of your information outside your country of residence to any country where we have facilities or engage third parties."
- otterlicious 6y ago
  I worked my first couple years of college as a clerk at the main campus library. I remember the librarian assigned to the Political Science department among others explaining that our circulation software had been deliberately configured to no longer store students' borrowing history after the PATRIOT Act was passed. My city's public library runs the same software and now it has a My Reading History feature which in my city's implementation is disabled by default. If you log in to your library account online and it doesn't display your borrowing history you can have reasonable confidence your library isn't storing it, and would only be actively forwarding it to the feds if they had a warrant or NSL, etc. It's disappointing but not surprising that the same stalwart approach to privacy isn't being enforced on the digital options. Librarians who care like the aforementioned one likely pushed back only to be told it was a necessary evil of the DRM that is "required" to make this possible, and if they don't like it there are still physical books. But today we have alternatives like controlled digital lending that keeps the data in libraries' hands. If privacy-respecting digital options are important to you, you should definitely let your library know!
  - Lammy 6y ago
    I feel privileged to have SFPL with all their electronic lending support, JSTOR access, etc. They even publish their own privacy explanation: https://sfpl.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/privacyinventory.pdf https://sfpl.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/privacyinventor...
gordon_freeman 6y ago
I used to buy tons of Kindle and physical books before I discovered Libby and now all I do is search the desired books on Libby through my Public Library cards (you can have more than one Library cards in Libby as some libraries such as San Francisco and Los Angeles just ask for you to be a California resident) and just read them on Kindle free. It also has superb easy-to-use UI and there is always a book available for me to borrow. Love it.
freetonik 6y ago
I've found Libby to be absolutely fantastic, smooth and stable on iOS, but the exact opposite on Android. The app jitters, freezes and reloads randomly.

sebmellen 6y ago

Thank you, this looks amazing! I've missed perusing the shelves at my local library since the pandemic started — maybe this can serve as a replacement.

neeleshs 6y ago

Thank you for this. I just got access to more than 40k books from my local library using Libby!

Lammy 6y ago

Cool app, but I think I'll stick to the regular old library checkout system where the only party tracking what I read are the feds, and even that is still one party too many. From its Privacy Policy: https://company.cdn.overdrive.com/policies/privacy-policy.htm https://company.cdn.overdrive.com/policies/privacy-policy.ht... "In addition to information that you may willingly submit to OverDrive, such as your library card number, school ID number, and/or email address, OverDrive may collect and store certain Personal Information and non-PII related to your interactions and use of our Services, including but not limited to, IP address, device type, device ID, operating system, library card number, Adobe ID, library name, lending history, holds, reading progress, bookmarks, highlights, notes, and online activity." "We collect information from you in order to: - Personalize our Services to better reflect particular interests and preferences and in certain instances for remarketing." "We retain information for as long as OverDrive deems necessary to provide the Services or as otherwise permitted by applicable law." "Given that the Internet is a global environment, using the Internet to collect and process information necessarily involves the transmission of data on an international basis. Therefore, by using the Services, you acknowledge and consent to the transfer of your information outside your country of residence to any country where we have facilities or engage third parties."

otterlicious 6y ago
I worked my first couple years of college as a clerk at the main campus library. I remember the librarian assigned to the Political Science department among others explaining that our circulation software had been deliberately configured to no longer store students' borrowing history after the PATRIOT Act was passed. My city's public library runs the same software and now it has a My Reading History feature which in my city's implementation is disabled by default. If you log in to your library account online and it doesn't display your borrowing history you can have reasonable confidence your library isn't storing it, and would only be actively forwarding it to the feds if they had a warrant or NSL, etc. It's disappointing but not surprising that the same stalwart approach to privacy isn't being enforced on the digital options. Librarians who care like the aforementioned one likely pushed back only to be told it was a necessary evil of the DRM that is "required" to make this possible, and if they don't like it there are still physical books. But today we have alternatives like controlled digital lending that keeps the data in libraries' hands. If privacy-respecting digital options are important to you, you should definitely let your library know!
- Lammy 6y ago
  I feel privileged to have SFPL with all their electronic lending support, JSTOR access, etc. They even publish their own privacy explanation: https://sfpl.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/privacyinventory.pdf https://sfpl.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/privacyinventor...

gordon_freeman 6y ago

I used to buy tons of Kindle and physical books before I discovered Libby and now all I do is search the desired books on Libby through my Public Library cards (you can have more than one Library cards in Libby as some libraries such as San Francisco and Los Angeles just ask for you to be a California resident) and just read them on Kindle free. It also has superb easy-to-use UI and there is always a book available for me to borrow. Love it.

freetonik 6y ago

I've found Libby to be absolutely fantastic, smooth and stable on iOS, but the exact opposite on Android. The app jitters, freezes and reloads randomly.