Parents' Guide to

Libby, by OverDrive

By Ana Beltran, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Browse, borrow books with online library; filters available.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android Free Books
Libby, by OverDrive Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Libby, by Overdrive: Screenshot #1
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Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 7 parent reviews

jbello
jbello Adult
February 8, 2021
age 18+

No Reliable Filters

Though this app is very user friendly and gives access to an infinite number of ebooks, this is not suitable for children without heavy supervision. The app does not filter based on the library cards, so even if you are connecting a child's library card as long as it is a valid library card, the user will have access to the library's entire collection, including highly inappropriate content. The app does have a drop-down menu to "filter" but it is easily changed. Unless you plan to heavily monitor what your child is reading or accessing on this app, I would not recommend it. If you heavily monitor it then it is very user friendly and a great app, but beware of filtering issue when a child is using independently.
Amanda W.
Amanda W. Adult
November 7, 2022
age 18+

Wish I had known

No way to filter, and there is some extremely disturbing and graphic XXX erotica books on this app. How is it kids can freely read this stuff using their own library card, but can’t watch a rated R movie without a parent? I wish I had known.
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What’s It About?

LIBBY, BY OVERDRIVE puts a library's ebook and audiobook collection at users' fingertips by allowing them to use their library card to digitally borrow books. Kids can either download books, which can then be accessed offline, or they can stream them. Libby digitally re-creates the library experience. To navigate the app, kids simply type their book's title or author into the search box or choose a category and scroll to explore titles. Kids can browse a variety of collections and subjects, borrow ebooks and audiobooks, put books on hold, and sync information between all of their devices. Early readers can access books with embedded read-along audio support. The "shelf" consolidates all loans, holds, and tags, so readers can keep track of their books. Under the preference tab, users can filter books by format, language, and availability. They can also sort books by popularity, release date, or author, among other categories. If users want to annotate, they tap and hold to access search, define, and highlighting features; if they highlight, they can choose a color and annotate as well. Under preferences, parents can apply some parental restrictions by activating the juvenile or young adult filter, which limits the titles kids can browse.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (4 ):

This tool allows kids to enjoy the library experience from virtually anywhere, encouraging them to explore different types of books and making it extremely convenient to borrow ebooks and audiobooks. Families will love accessing different books for free and expanding their personal reading list without the hassle of purchasing books or making a library run. Families of early readers may find this particularly useful and cost effective, since little ones will need an ample selection of books to read regularly in order to practice their reading and comprehension skills. The read-along feature also supports early readers and helps them use the app with greater independence. The juvenile and teen categories have a variety of titles that kids will find appealing. One of the best features of this app is the variety of titles available; borrow best sellers, classic titles, and new releases. Readers can even borrow books in different languages. Users can stream books directly from Libby, by Overdrive, or enjoy the flexibility of downloading for offline access or linking the app to their e-reader, adding to the app's accessibility. Families can narrow search options by activating the juvenile or young adult audience preference, which provides some ease of mind when kids are independently browsing through the collections. This feature definitely makes an otherwise unfiltered selection of titles more kid-friendly. There are two inconveniences when using this app. First, since you are borrowing books from your public library, you have to have a library card or make the trip to your local branch to get one. Second, not all books are immediately available and have to be placed on hold. This was particularly true with super popular and current titles. However, these little inconveniences don't outweigh the convenience, flexibility, and variety offered by Libby, by Overdrive, which definitely brings the library experience to readers' fingertips.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how to go about browsing and choosing appropriate books to read when using Libby, by Overdrive. If the juvenile or young adult filter is not applied, kids will have access to a wide range of books.

  • Talk about how kids can use this resource to support school assignments, such as research projects. How can kids use this app to explore resources and collect information? Explore how to find books based on topic and how different books may present different information or perspectives.

App Details

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