I recently discovered an app called “Libby” that connects you to your local library, and so far I really like it. You can place a hold on books (join waitlist), or borrow them for a certain amount of time. There are no late fees as they automatically take the book back from you once your allocated time is up, and everything is completely free, it’s also kindle compatible. What is your preferred way of reading/listening to books and what are some of your favorite features in the apps/tech you use?
Libby is my #1 And now that Spotify has free audiobooks for premium members I can use that as a backup!
Libby and Hoopla are my free accounts through the library. Then I have kindle unlimited. But I also buy books when I really want to read something.
Spotify suddenly has 15 hours of audiobook time included a month in their membership I pay for. I listen to books only in the car and I don’t commute daily so it’s perfect for me.
I use Libby and Hoopla through the same library. They tend to have different books. I just put a hold on a book on Libby that I will apparently be lucky to get hold of by this time next year.
Bundles of thinly-distributed bleached cellulose compound bound with high-adhesive epoxy between graphically illustrated printed flaps of thicker cellulose compound.
Have you tried bundles of thinly-distributed bleached cellulose compound bound with high-adhesive epoxy between graphically illustrated printed flaps of thicker cellulose compound 2.0 yet? It rocks.
I read actual books as well, but am finding that I like audio books a lot too!
MoonReader+ for my digital reads. so many features! so many display options!
SmartAudiobookplayer for my digital listens. speeds up playback without having the narrators sound like chipmunks.
I hate to say it because they’re not great to artists so I assume they’re not great to authors but Spotify has stepped their audiobook game up relative to what it used to be. For no extra money I’ve been able to listen to audiobooks without waiting for credits or Libby wait times.
While I have been using it quite a bit lately I’m going to deep dive into how they’re compensating authors because I can’t believe that this amount of ease and lack of cost can be ethically done.
Isn’t it only 15 hours each month? That’s only just enough for one average sized book I’d say. I think this is more of a demo thing to entice people to buy audiobooks than anything, which they probably then pay the authors with.
Yeah and they try really hard to hide it 😒 I knew the “hours” of free listening time stank of corporate, technically true speak. I had to dig through the FAQ to find the exact number.
I have a broad spectrum of approach and use everything to get the best price. I use Libby which doesn’t always have the books I want but it’s useful. I use Chirp for deals. I use Apple because they sometimes have books I’m looking for at little cost. Audible is my usual though. I buy extra credits but often the book I want has a price lower than the cost of a credit. I just bought something for $3 instead of using an $11 credit.
Libby for me as well! I also use the Kindle app and Kindle Unlimited. Really good deals on there for books to buy as well.
I use Libby to check out books sometimes. I like to read in the Kindle app, which is much more user friendly than the iBooks app IMO.
Hoopla and Libby. Oh, and Scribd, which now calls itself Everand.
For audiobooks I use Libby with two different library cards, Hoopla, and Everand. Between the three I pretty much always have something to listen to.
For digital reading, I have a Kobo E-reader and depending on which library card I use, it’s either through Overdrive (which is Libby), or Cloud Library (which requires me to transfer books from there to Adobe Digital Editions, then to my Kobo). That last bit sounds more annoying than it actually is.
Libby, Boundless, Cloud Library, Everand, Kindle Unlimited are some I use.
You have no idea how much I hate to corporate shill, but audible is pretty great.
I’ve never not been able to access a book I wanted to listen to in under a minute if I have internet access.
And having permanent (or at least until papa Amazon decides to do some tomfoolery or whatever) access to everything I’ve ever listened to whenever I want has been amazing to me. All downloaded on my phone (100s of gigs) and accessible all the time.
Just finished a book and don’t have a plan for the next book? Better listen to Rosamund Pike narrate the life of Elizabeth Bennet for the dozenth time on my walk home. Want to destress and calm down? Perdita Weeks is there to talk about lonely Circe on her island.
It’s just so incredibly convenient, always there, always exactly what I want, and never any waiting or loss of access or really, anything negative, except that it costs money and I’ve seen posts about some authors complaining about how Amazon treats them.
I’ve used Overdrive, now Libby, for years to check out books from my library to read on my 3rd gen Kindle paperwhite & to listen to audiobooks.
I occasionally listen to Audible books from Amazon if they’re free.
I read graphic novels on my old inherited 3rd gen ipad through my library.
I occasionally get free ebooks to side load to my Kindle from Haymarket Books.