Can Someone Explain Libby?

ArmadilloPilot · 12-14-2023, 08:34 PM

I recently got a Pocketbook Verse. For years I have used overdrive to visit the library, check out my book, put them in Calibre, get metadata the way I want it, then put the book on my reader. Now will Libby let me do all that? It seems like Libby is advertised as a reader app (not sure I need that). So if I get Libby, will I still have the same functionality I had with Overdrive?

There's probably some functionality in Libby that I may find that I like. That'll be great. I just don't want to cripple the system I have now. Basically, download the book and manage it in Calibre.

John F · 12-14-2023, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmadilloPilot

I recently got a Pocketbook Verse. For years I have used overdrive to visit the library, check out my book, put them in Calibre, get metadata the way I want it, then put the book on my reader. Now will Libby let me do all that? It seems like Libby is advertised as a reader app (not sure I need that). So if I get Libby, will I still have the same functionality I had with Overdrive?

There's probably some functionality in Libby that I may find that I like. That'll be great. I just don't want to cripple the system I have now. Basically, download the book and manage it in Calibre.

Yes.
..

rcentros · 12-15-2023, 04:14 AM

Does your library force you to use Libby? My library still uses Overdrive in the browser. I think you can also use Libby in the browser, but I don't. I can still download Overdrive ePubs (the .acsm file) directly from my PocketBook HD 3's browser, and the HD 3 will open them from the Adobe server. (I don't always do it that way, but I can.)

You can also download the .acsm file to your computer and email it to your PocketBook and, again, the PocketBook will take care of it from there.

Frogm4n · 12-16-2023, 12:00 PM

Libby is made by Overdrive the company to be their new generation frontend to their Overdrive service. They gave the user facing app a major redesign and at the same time a new name. It's still Overdrive underneath.

slm · 12-16-2023, 08:03 PM

The browser version of Libby does not permit you download an acsm file or read on Pocketbook.

The android and iOS apps do permit you to download an acsm file.

John F · 12-17-2023, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slm

The browser version of Libby does not permit you download an acsm file or read on Pocketbook.

The android and iOS apps do permit you to download an acsm file.

By "you" you mean you? I just tried, and I was able to download an acsm file using Libby with a browser on Windows.

JSWolf · 12-17-2023, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slm

The browser version of Libby does not permit you download an acsm file or read on Pocketbook.

The android and iOS apps do permit you to download an acsm file.

You can download the .acsm file from the browser version of Libby. I've done it.

meeera · 12-18-2023, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slm

The browser version of Libby does not permit you download an acsm file or read on Pocketbook.

Go to your shelf

On the book you want the acsm for, click "Manage Loan"

Click "Read With"

Choose "Epub"

Renate · 12-24-2023, 12:43 PM

Well, I'm not impressed, but at least I can filter for "(English or German) and Epub".
They really should have a global filter as that and local filters that are temporary.
Still, the layout is clearly designed for phones or a 3 year-old's tablet.

ArmadilloPilot · 01-04-2024, 02:33 PM

So, Does Libby do away with Adobe digital and Adobe digital device authorizations, etc? Currently, I check out a book. The library sends me a .acsm file that then allows me to download a book (but only if my device (desktop computer) has been authorized by Adobe. The book gets dropped into a folder and app: Adobe Digital Editions(app) & My Digital Editions (sub folder of Documents folder). And there it sits, until I select 'get books' in Calibre where Calibre gets it and I can then manage all the metadata that I like to have as part of my library, before I import a book to my ereaders.

Does Libby do the same? Where does it put the book when I check it out from the library? I am not the least bit interested, just yet, of reading the book in my browser window or on my telephone.

I read an article today that said on 1 May 2023 Overdrive will be turned off. If it was turned off then I guess I never really used Overdrive. Instead I was really using only Adobe while thinking it was Overdrive doing all the work. If that's the case, I was grossly wrong, and probably have no reason to be concerned about it.

DNSB · 01-04-2024, 03:37 PM

Once again, not OverDrive the service/website but OverDrive the app that Libby replaces.

John F · 01-04-2024, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmadilloPilot

So, Does Libby do away with Adobe digital and Adobe digital device authorizations, etc? Currently, I check out a book. The library sends me a .acsm file that then allows me to download a book (but only if my device (desktop computer) has been authorized by Adobe. The book gets dropped into a folder and app: Adobe Digital Editions(app) & My Digital Editions (sub folder of Documents folder). And there it sits, until I select 'get books' in Calibre where Calibre gets it and I can then manage all the metadata that I like to have as part of my library, before I import a book to my ereaders.

Does Libby do the same? Where does it put the book when I check it out from the library? I am not the least bit interested, just yet, of reading the book in my browser window or on my telephone.

I read an article today that said on 1 May 2023 Overdrive will be turned off. If it was turned off then I guess I never really used Overdrive. Instead I was really using only Adobe while thinking it was Overdrive doing all the work. If that's the case, I was grossly wrong, and probably have no reason to be concerned about it.

I believe if you use Libby's "Manage loan->Read With->Epub" it will behave the same as the Overdrive site, as far as downloading the ACSM, ...

Good luck

Renate · 01-10-2024, 10:07 AM

Well, I'm even less impressed.
They twist your arm to go to Kindle.
Even if you don't have an Amazon account and no Kindle it has you marked as borrowing it already to Kindle.
Yes, you can work around this, but you have to be careful to back out as soon as you have "borrowed" it.

JSWolf · 01-10-2024, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slm

The browser version of Libby does not permit you download an acsm file or read on Pocketbook.

The android and iOS apps do permit you to download an acsm file.

I've downloaded plenty of .acsm and ePub from the web version of Libby. It works no problem.

12-14-2023, 08:34 PM	#1
ArmadilloPilot Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Texas Device: Pocketbook Verse Pro	Can Someone Explain Libby? I recently got a Pocketbook Verse. For years I have used overdrive to visit the library, check out my book, put them in Calibre, get metadata the way I want it, then put the book on my reader. Now will Libby let me do all that? It seems like Libby is advertised as a reader app (not sure I need that). So if I get Libby, will I still have the same functionality I had with Overdrive? There's probably some functionality in Libby that I may find that I like. That'll be great. I just don't want to cripple the system I have now. Basically, download the book and manage it in Calibre.

01-04-2024, 02:33 PM	#10
ArmadilloPilot Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Texas Device: Pocketbook Verse Pro	Guess I have to live with it. So, Does Libby do away with Adobe digital and Adobe digital device authorizations, etc? Currently, I check out a book. The library sends me a .acsm file that then allows me to download a book (but only if my device (desktop computer) has been authorized by Adobe. The book gets dropped into a folder and app: Adobe Digital Editions(app) & My Digital Editions (sub folder of Documents folder). And there it sits, until I select 'get books' in Calibre where Calibre gets it and I can then manage all the metadata that I like to have as part of my library, before I import a book to my ereaders. Does Libby do the same? Where does it put the book when I check it out from the library? I am not the least bit interested, just yet, of reading the book in my browser window or on my telephone. I read an article today that said on 1 May 2023 Overdrive will be turned off. If it was turned off then I guess I never really used Overdrive. Instead I was really using only Adobe while thinking it was Overdrive doing all the work. If that's the case, I was grossly wrong, and probably have no reason to be concerned about it.

01-10-2024, 10:07 AM	#13
Renate Wizard Posts: 2,447 Karma: 10475859 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Nook NST, Glow2, 3, 4, '21, Kobo Aura2, Poke3, Poke5	Well, I'm even less impressed. They twist your arm to go to Kindle. Even if you don't have an Amazon account and no Kindle it has you marked as borrowing it already to Kindle. Yes, you can work around this, but you have to be careful to back out as soon as you have "borrowed" it. Attached Thumbnails

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12-15-2023, 04:14 AM	#3
rcentros eReader Wrangler Posts: 7,489 Karma: 48453105 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boise, ID Device: PB HD3, GL3, Tolino Vision 4, Voyage, Clara HD	Does your library force you to use Libby? My library still uses Overdrive in the browser. I think you can also use Libby in the browser, but I don't. I can still download Overdrive ePubs (the .acsm file) directly from my PocketBook HD 3's browser, and the HD 3 will open them from the Adobe server. (I don't always do it that way, but I can.) You can also download the .acsm file to your computer and email it to your PocketBook and, again, the PocketBook will take care of it from there.

12-16-2023, 12:00 PM	#4
Frogm4n Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 1015073 Join Date: Jul 2023 Device: Kindle Scribe	Libby is made by Overdrive the company to be their new generation frontend to their Overdrive service. They gave the user facing app a major redesign and at the same time a new name. It's still Overdrive underneath.

12-16-2023, 08:03 PM	#5
slm Fool Posts: 380 Karma: 3557934 Join Date: Feb 2003 Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle PW1, Kobo Glo HD, Nook Glowlight Plus ...	The browser version of Libby does not permit you download an acsm file or read on Pocketbook. The android and iOS apps do permit you to download an acsm file.

12-24-2023, 12:43 PM	#9
Renate Wizard Posts: 2,447 Karma: 10475859 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Nook NST, Glow2, 3, 4, '21, Kobo Aura2, Poke3, Poke5	Well, I'm not impressed, but at least I can filter for "(English or German) and Epub". They really should have a global filter as that and local filters that are temporary. Still, the layout is clearly designed for phones or a 3 year-old's tablet.

01-04-2024, 03:37 PM	#11
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 36,126 Karma: 145735366 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Once again, not OverDrive the service/website but OverDrive the app that Libby replaces.

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