Libby/Overdrive FAQs

  • General Questions

    Beginning Wednesday, October 1, our holds limit in Libby/OverDrive will be lowered from 20 to 10. This will help RDPL reduce wait times and ensure more equitable access to popular titles by allowing more customers to access digital titles sooner.

    Demand for eBooks and eAudiobooks continues to rise, but so does the cost of purchasing these items. Lengthy holds lists on popular titles is difficult to manage, especially as we strive to maintain a diverse collection that meets the broad interests and needs of our community. Reducing the number of holds permitted will help to mitigate the frustrating wait times that many are experiencing. 

    Your existing holds will remain in place. However, when you have 10 or more holds, you won’t be able to place new ones until you’re below the limit. The borrowing limit will remain the same (up to 10 items at a time). 

    Unfortunately, not right now. At the current time, Amazon does not sell Kindle-compatible ebooks to Canadian libraries.

    Publishers sell us eBooks with the stipulation that each copy of the book is loaned to only one user at a time, just like a physical book. 

    Absolutely! If you’re done a book early, you don’t have to wait for the automatic return. The next person on the hold list thanks you!

    • Go to 'Shelf' > 'Loans.'
    • Tap 'Manage Loan.'
    • Tap 'Return Early,' then 'Return.'

    Yes! You can renew items in Libby in the last few days of a loan so long as no one else has a hold on that item. 

    • Go to 'Shelf' > 'Loans.'
    • Tap 'Manage Loan.'
    • Tap 'Renew Loan,' then 'Renew.'

    If you see a book you would like, just click the “Place Hold” button. Tap the calendar next to it to see how many people are ahead of you and the approximate waiting period. If you’re unsure if you’d like the book, you can always use the “Read Sample” button to read the first few pages or hear the first couple minutes of the book.

    Books on Libby are checked out for 21 days automatically, but you can also choose shorter loan periods.

    You can have 10 items checked out at a time on Libby and up to 10 holds.

    Start by downloading the Libby app from the Google Play, Apple App or Windows 10 store. Log in using the directions and sign out a book. If you are on Wi-Fi, the book automatically downloads to your device for offline use.