Library Resources: A Quick Guide to Libby

Do you struggle to renew your library books on time? Are you someone who prefers to read on their Kindle rather than hold a physical copy? If this sounds like you, then continue reading, because this post will help you out! 

Libby is a free app powered by OverDrive that allows users to borrow and read ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines from their local public library; all that’s required is a valid library card for authentication purposes. You can stream titles using WiFi or your mobile data plan, or you can download them to read offline anywhere you please.  

This sounds great and all, but what if you don’t have a library card on hand, or you’re not sure when you’ll be home to register for one? No problem! Thanks to the partnership between the Blough-Weis Library and Snyder County Libraries, all Susquehanna University students, staff, and faculty have the opportunity to be a member of Snyder County Libraries through their SU ID card, which gives you remote access to all of their available titles! 

Accessing Libby:  

1. Click on this link https://ebranch2go.overdrive.com, or download the Libby app via your mobile app store.  
2. Select Snyder County Library System as your library.  
3. Type in your 14-digit card number, which is located on the back of your SU ID above the black barcode.  
4. Hit “Sign In,” and you should be good to go! 

Through Snyder County Libraries, you can borrow up to 5 titles at a time. If a book is currently checked out, it will say “Place a Hold” underneath the title. You can then fill out a form with your email address, and you will be alerted when the title is available. If a book is available to be checked out, it will say “Borrow” underneath the title, and the title will then be added to your library. You can then choose whether you want to borrow the title for 7 or 14 days.  

Loans expire at the same time of day that they were originally borrowed. For example, if you check out a book at 10:43 P.M., which is the exact time I’m currently writing this, it will expire at 10:43 P.M. on the last day it’s due.  

You can renew a title a few days before it’s due if you haven’t quite finished reading, and when your loan is up, the book is automatically returned and removed from your device, saving you from any potential late fees. If you finish a book before its due date, you can return it manually under the “Loans” section in the Libby app. If someone else is waiting for your copy, it will be passed to them once your time is up.  

I highly recommend utilizing the leisure books section at the Blough-Weis Library and having your own personal library card at home, but Libby is a great option for college students like me who are constantly on the go. Either way, remember that supporting your local libraries also supports yourself and your right to read what you please. Now go check out a book! 

Lily Papendick (‘28) currently attends Susquehanna University as a double major in creative writing and publishing & editing with a minor in marketing. Originally from Byram, NJ, Lily currently serves as the Content Editor for the Luxury Brand Marketing Club, a staff writer for the arts & entertainment section of The Quill, and is an active member of SU Dance Corps. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry, listening to music, watching movies, especially her favorite rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You and spending time at the beach with her family.