New Digital Reading Service launches February 1.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2023
YCL Launches New Digital Reading Service February 1
Readers can use the award-winning Libby app to enjoy digital books
YORK, PA – York County Libraries are launching a new digital book service for readers, Libby app by Overdrive, on Wednesday, February 1. It will replace the current Axis360 service. With a library card, members of the community will be able to borrow titles from YCL’s digital collection by downloading the award-winning Libby reading app or by visiting https://ycl.overdrive.com/.
Libby was named one of Popular Mechanics’ 20 Best Apps of the Decade. It will seamlessly connect first-time users and experienced readers with YCL’s digital collection. The locally selected collection offers eBooks and audiobooks including bestsellers and new releases. Readers can select from virtually every subject ranging from mystery, romance, children’s, business and more.
“As community members are increasingly reading and listening to books on tablets and other devices, they are discovering that their local library is an economical resource for getting digital books,” says York County Libraries President Robert F. Lambert. “We launched our ebranch service 12 years ago during National Library Week in April 2011, and the service continues to be in high demand today. Last year, our members checked out nearly 179,000 digital titles and we think this number will grow exponentially with the reader-friendly Libby platform.”
Starting this February, library cardholders can borrow up to five digital eBooks and audiobooks at a time through Libby and place up to 10 items on hold at a time. The checkout period is the reader’s choice of either seven or 14 days. The service is compatible with all major computers and devices, iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phones and tablets and Chromebook™. Through Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®” [U.S. only]. All titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period and there are no late fees. Readers can also download titles onto Libby for offline use.
“The Libby reading app offers a variety of features that we believe will provide a great reading experience for our members,” says Lambert. “This will include the ability to add tags, read across devices, listen in the car, change to a dyslexic font, and adjust other accessibility settings.”
Here are a few highlights of the new digital reading service:
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Tags – Readers can use tags to make a list of what they want to read, favorites, and what they have borrowed.
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Read Across Devices – All borrowed titles, notes, bookmarks, and reading progress can sync across devices.
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Offline Access – Download eBooks and audiobooks for offline reading or stream them to save space.
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Listen in the Car – Enjoy audiobooks in the car through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or a Bluetooth connection.
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Send to Kindle – For members who prefer reading on their Kindle, Libby can send their library books to it. (U.S. libraries only)
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Deliver Later – If the book you have on hold comes before you are ready, you can ask it to deliver later. It goes to the next person in line and comes back to you after they finish reading.
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Custom Reading Experience – Adjust an eBook’s font size, book layout, and lighting for a custom reading experience.
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Outstanding Accessibility – This app enables readers to change to a dyslexic font, use with a screen reader, zoom in to read, use keyboard shortcuts, and adjust other accessibility settings.
Members can get helpful tips for using the new service by going to yorklibraries.org/eBooks, reading the YCL News blog, or by attending one of OverDrive’s free Getting Started with Libby webinars via Zoom. The next session is slated for 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 8. The link to register is on the eBooks page. Library members with questions can also email [email protected].
York County Libraries include 13 libraries that provide the latest in print and digital information, best sellers, Wi-Fi, digital story times, book discussions and 80 databases. In addition to their extensive collection of 642,000 physical items, they offer over one million digital library materials for loan. All are available for free with a York County Libraries card. Community members without a card are invited to request one at yorklibraries.org at no cost.
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About OverDrive
OverDrive is a mission-based company that stands with libraries. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 88,000 libraries and schools in 109 countries with the industry’s largest digital catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, video and other content. OverDrive’s commitment to empower every library and school includes expanding access for all, tireless industry advocacy and consistently innovating. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading app, Kanopy, the leading video streaming app for libraries and colleges, and TeachingBooks.net, which offers one of the largest catalogs of supplemental materials that e
MEDIA CONTACT
Deb Sullivan
Community Relations Director
York County Libraries