Library’s new app sees rise in ebook lendings
MORE than 400 people have signed up to use the Guille-Alles Library’s new ebook app.
The library started using Libby on 23 March, allowing people to download ebooks, audio books and digital magazines.
So far about 1,400 loans have been taken out using the app.
It includes books, such as fiction for adults, as well as kids and teens, plus adult comics, and many types of genres – killer thrillers, historical romance and mindfulness.
Adam Bayfield, head of marketing at the library, said the new app replaced RB Digital, which was bought out by Overdrive, Libby’s parent company.
‘We just switched over in the last month,’ he said. ‘You can download e-books, audio books and digital magazines, all for free with your library card.
‘It’s early days but so far we have had over 400 people sign in to the app and 1,400 loans.’
The app works by signing in through the library card number and then choosing from thousands of e-books and audio books, as well as popular magazines such as Hello!, The Economist, Time, and Cosmopolitan.
BorrowBox, the library’s other app which works similarly to Libby and also offers e-books and audiobooks, is still available and has been since 2015 – and that has seen a rise in use during the pandemic.
‘We’ve seen a huge growth in usage of that and all our digital platforms since the first lockdown last year,’ added Mr Bayfield.
‘E-book loans rose 52% in 2020, with digital newspaper checkouts up 48% and digital magazines 53%. Those figures have risen again through the second lockdown too.’
n For more information about the app, including an explainer video, visit www.library.gg/libby.
