Libby app walkthroughs go digital at Lorain Library

While libraries were closed earlier in the year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, reading took to online options with apps accessible for free through public libraries.

With that increase in service, digital distributor of online reading material OverDrive has taken to live, online demonstrations to teach people how to use the company’s apps and start digitally reading.

One of these demonstrations took place through the Lorain Public Library System July 31, which featured a walk-through of the Libby app, how to borrow and search for eBooks and audio books and how to sign up for the service.

This app is made free when using with a library card through the digital library consortium CLEVNET, which the library system is a member of.

“We would normally have our Outreach Department out in the community helping patrons learn how to navigate their electronic devices and explore the resources available to them in our eLibrary,” said Jennifer Black, Lorain Public Library System’s director of marketing, in a news release. “Because it is not easy to do so while social distancing, we’re thrilled to be able to offer this alternative Libby training via Zoom through our partners at OverDrive.”

Joe Skelley, marketing and events specialist with OverDrive, said the closure of libraries caused downloads and user traffic to skyrocket since the beginning of the pandemic.

“During this closure, our work in tech support has quadrupled,” he said.

Skelley said normally, these demonstrations and trainings conducted by OverDrive were taken on the road every year, with a bookmobile traveling across the country and Canada to give in-person demonstrations at schools and libraries.

With those tours canceled for the rest of the year, he said the virtual walk-throughs keep the concept alive and will remain a part of the company’s education services after the bookmobile is back in service.

“The goal is that we can connect everyone with our books, whether they’ve downloaded Libby or haven’t downloaded Libby,” Skelley said.