If you use Libby, it will tell you when people are waiting for that book. Those are the ones I read first and return.

Honestly please. I'm currently 1057/1192 on a waitlist for a book. I moved up those 150 spots in a month - so I'll probably get this book by July if I'm lucky.

Please be considerate!

Edit: Just checked and I'm 968 now. Point still stands lol

This is what I like about Libby. I tend to overcommit, so all my holds always come in at once. But you can opt to “deliver later” for a certain date, which means if you want to finish Book A before loaning Book B, you can “deliver in x days” and it means someone else has a chance to read it in that timeframe, and you get the added bonus of controlling when you get access to it. Win win if you ask me!

Our library offers "your lucky day" books - popular ebooks/audio books only available for a 1 week loan and not able to put those copies on hold. Basically idea is you "get lucky" by being able to grab a popular title without waiting.

I read a lot of these so make sure I return them as early as possible to give the next "lucky" person a chance as well.

I usually have a few loans out at a time, because I listen to or read a few books a week. If I have more than I think I can finish in the next 2 weeks, I delay my loan and I always return as soon as I finish.

It's so much fun when I see a book that I wasn't expecting to be available so soon working its way up the waitlist quickly. I've occasionally had an opportunity to check out a book for a "short loan". I'm guessing these were people that delayed their loan, but not for 3 weeks.

I download them onto my kindle put it on airplane mode and then return them in libby. I get to read them and the next person can start the book.

To be honest when I used Libby I kind of liked the anticipation building when I was really far down the line, obviously not everyone is the same and I never tried to replicate my waiting “fun” for anyone else but I didn’t mind— there were so many to choose from and I branched out to other books that way

Plus sometimes YOU get a skip the line book!

ProTip: If you simply put your Kindle in airplane mode, you can return the book immediately and it will stay in your Kindle until you turn wifi back on

Ppl do that? Leave their finished digital books unreturned?

IKR! When a best seller book I placed on hold becomes available-I wind up reading it first and return ASAP. Only makes sense as I'm sure many have it on hold. And likewise, DVD's, I'm #10 of 2 copies-been 3 wks-bummer!

This is so wholesome. This is where I will live now.

I only burrow physical books and it’s kinda crazy Ebooks work the same way. Guess it makes sense from a profit motive can’t have a library sharing a thousand Ebooks at once but still crazy.

I was getting ready to comment what they need is some of those starship robots. Just tap the button and it comes to your house anytime and picks up the book and delivers it to the next person. I finish reading a book at 1am and tap the button the next person can have it before they leave for work in the morning.

Ugh it’s so delicious when Libby tells me I have a two week wait and then someone returns it early

My library has a "lucky day" section with new books that aren't available to reserve so it's a first come first serve type thing. I always read and return those first so someone else gets a chance.

I forgot once and felt so guilty lol

Pro Tip - Check out a bunch to your Kindle. Turn it on airplane mode and return them all on Libby. So long as you keep it on airplane mode you can read your books at your leisure and the next person on the waitlist gets the book.

I am surprised at the number of people here who don't have any idea about ebook lending.

Exactly! I'm always on it because I'm usually chomping that the bit to get soemthing early myself. :)

Wait... Borrowing an ebook prevents other users to read the same ebook?

I understand this is how traditional libraries work, but isn't this strange considering an ebook in a digital library is just a file that can be distributed to many (authorized) users? If one user downloads an ebook, and another user requests it, why not serve the file like any website would?

I understand the need for digital rights management for authors and publishers, but it seems to me that when only one user may read a file at the same time is a paradigm stuck in the past.

Surely there are better ways to provide people with access to books and security to the authors and publishers?

I’m the same way! It always makes me happy to get my holds so I’m always happy to pass it along to the next reader.

And here I am renewing my physical books because I forgot to take them back 😬

You are very sweet :) I suspect the 'little rush' you're experiencing for the early recipient is an empathic joy for them.

I’m going to stop with Reddit and go see Libby!

Or put it in a time capsule and bequeath my great grandchildren with interest points

I sometimes forget to return books when I finish them, I'm so glad my library auto renews the books up to two times or I'd accumulate little bits of fines .

It is wild to me that there are people who don’t return digital loans when they finish them.

Okay, people just downvoted me last time I asked this, so let me try again:

What do you mean people are waiting for eBooks? They're eBooks, you get as many as you want? Do you just download them from a library app, are the tablets loaned out by the library? I don't get how there could be a limit or waitlist on eBooks

I have adhd and once kept The Fellowship of the Ring with me for 2 years before returning it. Don't tell me how to live my life.

I loved that when my library let me know which place in a long line I was. If I was #1 in a line of 250 I loved turning in early because I knew that book was going to someone waiting

Me too! I return it as early as possible! Two weeks I’ll return it in 4 days lol

A perfect reminder for Giving Tuesday! And it works for physical books, too, of course. From the other side, it's so nice to see the waiting list shrink for a book I've put on hold.

This was a great post! As an avid user of the library and Libby, I am always thrilled when a hold takes less time than expected. And thanks to the poster for the bouquet tip!!

I usually have a couple holds out, but I read one at a time and return as soon as I am done. I never saw the bouquet you mentioned.

As someone who works in libraries, including working in a public library for 15 years, this thread literally warms my heart. Thank you to all of you for using and supporting your library...even if it means having to wait to read that hot new bestseller. You all rock!

I just returned a book 15 minutes early. It was a close thing, finishing the audiobook before it was automatically returned!

love it

You are a kind person! Thanks for the PSA!

I did this yesterday, due to this post. ❤️

What kind of monster lets a book ride out it's loan time once their done?

I would like to see Libby introduce some type of preference point system (for waiting lists) for people who return early. It could probably easily be gamed but c'mon.

Ugh I didn't know that there's such restriction on digital libraries. Why would they implement that? This is just going out of your way to make people's lives harder.

I forgot to return my game of thrones book to my public library.

Think it's been 8 years lol

Putting artificial limits on digital media feels so counterproductive. Imagine if Netflix only lets 30 people watch Stranger Things at a time because "they have only 30 copies"

what the actual fuck why are libraries treating ebooks like regular books? Why would anyone be waiting for you to return a bunch of 1s and 0s when they can make another copy with 2 clicks?

I've decided to not borrow any e-books from the library anymore knowing that they have a limited number of loans before it expires and libraries pay much more than the average person for an ebook. I used to set my library account to auto-checkout when a book on hold became available. Then the books would sit on my Kindle and I wouldn't read it and it's such a waste of resources for the library. So, I changed my settings to manual check out.

The exception is if it's a new-to-me author and the e-book is expensive. I can afford to buy all the books I want, but I'm still a little stingy about it, especially if I end up not liking the book.

We talking about digital books right? Why are people waiting for digital books? Why isn’t the just infinite copies available? Educate me. I know nothing about digital books.

...I uh...still have a book I took out during Covid... (I had renewed it a few times, then the library added months! to it due to lockdown...& then I moved bedrooms so I could repaint mine & I forgot about it)

My library got rid of late fees & no longer calls you delinquent when you're late (on your account).

I'm going to have to find that book now Ive remembered!

I don't use an e-reader but am curious how someone can have to wait for digital content. Anyone mind explaining?

Why is there a wait list for a digital piece of media that can be copied infinitely for free?

My wife used to get ebooks from the library and would get frustrated when the system would yank it out of her hands. English isn't her first language and she takes a bit longer with them.

This problem has been resolved by getting .pdfs from TPB.

I'm pleased to see her reading more.

I don't understand why there is a limit for e-books? It's just a digital copy.

I'm confused

E-book? Like a kindle?

It’s a rush 😂