Services - Tech Tips

Libby Gets an Update and the OverDrive App Says Farewell

There are some changes coming to the Libby app! The folks over at OverDrive, the makers of the Libby app, have rolled out some improvements to the Libby app for easier navigation and an overall improved experience.

If you aren’t familiar with Libby, it is a free app that can be downloaded to your Android (non-Kindle), iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPod touch), and Windows 10 devices. You can use the app to browse for e-books, e-audiobooks, and digital magazines. (OverDrive video is not available in Libby.) Once you have borrowed an item, you can also use the app to read/listen to them.

Updated Navigation Bar

The first change is an updated navigation bar on the bottom section of the app. Each icon in the navigation bar has been updated for clarity and consistency.

Search: Search the library’s catalog for e-books and e-audiobooks.
Library Home Screen: Takes you to the UHLS OverDrive home screen.
Notifications: A badge icon with a number will display if you have any notifications, which includes if there are titles ready to borrow or if a hold placed has not been borrowed in time and has expired.
Libby Menu: Displays notification messages; allows you to add a library card (if you have more than one East Greenbush or Upper Hudson library card) or library (if you belong to more than one library system); and Help & Support (including Settings).
Shelf: Displays your current loans, holds, and tags.
Timeline: Shows your recent activity on Libby: items borrowed, items returned, holds placed, and other Libby activity.

Library Home Organization

Extras and Guides are now featured prominently. The Preferences option has been moved to search results, lists, and guides to help better filter the results so you can easily find what you are looking for.

Search Enhancements

When searching for an item, you will now see an Explore with Filters section, with options to browse by format, availability, and more. Advanced search filters are available with the + more button on this screen.

New Settings Menu

There is a new Settings menu, which include existing settings such as manage notifications, change download rules, choose your language, etc. as well as new options like adding labels to the navigation icons.

If you choose to add labels to your navigation icons, this is how it will be displayed:

Timeline Improvements

The timeline has a new layout, with each title displayed once in a single collapsible entry. More title and user activity details are available in this new layout. The timeline displays your recent activity such as when you borrowed or returned a specific title.

OverDrive App Is Being Discontinued

In addition to all these new Libby improvements, the OverDrive app is being phased out. The OverDrive app (which is a separate app from Libby) will be removed from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Microsoft Windows Store in February 2022.

Current OverDrive app users can continue to use the app. If you are searching for the OverDrive app, you will be directed to Libby. All users can continue to use, borrow, and open titles from the Upper Hudson OverDrive website via a browser.

More Information

OverDrive has prepared a landing page with more information about the transition to Libby. If you have any additional questions about the new Libby features or the discontinuation of the OverDrive app, please contact the library.

New Resource: America’s News

In addition to the Times Union, our NewsBank subscription for East Greenbush/Schodack resident cardholders includes America’s News. This resource includes local papers from all over the country, including the following papers of local interest: Troy Record, Post Standard (Syracuse), Observer-Dispatch (Utica), and the New York Post. Where available, you can select the image version to view text and images in their original layout. America’s News includes several popular magazines, including NewsWeek, Field and Stream, The Atlantic, Parenting, and more! Find these options in the menu on the right side of the page:

The Troy Record can be found in the USA section.

America’s News also aggregates articles by topic for easy research:

Select any subject to get started. Ready to try it out for yourself? If you are on a device connected to the library’s network, clicking the links above will take you directly to the unlocked website. If you are not in the library, you will be prompted for your library barcode number. Enter the whole number with no spaces. If your card is rejected, there could be a few reasons:

There is a space somewhere in the number entered. Solution: try entering the number again.
Your library card has expired. Solution: contact us to renew your card.
Your library card is no longer in good standing (too many fines/fees/overdue items). Solution: login to your account and pay any fines/fees accrued. Then try again.
You are not a resident of East Greenbush/Schodack. Solution: contact the library where you pay taxes and request Consumer Reports access.
You are a resident, but to do not have a resident card. Solution: contact us to prove residency and we will issue a new resident card at no charge.

Got questions? Want to let us know what you think of the service? Please let us know in the comments.

Times Union Access: You Asked, We Listened

Library users have been asking for online access to the Times Union newspaper, so we made it happen! Access is available to anyone connected to the library’s Wi-Fi network via this link: https://bit.ly/egtimesunion. If you are an East Greenbush/Schodack resident, you can use this same link to access the Times Union from anywhere! Just enter you library account barcode (without spaces) when prompted. If your card is rejected, there could be a few reasons:

There is a space somewhere in the number entered. Solution: try entering the number again.
Your library card has expired. Solution: contact us to renew your card.
Your library card is no longer in good standing (too many fines/fees/overdue items). Solution: login to your account and pay any fines/fees accrued. Then try again.
You are not a resident of East Greenbush/Schodack. Solution: contact the library where you pay taxes and request Times Union online access.
You are a resident, but to do not have a resident card. Solution: contact us to prove residency and we will issue a new resident card at no charge.

After login, there are three options listed. Select the middle option to view text and images in a standard newspaper view:

Select a date on the next page to view that day’s issue.

Got questions? Want to let us know what you think of the service? Please let us know in the comments.

Access Consumer Reports from Anywhere

If you rely on Consumer Reports for unbiased reviews of consumer products, we have great news for you. Not only are the print and digital versions of the magazine available to all patrons in the library, East Greenbush/Schodack resident patrons can now remotely access online subscription content using our library’s link: https://bit.ly/EGconsumer.

If you are on a device connected to the library’s network, clicking the link above will take you directly to the unlocked website. If you are not in the library, you will be prompted for your library barcode number. Enter the whole number with no spaces. If your card is rejected, there could be a few reasons:

There is a space somewhere in the number entered. Solution: try entering the number again.
Your library card has expired. Solution: contact us to renew your card.
Your library card is no longer in good standing (too many fines/fees/overdue items). Solution: login to your account and pay any fines/fees accrued. Then try again.
You are not a resident of East Greenbush/Schodack. Solution: contact the library where you pay taxes and request Consumer Reports access.
You are a resident, but to do not have a resident card. Solution: contact us to prove residency and we will issue a new resident card at no charge.

Got questions? Want to let us know what you think of the service? Please let us know in the comments.

Cord-Cutting 101: Virtual Edition

Cord-Cutting 101 has been a very popular class with our users, whether presented in-person or online. If you would like to learn more, you can find all of the resources cited during the class on our website, including the slideshow.

If you would rather watch the class, visit this playlist on our YouTube channel. It includes the entire class, broken down by subject.

You can also check our event calendar to see when we are offering the live class again. If no class is shown, we haven’t scheduled one yet.

Got questions? Let us know in the comments!