Today’s Hot Deal: Libby App, the Best “Free” Audio Book App for the Open Road

While XM, Pandora, and Spotify may be your go to audio apps, this one is a step above.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – March 1, 2023

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When is a hot deal a hot deal? When it far exceeds expectations? When its price is miniscule compared to its utility? When it is free? This hot deal checks all the boxes!

Libby App for both Android and iOS by OverDrive

What is it? Libby is a free mobile app that allows you to borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines from your local public library. Developed by OverDrive, Libby makes it easy to browse, borrow, and read your favorite titles all in one place. With a simple and intuitive interface, Libby lets you customize your reading experience, whether you prefer listening to audiobooks on the go or reading eBooks on your phone or tablet. With access to thousands of titles, Libby gives you the convenience of a digital library at your fingertips. Whether you're a casual reader or a bookworm, Libby has something for everyone.

To begin, you need a free library card from your local library. Next, download and install the free Libby app from either the Google Play Store or Apple Store. Select your library from the drop-down menu and enter your digital library card ID into the Libby App. Launch and the world is at your fingertips!

Libby Home and Intro page(s)

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What you can do with it:

• Browse your library’s digital catalog of books — from classics to NYT best-sellers
• Borrow and enjoy eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines
• Download titles for offline reading, or stream them to save space
• Send eBooks to your Kindle (U.S. libraries only)
• Listen to audiobooks via Apple CarPlay
• Use tags to create your must-read list and any other book lists you want
• Keep your reading position automatically synced on all your devices

The intuitive eBook reader allows the following:

• Adjust text size, background color, and book design
• Zoom into magazines and comic books
• Define and search for words and phrases
• Read and listen to read-alongs with your kids
• Add bookmarks, notes, and highlights

Where it truly shines for many of us is the audio player anytime you are on the road:

• Slow down or speed up the audio (0.6 to 3.0x)
• Set a sleep timer
• Simply swipe to skip forward and backward
• Add bookmarks, notes, and highlights

Libby was coded by the team at OverDrive and they have done a hell of a job.

As an aviation thriller enthusiast, few do it better than Dale Brown. Within that genre and from my own use over the past 8-weeks, I have listened to the following Audio Books:

• Eagle Station
• Tiger's Claw
• Executive Intent
• Edge of Battle <-- Just so so
• Iron Wolf
• Starfire <-- I loved this one!
• A Time For Patriots
• Rogue Force

Other's within the genre include Tom Clancy's 5 "Net Force" novels with many more to go.

Outside of the genre, "All the Light That We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr, "11/22/63" by Stephen King, and "Legacy" by Nora Roberts round out my audiobook “reads” over the past two months.

On the Google Play Store, Libby has a 4.8 out of 5 * rating after 119k reviews and 5+ million downloads. On the Apple Store, Libby also has a 4.8 out of 5 * rating after 2.3 million reviews. If you are a road warrior, trust me, you will love it.

Enjoy this excellent and free addition to your own daily grind!

 

Hi Bill:

Carlsbad Toyota is a shady dealership. They have been ripping off purchasers for over a decade with markups or trash wheels, seat protector, undercoating BS addons. Longo in El Monte, CA is the largest Toyota dealership in the country and never charge over MSRP.

Read through the Meet the US Spec, All-new, 5th Gen, 2023 Toyota Prius Hybrid story to the end to see 2 going out at MSRP.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

Another down and hundreds of titles to go.

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I am currently about half way through the same author's "Act of War".

Wayne

 

Hi All:

With a trip from Nashville down to Huntsville and back last night and early this morning and another trip to Bowling Green and back to Nashville this morning, "Act of War" is in my rear view. Another good one by this author.

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I am now a few chapters into "Act of Revenge".

Wayne

 

Hi All:

Another 4 down and just 3 more to go to complete the Dale Brown audio book library on Libby. There are still more (36 titles in total) but the rest have not been released as Audiobooks (17) that I know of.

I listened to "Countdown to Midnight" as an Audible Book a few months ago so listened to it at a higher speed than normal. I am currently listening to "Air Battle Force" with "Plan of Attack" and Kremlin Strike left to listen too.

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I would like to read all 4 of his Dreamland series but none are on audiobook. Through Libby anyway. The rest of the available Clancy Audiobooks on Libby are next.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

Another 4 down, thousands to go. In this case, I finished off the Dale Brown audiobook titles on Libby. Audible has upwards of 65 titles so there are more, just not available from the Nashville Public Library. The last 3 were some of Dale Brown's best too!

Libby


Dale Brown and Tom Clancy on Libby - Plan of Attack - Air Battle Force - Kremlin Strike - Firing Point​

Wayne