Science and Inquiry discussion

I hesitate to bring politics into Goodreads, but all readers in the U.S. need to be aware of what's going on here. The current administration is attacking the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which could result in reduced library services everywhere. It may even mean that Libby goes away. Please check it out: https://action.everylibrary.org/savei...

I feel as if there's something that everyone knows but I don't: What is Libby? I did an Internet search and it looks like an app for a digital library. Is that correct? Does it have hard-to-find books, or does it mostly consist of books that would be in my local library?

Thank you for letting me know. The majority of the 92 books I read last year were borrowed through Libby. For rural people Libby is the most convenient way of using your library. It is the only way to borrow books from city libraries that are too far away for regular visits but have a larger selection.

Dana wrote: "I feel as if there's something that everyone knows but I don't: What is Libby? I did an Internet search and it looks like an app for a digital library. Is that correct? Does it have hard-to-find bo..."

Yes. It is a service that allows you to borrow ebooks and audiobooks from any library of which you are a member. Whether that library has all the books you might be looking for will depend on it's resources. So, the federal government cutting funds to libraries could severely impact your choices.

I have accounts with three libraries. I can log in to each library's website but Libby makes things much easier for me. I can look for a book through Libby and see which library if any has it. If more than one has it I can see which has the shortest wait list for it. And when I have books checked out from more than one library I can check the due dates all at once. This is only for ebooks and audiobooks though; if none have it I have to go to the individual sites to check if they have a paper book of it.
I would hate to have Libby go away. If you follow the link Betsy posted you can sign a petition to go to governors and representatives.

https://www.404media.co/libraries-scr...

Interesting article. What's going to happen to public libraries?

David wrote: "Interesting article. What's going to happen to public libraries?"

It really frightens me. Public libraries are so valuable for so many reasons.

Venture capital strikes again, this time at libraries.

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/07/nx-s1-...