u/Typical-Emu8363

I primarily use the Libby app the following way:

OS: Windows 10

Browser: Edge 151.0.4129.93

Website: libbyapp.com

Since the partner card update on August 18, 2026 I can no longer place holds or borrow from partner libraries. I can still place holds and borrow from my home library.

I previously added partner libraries manually to Libby prior to the August 18, 2026 update.

After the update, those libraries were moved to the Partner Libraries section under Menu.

Here are the steps I took to resolve the issue with no success:

1. Restart computer and re-open libbyapp.com in Edge.
2. Verify the home library card in Libby by going to Cards under Menu and then clicking "..." on my home library card and selecting Verify Card.
3. Remove the home library card and re-add it to Libby.
4. Manage partner libraries by going to Cards under Menu and then clicking "..." on my home library card and selecting Partner Libraries. Then for each partner library, clicked Enable which temporarily displayed "Enabling..." and then went back to Enable.
5. Reset Libby and start from scratch using my home library.

I tried going to libbyapp.com in a browser I've never set up Libby before and added my home library card and I still cannot place holds or borrow from partner libraries. The browser I used was Firefox 154.0.

Here is what I see when I try to put a book on hold at a partner library:

https://preview.redd.it/250m7i6uvckh1.jpg?width=509&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5b1d80da9e0e8ec2be2181c1c1b2163335b90a96

Here is what I see when I select Continue and every time I select Try Again:

https://preview.redd.it/qdivjnrsmckh1.jpg?width=482&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2f9398d3ff79a9bb4bfd000923305be87fa5a57

I have verified that if I log into the partner library's OverDrive website with my home library credentials I can successfully place a hold on the above title.

I also have the Libby app on my Samsung Galaxy A17 5G phone and it has the same issue where I can't place holds or borrow from partner libraries. At one point when I reset Libby in the browser I did attempt to recover data from my phone with a setup code but that did not resolve the issue on either device.

I can verify my home library credentials work when logging into the following sites:

1. My home library's main website.
2. My home library's OverDrive website.
3. OverDrive websites of partner libraries.

My home library is:

- Ottawa Public Library

Partner libraries are:

- Burlington Public Library

- Hamilton Public Library

- Kingston Frontenac Public Library

- London Public Library

- Milton Public Library

- Mississauga Library

I have submitted a support ticket to OverDrive but posted here in case anyone else ran into the same issue.

A Primer on Skip-the-Line copies posted by u/LibbyPro24 around a year ago has been removed by Reddit's filters for some reason.

Therefore, I'm re-posting the content here acknowledging that I am not the original creator of this excellent explanation of skip-the-line loans.

I've seen a lot of talk about Skip-the-Line copies recently, and it seems that there is much confusion about how they work. So here goes:

1. Skip-the-Line copies are available to be borrowed right away, even if a title has a holds queue. Not every library offers Skip the Line copies.
2. The library decides if/how may copies of a title will be converted to STL. At least one copy must be kept with regular "holdable" status to fill holds. For hot titles, the library will often purchase extra copies to be made STL, rather than reducing the number of holdable copies.
3. The library decides how long the STL loan period will be and how many STL titles an individual user can check out at any one time. If your library has a limit and you have reached it, you will see a note "You have reached your skip-the-line limit for this card" if you try to borrow another.
4. Typically the STL copies are set to a shorter loan period to fill the demand for hot titles more quickly. They are not renewable.
5. When a STL copy is available, a small shamrock will appear on the title. 🍀 This is visible to anyone looking at that title, whether they have just searched for it, stumbled across it while browsing, or it is on their holds shelf. ANYONE who comes across it can borrow the STL copy. The STL copy is not "offered" to any specific user because they borrow lots of titles, return them early, or are kind to puppies and small children. If you see STL copies all the time, it's likely because your library has lots of them and/or you spend a lot of time in Libby 👍.
6. STL copies of really hot titles get snapped up really fast. So you may spot a shamrock, but by the time you click "borrow" you are too late and the copy is gone. Yes, this is very disappointing. 😞
7. You can find available STL copies by going to search 🔍 and adding the "skip the line" filter. Some libraries also maintain lists of currently available STL titles on their Libby homepage.
8. If you are trying to place a hold on a title which currently has a STL copy available (i.e. you prefer to wait for a copy with the regular loan period or you don't want to check it out right away), click on "Borrow" anyway, then click on "This is a skip-the-line copy". Then click on the note "The line is about X weeks". NOW you will see an option to Place Hold instead. 😫 (Dear OverDrive developers, this needs to be simplified big time.)
9. If you borrow a STL copy for a title which you have on hold, please remember to delete your hold if you no longer need it. Libby no longer prompts you to do this. (Dear OverDrive developers again: "ahem".)
10. BTW, "Skip the Line" copies are sometimes referred to as "Lucky Day".

Have I missed anything??

**⬇️ if you think I am the Spirit of Christmas**