Libby, the popular app for borrowing library e-books and audiobooks, has rolled out a new AI-driven feature—though not all users and librarians are on board. The tool, named “Inspire Me,” lets users receive book recommendations either by inputting custom prompts or based on titles they’ve previously saved within the app. Yet for some, the addition of AI to their go-to reading platform feels unnecessary, sparking pushback.
Using “Inspire Me” is straightforward: Users navigate to the feature on Libby’s homepage, first selecting whether they want fiction or nonfiction suggestions. From there, they can refine results further by filtering for criteria like age group, content type, or mood. For example, a user might choose descriptors such as “spine-tingling” or “amusing,” then narrow it down to specific themes—like “dark humor about modern family chaos” or “time travelers saving dragons from medieval knights.” After setting preferences, the app pulls up five book titles that align with the user’s request.
OverDrive, the developer behind Libby, emphasizes that “Inspire Me” draws exclusively from each library’s digital collection. This means recommendations only include books the library actually offers, with priority given to titles available for immediate borrowing—ensuring suggestions are practical, not just generic.
Despite its simplicity, the feature has faced criticism. On social media, some Libby users and librarians have voiced their dissatisfaction, arguing they’d rather get book recommendations through non-AI means, such as librarian expertise or manual browsing. Privacy concerns have also emerged, with some worried about how AI might handle their personal data.
To address these fears, OverDrive has clarified its stance in a policy document focused on Libby’s AI usage. The company states it avoids collecting “non-essential personal information” and does not share any user data—whether details about individuals, their devices, or their activity—with third parties or AI models. Even when users share saved tags to get tailored suggestions, the AI only receives the relevant book titles, not any information about the user, their device, or the tag’s name or description.
Anticipating potential backlash, OverDrive was careful to frame “Inspire Me” as a complement to, not a replacement for, human guidance. In its announcement, the company stressed that the feature is designed to work alongside librarian-led discovery, not overshadow it.
“Inspire Me leverages responsible AI to help library patrons explore the amazing catalogs their local libraries have curated,” said Jen Leitman, OverDrive’s Chief Marketing Officer, in a statement. “By highlighting books that match what readers are looking for, the feature helps users discover more of the titles their libraries have already invested in. This isn’t about replacing human insight—it’s about making the discovery process easier, smarter, and more intuitive.”
OverDrive first soft-launched “Inspire Me” earlier in August, letting users access it by searching for “#InspireMe” within the app. Now, with its official rollout underway, all Libby users are expected to gain access to the feature by September.