Chicago Public Library ٤+

I do like how easy it is to reserve books at my local location, as well as where I stand on the waitlist. I do find it confusing downloading a held ebook- if a direct link to the download was provided via app or email, that would be a huge help. Another thing that would make this app better is to display library alerts front and center (well, top) when you open the app, like “Library will be closed on Casmir Pulaski day, Monday, March….” I wouldn’t think to go searching in my location’s hours every time I’m about to go pick up my held book to find this information for such an odd off day, and it would be beneficial to see news like that immediately upon opening the app.

I like being able to borrow books easily on my phone and see what libraries have the books to know how long the wait, how many copies there and how many people have them, all of that is very helpful and I appreciate it.

On the other side I think the app needs a lot of work, it logs me out a lot and there doesn’t seem to be a method to the madness, it’s just random. For the past day I’ve had to login every time I’ve opened the app and even then it doesn’t load and I can’t search books or see the books I have in my ‘for later’ shelf.

Hoping the issue with the server will be resolved soon.

I love love love that there is a library app and that I can listen to audiobooks for free. HOWEVER, whenever I listen to my audiobook for a long time or open another app, it takes me out of the browser and I have to go through all the steps to get back to the control panel(?) page. It still plays in the background but I can’t pause it or rewind. I have to: Open the app > Go to my borrowed books > Access the book > Open in browser and > find my place I left off. Very frustrating.