Libby – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Libby

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2017

91%

WISE Score

4.9

App Store

Your public library's entire digital collection, free on your phone—just set up the age filters first.

Libby

app

Teen, 2017

91%

WISE Score

4.9

App Store

Your public library's entire digital collection, free on your phone—just set up the age filters first.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

This is one of those rare apps that does exactly what it should: connects you to your library's digital collection without any nonsense. No ads, no in-app purchases, no algorithm trying to keep you scrolling. Just books.

The catch? You absolutely must set up age-appropriate filters before handing it to kids. Multiple parent reviews confirm that without this step, your 8-year-old can browse the same catalog as adults, which includes romance novels, true crime, and everything else. Once you've done that five-minute setup, though, this is genuinely fantastic.

Libby has reportedly helped people break social media addiction and get back into reading. The interface is beautiful, the features are thoughtful (speed control! sleep timer! read-alongs!), and it's built by OverDrive, which has been doing library tech for decades. If you want your kids reading more and scrolling less, this is the move.

Age Fit

Appropriate for any age once content filters are configured. Young kids (4-7) will need parent help navigating and selecting books. Older kids and teens can browse independently with proper age settings. Adults love it too—it's genuinely for everyone who reads.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Libby promotes healthy reading habits and provides access to age-appropriate library content. It encourages quiet, focused engagement with books rather than chaotic dopamine-hit content. The app itself is clean, well-designed, and free of manipulative design patterns. The only caveat is that content filtering requires parent setup—it's not automatic.

Imaginative

Opens up millions of books and audiobooks spanning every genre imaginable—from fantasy worlds to science exploration to creative fiction. The read-along feature for kids is particularly clever for building literacy. While the app itself doesn't create content, it's a gateway to virtually unlimited imaginative material. Loses a few points because it's a delivery mechanism rather than inherently creative.

Safe

No ads, no in-app purchases, no social features, no data harvesting—all excellent. However, Common Sense Media parent reviews flag a significant filtering issue: without manual setup of age filters, kids can access the entire adult library catalog including mature content. The 'Kids Mode' exists but isn't foolproof. This is a real concern for independent use. Once properly configured, it's very safe.

Enriching

This is literally a library in your pocket. Access to classics, contemporary literature, non-fiction, magazines, and audiobooks builds vocabulary, reading comprehension, empathy, and knowledge across every subject. The ability to adjust reading speed, add notes and highlights, and sync across devices supports genuine learning. For building lifelong readers, this is gold.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Completely free with a library card—no ads, no purchases, no manipulation, just books
Millions of ebooks and audiobooks from picture books to NYT bestsellers
Read-along feature is perfect for emerging readers
Builds genuine reading habits and can replace doomscrolling (multiple parents report it helped their internet addiction)
Clean, intuitive interface with features like speed control, sleep timer, and offline downloads

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What to Watch For

Age filters are NOT automatic—you must manually set them up or kids can browse the entire adult catalog
Requires a library card (though most public libraries offer free cards)
Selection depends on your local library's digital collection, which varies widely

Conversation Starters

"What kind of books are you interested in right now? Let's search together and see what we can find."
"Do you want to try the audiobook version while we're in the car?"
"I noticed you finished that book fast—what did you think? Want to find something similar?"

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