Libby log activity refers to the record of your reading progress, holds, loans, and history within the Libby app, the library reading platform by OverDrive. It shows what you’ve borrowed, your current checkouts, your holds, and your reading timeline, and it’s the main way to track and manage your digital library activity.
What Is Libby?
Libby is a free app that lets you borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines from your local public library. You log in with your library card, and everything you borrow appears in your account. The “log activity” is the behind-the-scenes record of that borrowing and reading behavior. Unlike a social media feed, this log is private to you and your library—it’s not shared with other users.
What Does “Log Activity” Show?
When you open Libby, the main sections are Shelf (current loans and holds) and Activity (your borrowing history). The activity log typically includes:
- Current loans: Titles you’ve borrowed and are currently reading or listening to, with the days remaining.
- Holds: Titles you’ve placed on hold, with your position in the queue and estimated wait time.
- History: A list of titles you’ve borrowed in the past, including return dates (if you have history turned on).
- Tags: Custom labels you’ve added to titles (e.g., “to-read,” “favorites”), which are part of your activity data.
Libby also tracks your reading progress—like the last page or chapter you were on—so you can pick up where you left off. This is separate from the borrowing log but is part of the app’s activity data.
How to View Your Libby Log Activity
To see your activity, open Libby and tap the Library icon (the building icon) at the bottom. From there, you’ll see your Shelf and Activity tabs. The Activity tab shows your borrowing history, holds, and tags. If you don’t see a history, you may have it turned off—you can enable it in the app’s settings under “Manage History.”
If you want to see a specific title’s activity (like when you borrowed it), tap on the title in your history to see details like the borrow date and format.
Why Does Libby Track This?
Libby tracks your activity for two main reasons:
- To provide the service: It needs to know what you’ve borrowed to let you return, renew, or place holds. Without a log, the system couldn’t manage your loans.
- To improve recommendations: Libby uses your borrowing history to suggest similar titles in the “Recommended” section. This is optional—you can turn off recommendations based on history in settings.
Your library also sees aggregate usage data (like which titles are popular), but they don’t see your personal reading history unless you choose to share it (e.g., by posting to social media).
Common Questions About Libby Log Activity
Here are some typical things people wonder about:
- Does Libby show my activity to others? No. Your log is private. Only you and your library’s system can see it, and only for administrative purposes.
- Can I delete my history? Yes, you can clear your history in settings. This removes the list of past titles from your device and from Libby’s records.
- Does logging activity affect my library card? No. Your borrowing history is not used for fines or penalties—it’s just a record. Overdue items are automatically returned, so no late fees.
- Why is my activity log empty? If you haven’t borrowed anything yet, or if you have history turned off, the log will be empty. Also, if you’re using a different library card, you’ll see that card’s separate log.
Libby Activity vs. Kindle Activity
If you read Libby books on a Kindle, you might notice that your Kindle also tracks reading progress. Libby and Kindle sync your place, but they are separate systems. Your Kindle’s “Reading Log” is separate from Libby’s log—Libby records the loan, while Kindle records your reading time and location. They don’t merge into one log; you’ll see both if you use both apps.
How to Manage Your Libby Log
You can control what Libby logs:
- Turn off history: In Settings > Manage History, you can toggle off history tracking. This stops new titles from being added to your history.
- Clear history: You can delete your entire history at once. This is permanent and can’t be undone.
- Manage tags: You can remove tags from titles to clean up your activity.
- Return early: Returning a title early removes it from your current loans, but it stays in your history (unless you clear it).
If you’re concerned about privacy, you can also use “Guest Mode” in Libby, which lets you browse without logging your activity.
Activity Log Template
If you want to keep your own reading log outside of Libby, here’s a simple template you can use:
| Date Borrowed | Title | Author | Format | Date Returned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sample (fictional): 2025-03-15 | The Night Circus | Erin Morgenstern | eBook | 2025-03-22
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export my Libby activity?
Libby doesn’t have a built-in export feature, but you can manually copy your history from the app if you need to save it. Some libraries offer a “Reading History” export through their catalog, but that’s separate from Libby.
Does Libby log activity if I read offline?
Yes. When you download a title for offline reading, Libby logs the loan and your progress. When you reconnect, it syncs that activity to the server.
Why does my activity show a title I never borrowed?
This can happen if someone else used your library card, or if you accidentally borrowed a title while browsing. Check your library’s account settings to see all activity on your card.
Can I hide my activity from my library?
No. Your library’s system needs to know what you’ve borrowed to manage the collection. However, they don’t share that information with third parties, and you can clear your history in Libby to remove it from your device.
Does Libby log activity on multiple devices?
Yes, Libby syncs your activity across devices when you’re logged in with the same library card. So your log will look the same on your phone and tablet.
Final Thoughts
Libby’s log activity is a useful tool for managing your digital reading. It’s private, customizable, and helps you keep track of what you’ve borrowed and read. If you ever feel uncomfortable with the data, you can turn off history or clear it entirely. For any specific privacy concerns, contact your local library—they can explain their data policies in detail.