Libby App by OverDrive
Improving Navigation
and Usability
Timeline
June 2025 - present
My Role
UX/UI Designer & Researcher
Tools
Figma, FigJam, & Google Forms
Overview
Libby is a free app that lets users borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines from public libraries using their library card. For this self-initiated project, I investigated navigation issues related to borrowed items, holds, and library card management.
Problem
Users struggled to navigate between Borrowed, Holds, and Library Cards, leading to accidental returns
and frustration.
Research
I used a mixed-methods approach including a 129-user survey, review analysis, competitor comparisons, and OverDrive usage data to uncover navigation pain points in Borrowed, Holds, and Library Cards.
Insights
While 89.6% of users report being satisfied or very satisfied with the Libby app, many still experience friction when moving between borrowed items, holds, and library cards. These issues can lead to confusion and frustration, especially for the 53% who use the app daily or the 23% who have accidentally returned a book, particularly among users managing multiple library accounts or those with lower tech confidence.
Solutions included UX improvements to streamline navigation, reduce errors, and simplify library card management.
Improved Library
Card Management
Library card controls were moved to the top of each screen to simplify access and reduce confusion. Previously, they were scattered across multiple screens with inconsistent entry points, which made them hard to find and frustrating to use.
Simplified access to library cards
by allowing users to view them from any screen, supporting the UX principle of consistency and standards.Streamlined multi-card management to make switching between accounts faster and more intuitive.
Clarified the active account to reduce confusion about which library card is currently in use.
Added Error Prevention
and Feedback
Confirmation steps, undo options, and visual cues were added to prevent mistakes and reduce user anxiety. These changes follow the UX principle of error prevention and recovery, giving users a clear way to fix accidental actions without losing progress.
Displayed visual confirmation using checkmarks and toast messages after key actions.
Added “Undo” options to let users easily reverse accidental returns or deletions.
Improved system feedback to reduce hesitation and build user confidence through consistent, predictable responses.
Strengthened Navigation
for Better Wayfinding
To reduce disorientation, I set the app to always open on the Home screen instead of the last visited screen. This provides a familiar reentry point and supports recognition over recall, helping users reorient without relying on memory.
Redesigned the homepage (formerly “Shelf”) to provide a consistent starting point and help users understand where they are within the app.
Added labels below sub-navigation icons to clarify what each icon represents and where it leads.
Kept existing icons to reduce cognitive load and follow the UX principle of consistency and standards. Future updates include simplifying icon style and centering the Home icon to improve usability.
Outcomes
These changes improved navigation clarity, reduced user errors, and made the app easier to use for both new and returning users.
Approach
Rather than proposing a full redesign, I focused on practical, incremental updates aligned with how product teams actually work. These changes fit within Libby’s existing infrastructure, helping users transition smoothly without breaking trust or disrupting learned behavior.
Deep Dive
For the full case study, including research, flows, and design decisions, contact me to request a project presentation. I'm happy to walk through the work in more detail, tailored to your interests.