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Libby App Brings Kansas Libraries to Life Online
The free app allows Kansas residents to access thousands of ebooks and audiobooks through their public library cards.
Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:21pm
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The author praises the Libby app, which allows Kansas residents to access their local public libraries' digital collections of ebooks and audiobooks for free using their library cards. Libby's user-friendly interface and ability to sync with e-readers and other devices has enabled the author to diversify their reading habits and consume more audiobooks than ever before. The article also highlights the Kanopy streaming service, which provides access to independent films and documentaries that are not available on mainstream platforms.
Why it matters
In an era of social media and endless online content, apps like Libby and Kanopy provide Kansans with a thoughtful alternative to mindless scrolling and algorithmically-driven recommendations. By connecting readers to their local libraries' digital collections, these platforms empower citizens to explore diverse ideas and perspectives, rather than being confined to a narrow set of content.
The details
The Libby app, which is connected to the Sunflower eLibrary consortium of 177 public libraries in Kansas, allows users to access over 53,000 ebooks and 32,000 audiobooks. The app's features, such as the ability to filter for available titles and create custom reading lists, have made it a superior experience compared to the Sunflower eLibrary's own website. The author has used Libby to diversify their reading habits, moving beyond their previous fixation on shipwreck stories. The Kanopy streaming service, which is also accessible through many Kansas public libraries, provides access to independent films and documentaries that are not available on mainstream platforms.
- The author installed the Libby app on their phone in September.
- Over the past six months, the author has finished at least 12 audiobooks using the Libby app.
The players
Libby
A free app that allows Kansas residents to access their local public libraries' digital collections of ebooks and audiobooks using their library cards.
Sunflower eLibrary
A consortium of 177 public libraries in Kansas that provides access to digital books and audiobooks.
Kanopy
A streaming service that provides access to independent films and documentaries, available through many Kansas public libraries.
What they’re saying
“Once books become available and people have the ability as well as their right to distinguish among ideas, to develop sympathies for and antipathies toward ideas, cultures, histories … and just simply have a community of readers like them or a community of readers who don't share their opinions. … Now, that is true empowerment. That's truly enabling a citizenry.”
— Toni Morrison
The takeaway
Apps like Libby and Kanopy provide Kansans with a valuable alternative to the endless scroll of social media and mainstream entertainment platforms, empowering them to explore diverse ideas and perspectives through their local public libraries' digital collections.
