"Don't use Libby because it costs libraries too much, pirate instead" is such a weird, anti-patron, anti-author take that somehow manages to also be anti-library, in my professional librarian-ass opinion.
It's well documented that pirating books negatively affects authors directly* in a way that pirating movies or TV shows doesn't affect actors or writers, so I will likely always be anti-book piracy unless there's absolutely, positively no other option (i.e. the book simply doesn't exist outside of online archives at all, or in a particular language).
Also, yeah, Libby and Hoopla licenses are really expensive, but libraries buy them SO THAT PATRONS CAN USE THEM. If you're gonna be pissed at anybody about this shitty state of affairs, be pissed at publishing companies and continue to use Libby or Hoopla at your library so we can continue to justify having it to our funding bodies.
One of the best ways to support your library having services you like is to USE THOSE SERVICES. Yes, even if they are expensive.
*Yes, this is a blog post, but it's a blog post filled with links to news articles. If you can click one link, you can click another.
1. let me tell you about the time 30 years ago when I lost my heart to a tender adventuring scoundrel before I realized that life is pain and the only constant is the blue Cornish sea
2. This Family is Insane and I’m going to tell you their story for anywhere from 5 to 200 years but at least they have the blue Cornish sea
3. the past is real and it will kill you but the blue Cornish sea never changes
4/28/2025 | STL @ NYM
With the Mets one strike away from being swept by the last-place Cardinals, Mark Vientos hits a walk-off home run in the eleventh inning.
Vientos was called up a day earlier to fill in the roster after Starling Marte went on the bereavement list.