LibbyU: Zero-to-One Academic Digital Library
College students lack an academically-focused ebook/audiobook platform that's affordable and easy to use. LibbyU was built from the ground up to fill that gap.
The Solution Space
Built with input from over 7,000 students and educators, LibbyU focuses on getting users back into their workflow immediately. It provides a seamless transition between reading and knowledge synthesis.
Preserving Context
A side-by-side "Annotations Pane" allows users to review and edit notes without losing the context of the book itself. Uninterrupted work allows reading while updating notes. Fully supported in both light and dark modes to accommodate all study environments.
Audiobook Annotation
With audiobooks beating ebooks 2-to-1 in higher ed, we built custom clips (up to 90s) and powerful 10-second bookmarks with a single tap, using a dedicated work pane without interrupting playback.
All Notes in One Place
A dedicated Annotations tab allows users to easily cross-reference notes from ebooks and audiobooks on one page. Filter by color, book, or format. Users can edit, export to Google Drive, or automatically cite books using Zotero.
Federated Search
Queries multiple library collections simultaneously, maximizing discovery and reducing financial barriers by finding limited copies across different institutions without requiring multiple log-ins.
Product-Led Impact
LibbyU was consistently well-received throughout UX research. When showcased as a closed beta, it immediately began winning business without active sales pitches.
LexisNexis Digital Library (LNDL)
B2B2C strategic scaling to modernize legal research—delivering a digital library superior to physical books without cannibalizing core database products.
Strategic Leadership
Replaced an aging, unpopular platform with a ground-up solution after significant UX research. I owned the OverDrive and LexisNexis business relationship, successfully convincing partners to rework license agreements to halt attrition.
Feature Case: Search This Set
Searching an 11-volume treatise manually is a massive pain point. "Search This Set" allows full-text queries across entire multi-volume sets. Built with direct input from 5 law library partners, it allows users to share direct deep-links to specific legal terms and cases, proving that digital research can be fundamentally superior to physical media.
Business Impact
Platform thinking at its best: Adopting the ebook reader and audiobook player developed for LibbyU within LNDL drove a massive YoY increase in annotation edits, winning the AALL 2020 New Product Award.