Before creating Project TBR, I had a process for finding my next book to read:
Check my Goodreads Want to Read to find a book I wanted to read
Search for that book on the Libby app and check its availability at the multiple libraries I have a card at
If it wasn’t available, check my Goodreads Want to Read to find a book I wanted to read
Search for that book on the Libby app…
Rinse and repeat for way too long. Half the time I would give up and just purchase a book on Kindle.
This felt time-consuming and I felt sure I was missing out on good books that I wanted to read that I just didn’t know were available at my library. So, I made Project TBR.
Project TBR looks up library availabilities for all of the books on your TBR (To Be Read list) at all of your libraries. So now it takes me only a few minutes to find a book to read from the library.
My goal is for it to be much more useful than it is now. Its current state solves one book-related problem that I’ve had over the years: finding a good book to read from the library. But the reality is it could solve that problem a lot better. And I’ve got a lot more problems to solve.
I want Project TBR to be a utility: something that is genuinely useful and makes it easier for people to read. I’d love to hear any feedback or ideas on book-related tools that you need in your life! And stay tuned on this newsletter for updates on new features and what I’m working on.
For a preview of what’s next, here are some big and small things in the works:
Showing availabilities at all your libraries — rather than just showing the best availability across your libraries, like it does now.
Links to the Libby app for reserving the book
Managing your TBR on Project TBR, instead of requiring a Goodreads Want to Read list
Here are some ideas that I’m considering, let me know if you’d be interested!
Searching for one specific book on Project TBR
Searching for books on your Storygraph To-Read pile
Providing a release date calendar for books you want to read that aren’t out yet
This whole post is about projecttbr.com
This is SO exciting!!! I have the same problem you did finding my next book on Libby, and I think it's so cool that you've found a way to solve that problem! I'll be following along in the hopes that you someday can add StoryGraph TBRs as well, but of course I understand making it the best it can be for goodreads is your first priority :)