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Practical reading-record privacy

Review Libby timelines, tags and saved reading notes

Review the device timeline, a synced Borrowed smart tag, title-level notes and exports before choosing a recording or deletion control in Libby.

Sources checked .

Conceptual illustration

Review the timeline and Borrowed tag separately

Libby documents Shelf > Timeline for activity and Tags > Smart Tag: Borrowed for borrowed-title lists. Its help says the Borrowed tag can sync through the documented device-setup process. Review existing authorized devices; do not create a new connection just to inspect these instructions. Libby: timeline and Borrowed smart tag

Stop adding new timeline activity if that is the goal

Libby's route is Shelf > Timeline > Actions > Disable Activity Recording. Read the confirmation before proceeding. This controls new activity on the current device. Review the choice on each existing device; do not treat it as a request to delete earlier records. Libby: stopping new timeline activity on a device

Use timeline clearing for the intended device activity

For one title, Libby documents swiping or dragging its timeline activity left and selecting the delete button. For all activities, use Shelf > Timeline > Actions > Remove All Activities, then review the confirmation. The help says the edits apply only to that device. Libby: clearing selected or all timeline activity

Review title notes before a broader deletion

The Reading Journey includes progress, circulation and annotations. Libby provides access from the title details, Shelf or Timeline. Review the chosen title privately to understand which material is present before selecting a deletion control. A push notification can also lead to this summary. Libby: title-level progress, circulation and notes

Read the Reading Journey deletion consequences

Libby's deletion help lists tags, progress, notes, highlights and bookmarks among the affected items. Do not choose Delete Journey merely to remove a timeline row without considering those effects. The help presents this action partly as a support-directed fix for content issues; it is not described as a universal provider-data deletion request. Libby: consequences of deleting a Reading Journey

Keep existing exports and shared pages in the review

Libby documents viewing individual annotations without exporting, as well as exporting through Reading Journey > Actions > Export Reading Data. Review any already created file or shared page separately. Keep a needed copy private. The export help does not establish that deleting an app entry recalls copies previously sent elsewhere. Libby: exports and reading notes after a return

Review other tags as their own lists

In Libby's Tags view, a selected tag can be renamed, exported or deleted. Check whether the goal concerns the tag itself, a title's notes or the local timeline. These controls describe different app records. Read the confirmation before removing a list that is still useful. Libby: title lists and tag controls

Questions and answers

Does clearing a timeline row erase all library records?

The cited help describes current-device timeline edits, not a library-wide records purge. Libby: clearing selected or all timeline activity

Must annotations be exported just to inspect them?

Libby says an individual annotation can be viewed from the Reading Journey without exporting. Libby: exports and reading notes after a return

Does a tag only list books already finished?

Libby describes tags for planned reading, research and other selected title lists. Libby: title lists and tag controls

Sources and scope

Public Libby instructions checked 10-24-2026. Menus and features can change. Review only existing authorized reading records and keep exports private.

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