Reader's Advisory for OverDrive

1. Reader’s Advisory
For OverDrive
Aimee Sparzynski,MLIS
asparzynski@middlesex.ca
Kempenfelt 2014

2. Technology
owners who
will make
you question
your sanity.
Otherwise
known as
the ‘2%’.

3. Things to Know
• OverDrive is an company that provides a digital lending
platform to libraries (such as SOLS Download Centre).
• eBooks and digital audio books can either be downloaded
to a computer and transferred to devices or downloaded
directly to a device with their mobile app.
• A large variety of devices are compatible in someway with
OverDrive’s services. Notable exceptions include Kindle
eReaders (in Canada) and Blackberry devices.
• In order to fully utilize OverDrive services your library
subscribes to, patrons will require an email address and
either internet access at home or access to a public Wi-Fi
network.

4. Copyright
• Publishers set the permissions (digital rights) for each title in your library's
collection. Digital Rights Management (DRM) refers to the steps and
technologies that publishers use to protect their content.
• Adobe's Adept DRM is used with ePubs and PDFs (the two eBook formats
available to Canadian Libraries subscribing to OverDrive). This DRM can be
read by several third-party eBook readers, as well as Adobe Digital Editions
software. This is why an Adobe ID is required to transfer eBooks to a device.
• While eBooks have protections built in
(ie the file isn’t readable after the
‘return’ date) protections for audio books
rely on the user’s honesty. Information
about the Digital Rights for every audio
book can be found at the bottom of the
page for that book. It can be different
for WMA and MP3 versions of the same
book. With information from Wikipedia

5. eBooks on computers
and eReaders
• In order to view an eBook from OverDrive on a computer or to transfer to a
device you must download Adobe Digital Editions.
• Adobe Digital Editions is free software that allows you to read ePUB and
ePDF formatted eBooks from the library on your home computer. It also
lets you transfer books to your eReader. ADE is available for both Mac and
Windows computers.
• Authorizing with an Adobe ID helps ensure that your eBooks are not
"locked" on one computer. They are assigned to you through the ID, and
can be viewed on any compatible device you own that you activate with
that ID.
• An email address is required to create an Adobe ID.
• It is OverDrive’s policy that patrons should not use a library’s public
computers to download and transfer eBooks to a device. Patrons will need
access to a desktop computer with an internet connection or a laptop that
can connect to Wi-Fi.

6. ‘Read’ Books in your Web
Browser
• OverDrive Read is a browser-based eBook reader that works on most
computers, tablets, and mobile devices running newer web browsers (Firefox,
Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer 10).
• OverDrive Read does not require the download of software or authorization
with an Adobe ID.
• Using the download button in the item’s menu will ‘cache’ the book in your
browser for reading offline.
• For Apple devices, select the Share icon in Safari, then Add to Home Screen.
Then, open the book from your home screen and sign in with your library
credentials prior to going offline to complete the download.
• A great option for Blackberry users as it doesn’t require the installation of the
app.
• http://www.ghal.org/overdriveread.pdf

7. Audio Books & Music on
computers and MP3 players
• In order to listen to audio books and music from OverDrive on a computer or to
transfer to a device you must download OverDrive Media Console (OMC). OMC
is free software, available for both Windows and Mac computers.
• Audio books come in two file types; .wma and .mp3. The differences between
the two types are:
o File Size (MP3s are bigger files and have a slower download/transfer speed)
o Compatibility (WMAs can only be downloaded to Windows computers, MP3s
can be downloaded directly to most mobile devices)
o Returns (WMAs cannot be returned early)
• When viewing music on the OverDrive website the format is displayed as
‘OverDrive Music’, once downloaded it is a WMA file.
• Unlike eBooks, OverDrive’s audio books and music can be downloaded on public
computer, as long as your library has an agreement with OverDrive and a
designated ‘Download Station’ with OMC installed. It can then be transferred to
a device.
• To transfer files from a computer to an Apple device you will also need to have
iTunes installed.

8. eBooks and Audio Books
on Mobile Devices
• ‘App’ is short for application. Typically this refers to programs meant
to run on a mobile device or tablet The OverDrive Media Console
app is available for iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems.
• The app can be downloaded from which ever ‘store’ is supported by
the user’s device. The user will need to create an account with this
‘store’:
o Apple – App Store – Apple ID
o Android – Google Play – Google Account
o Windows – Windows Store or Windows Phone Store – Microsoft ID
o BlackBerry – Not currently supported
• Currently, an Adobe ID is also required to authorize the device.
• It wouldn’t be tech if it wasn’t changing:
Upcoming changes to OverDrive App

9. Streaming Video in your
Web Browser
• Once you have a video checked out:
o If you are using in your web browser: log in to your account,
find the video on your bookshelf and click the ‘play’ button.
o If you are using the OverDrive app: log in to your account, find
the video on your bookshelf and tap the ‘add to app’ button.
• Video is not saved to your computer or device so a data plan or
internet connection is needed. You may want to advise patrons that
streaming may use a lot of data.
• Another good option for Blackberry users as it doesn’t require the
installation of the app.
• http://eastgreenbushlibrary.org/overdrive-video/
• http://help.overdrive.com/customer/portal/articles/1482054

10. OverDrive Account
As mentioned in the video, the goal of an OverDrive account is to simplify the user
experience. For example:
• Devices with the latest OverDrive app work with your OverDrive account to
sync your progress and bookmarks for eBooks, audiobooks, and streaming
videos that you've downloaded or added to the app.
• When you save libraries to your OverDrive account, you can access them from
any device you've signed in with. When searching at OverDrive.com, you can
filter results to show only titles available at your libraries.
• With an OverDrive account, you can do a search for an author or subject, save
the results, and then return to them each time you're ready to check out
another item.
• It will simplify the Adobe Id process. After a user’s initial registration,
OverDrive will automatically activate new devices when they sign in with their
OverDrive account. Up to six devices synced with an account and activated with
the same Adobe ID.

11. www.overdrive.com

12. Blackberry Devices
Overdrive no longer supports a native Blackberry app. If you had an older
version of the OverDrive app installed on a Blackberry phone or tablet it should
continue to work normally. However if you get a new device or uninstall the
app for any reason you will not be able to download it again from Blackberry
World.
Newer Blackberry devices (those running the Blackberry 10 OS) can utilize
some apps designed for the Android OS. One way to do so is by installing the
Amazon App Store onto your Blackberry device. This is not illegal usage of the
apps; many apps are provided free of charge and Blackberry users can create
an Amazon account to pay for other apps.
It is important to note that there is no guarantee that any Android app you
download (free or paid) will work on a Blackberry.
http://crackberry.com/how-get-android-apps-blackberry-amazon-appstore

13. Search Tips and
Tricks
• Advanced Search can be your best friend as it immediately gives you more
options for limiting your search.
• Sometimes less is more:
oSearching for ‘jd robb’, ‘JD Robb’, or ‘J.D. Robb’ returns no results.
‘Robb’ gets 66 results, most of which are novels by J.D. Robb.
oSearching for a slightly incorrect title (‘The strings that hang the
hangman's bag’) will get no results. Searching for the one word that
you are sure is part of a title (‘hangman’) will turn up the book you are
looking for (‘The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag’)
• When looking for a certain genre sometimes searching by publisher can be
effective. Examples: Steeple Hill, Baker and Barbour for Christian books or
Tantor and Hot Key for erotic fiction.
• Utilize the filters on the left side of the search results. Especially helpful
when helping people who are new to OverDrive are the ‘Available Now’
option and filtering by device .

14. Troubleshooting
• Practice and explore. If you have opportunities to utilize eBooks or
audiobooks on your own computer or device give it a try!
• Utilize the resources available. The OverDrive Help is extensive, detailed
and fairly easy to follow. Talk with your co-workers, they may have
experienced the same problem before. If you are really stuck, stick your
question in Google – there are lots of great resources on the web.
• Often the issue is not with OverDrive but with the device. It could need a
software update, have a virus or they may have too many applications
running in the background. If you offer some sort of training program –
great! Get the patron signed up. If not, offer to help them find info online
about their issue or a book from your collection about how to use their
device.