If you download e-books from the library, you know that the process can be cumbersome – especially for new users! It seems our e-book vendor, OverDrive, has heard our concerns and will be releasing some features to help address them.
The feature I’d like to highlight today is a new platform called “OverDrive Read.” This platform would allow library e-books to be read from any standard web browser, without the need to download software or authorize a device. It is due to be released by the end of the year. To read more about this new platform, see their press release. Stay tuned for more news about improvements to our media download service.
As you may know, access to our downloadable e-books and audiobooks is provided OverDrive. Every summer, the company takes a customized eighteen-wheel vehicle, the Digital Bookmobile, on a cross-country tour to promote their services in public libraries. This year, with the help of the Upper Hudson Library System, the East Greenbush Community Library will be hosting OverDrive Digital Bookmobile in our parking lot on August 9, from 10am to 4pm. Stop by to learn what the OverDrive service is and how to use it, play in their Gadget Gallery or kick back and watch a video in the Video Lounge. See you there!
For all of you folks who learn best by watching, you’re in luck! OverDrive, the service the library uses to provide downloadable e-books and audiobooks, has released a series of videos to help new users get started downloading library books to their devices.
We have linked to the new videos on the OverDrive Information portion of our website. Please click a link below to get information about how to use your device to download library books.
As always, feel free to call or stop by the Reference Desk (477-7476 option 5) with any questions you may have. You can also drop us an email using our contact form. Please be very specific when describing your question/issue.
The Upper Hudson Library System has been selected by OverDrive, our e-content manager, to take part in a pilot program that will add functionality to our current digital collections catalog. The change is slated to take place Monday, May 7. The new catalog will add three major features:
Recommend to library – allows cardholders to browse the entire OverDrive catalog and suggest the purchase of titles to the library. Within the recommendation screen, you can choose whether to be emailed if the item is purchased, automatically added to the request list, or both.
Buy it now – if a title is unavailable for immediate download, there will be an additional option to purchase the title (for personal use, not for the library) from a list of vendors. Side note:the library system gets credit toward e-content for every purchase made through the OverDrive catalog.
Advertising – There will now be a space for advertisements from publishers, OverDrive, and member libraries. When the pilot program is concluded, the library system will receive credit towards e-content in exchange for the ad placement.
Hopefully, these changes will be a win-win. Patrons will be able to have a say in the development of our e-collections, as well as the option to get immediate access to desired content. Libraries will not only benefit monetarily, but will also be able to build collections that may more accurately reflect the tastes of our patrons.
Let us know what you think of the changes, once the new catalog is up and running. We look forward to your feedback!
As announced by OverDrive, the e-book and audiobook versions of the Harry Potter series became available for download today (through the library). Unfortunately, there seems to be a glitch with the Kindle version. Amazon is aware of the issue and working to correct it. In the meantime, those users attempting to download Kindle versions of the Harry Potter series will receive an error message.
The ePub and audio versions of the books are not affected. We’ll let you know when this issue is fixed. Thanks for your patience!
