Category: Software

OverDrive Catalog Updates

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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!

Kindle Glitch with New Harry Potter E-Books

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!

“Send To” Somewhere Else in Windows Vista/7

As you may know, right-clicking a file or folder brings up a window called a “context menu.”  This is a list of actions that can be performed with the file or folder.  One of those actions is “Send To.”  This can be an extremely handy shortcut.  For instance, if you choose to Send To and Desktop (in the resulting menu), a shortcut to the file will be placed on the desktop.  Send To>Documents will create a full copy of the file/folder in your Documents folder, leaving the original intact in its location.

While several options are available in the Send To menu by default, you may want to send items to a location that isn’t listed.  To do that:

  • Click the start button.
  • In the search box, type %appdata%/Microsoft/Windows/sendto and hit “Enter.”
  • In a new (second) window, open the folder that contains the location you would like to include.  (Example:  To add the Pictures folder to the Send To menu, open C:/Users/[your profile name here] folder in a new window.  Please note that opening the “Libraries” folder will not work for creating a shortcut.)
  • Right-click the My Pictures folder and select “create shortcut”  This will create a shortcut in the same folder.
  • Click and drag the new shortcut to the open Send To folder and release the button to drop it in.
  • Once it is in the Send To folder, you can rename the item to remove “Shortcut” from the title.

Next time you right click a file or folder, the new folder option should appear.

OverDrive App Updates

For those of you using the OverDrive App to download e-books and audiobooks from the library, get ready for some useful updates.  According to an OverDrive blog post, the following updates are already available for Android, Blackberry, and Windows phone users, and will become available to iOS (iPod, iPad, iPhone) users soon. [edit: early audiobook return for Apple devices became available on 2/17/12.]

Updates in OverDrive Media Console 2.4:

  • Ability to return audiobooks early. (E-books have always had the capacity to be returned early.)
  • Use the dictionary feature to look up words while reading.
  • Use Wikipedia search while reading.

If you already have the OverDrive Media Console app installed on your device, it should update automatically next time it is opened.  If it does not, try downloading the new version from the Android Market or directly from the OverDrive site.

Happy reading!

More on the SOPA/PIPA Strike

Strike Headline

Fight for the Future, one of the driving forces behind yesterday’s internet strike against the SOPA and PIPA bills, reported in an email that the protest succeeded in getting the attention of lawmakers.  Before the protest, only 5 senators spoke out against the bills.  Now, the count is 35!  For more details about how the strike went, see the SOPA Strike website.

The fight is not yet over.  It will take 41 solid “No” votes to permanently stall PIPA (and SOPA) in the senate.  Please continue to contact your legislators (easy email form!) to let them know you value your freedom online.