Even if you haven’t heard of overdrive, you’ve probably used
it, if you have viewed an eBook or online article or magazine from your local
library or mel.org. You can check to see
if your library participates in Overdrive by clicking on the link Library Search. Overdrive host, maintains collections and
distributes material for library collectives like Up North Digital and MeL.org.
Overdrive interacts
with most library systems, so patrons are unlikely to notice when they are
accessing overdrive content. While you
probably haven’t noticed overdrive in the past you will likely come in contact
with overdrive in some form in the near future, if you use a mobile device to
read, listen or watch content from your libraries digital content catalog. New apps have emerged to make accessing
e-content easier for users of overdrive.
“To use OverDrive’s titles, your students
will need to install two free software applications on their computers; the
OverDrive Media Console (for audiobooks, music and video) and Adobe Digital
Editions (for eBooks). For Android phones and tablets, iPhone and iPad,
BlackBerry, and Windows Phones, just OverDrive Media Console (audiobooks and
eBooks).”[i]
Overdrive also provides statistical data reports on usage
for their libraries, as well as, web based training for library staff in the
use of the overdrive system; including managing content collections and
marketing. In addition, Overdrive
provides 24/7 access to digital content and title transferring between mobile
devices.
There are a few short comings associated with
overdrive. The first and what I believe
is the biggest downside of what could make eBooks the biggest advancement since
moving from rollout scrolls to paged material; limited eBook copy access. Only the number copies available can be
checked out, so, if there is only one digital copy available— only one copy can
be checked out at a time. Unless, in the
rare circumstance a library, participating in Overdrive, has paid for unlimited
copy access for that specific eBook, then unlimited checkouts of that eBook can
be checked out.
Another problem with
Overdrive is that only material bought through Overdrive may be used in the
Overdrive system. That means libraries
that find e-material cheaper somewhere else, cannot add that material to their
Overdrive library collective. How does
this affect your participating library further?
Only retailers and publishers that partner with Overdrive for e-content
distribution, can be purchased from by libraries for use in Overdrive.
[i] FAQ
| OverDrive - Global distributor of digital eBooks, audiobooks, music & video
for library, school & retail. Accessed on Oct. 19, 2013 from http://www.overdrive.com/education/k-12-schools/faq/