OverDrive

OverDrive Launches New Help Site.

Still looking for help in assisting patrons, particularly new users, in using the OverDrive platform?

OverDrive has launched a fresh help site with new features.

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It’s easier to get started.

From the home page, you can click on any of the quick links to see a list of articles pertaining to a particular category.

On each of these quick link category pages, the content is shown by device or platform, and each has its own drop-down menu.

Under each drop-down, you’ll see a list of pertinent articles.

It’s easier to navigate.

There is persistent navigation to help you find what you need no matter where you are on the site. Across the top, you’ll see links to the four main landing pages for help.

  • Home/Quick links: This is the landing page, where you’ll find quick links to popular categories and a large search bar.
  • Videos: The videos will show up in search results and you can get straight to any series right from the navigation menu.
  • Devices: This replaces the Device Resource Center.
  • Articles: This page is a list of articles sorted by topic

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It’s easier to understand compatibility.

The new device profiles quickly and clearly spell out what and how to use OverDrive materials on each device.

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It’s easier to use on a mobile device.

The new help website is fully responsive. That way, no matter what size screen you’re using, you’ll find the help you need with a minimal amount of fuss.

It’s easier to see how things work.

The new help videos landing page lets you pick which videos you want to watch, from any series, without having to scroll down a page or open a new tab.

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It’s really easier.

There’s a new troubleshooting section that’s organized by platform. Overdrive is continually adding new content and updating the existing troubleshooting materials with a focus on adding specific error codes. Take a look at see what you think.

Karen S. (Northland)

 

Continue ReadingOverDrive Launches New Help Site.

eContent for Kids

econtent for kidsWe now have a separate OverDrive page for children’s content.  All children’s titles can still be found from our primary site, but patrons who wish to limit their search to materials for children can visit the eContent for Kids page.

The eContent for Kids page offers a visually engaging, simplified site with three basic categories across the top: Subjects, Collections, and Levels.  Each of these categories offers multiple options for focusing the patron’s search or browsing experience.

You will soon notice the image above on our main OverDrive page.  It will take people to the eContent for Kids page.  You are also encouraged to link to it directly from your library’s site.  Take a few minutes to explore!

Questions? Leave them in the comments section below.

Charmaine (CLP)

Continue ReadingeContent for Kids

The Big Library Read is Back (soon)!

The Big Library Read this spring was such a success that OverDrive is doing it again—and so are we.

The next Big Library Read will begin September 16 at 12 AM EST and run through September 30, 2013 at 12 AM EST. This time they’re featuring a children’s book, Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth by Jane O’Connor.

Fancy Nancy: Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth by Jane O’Connor

As before, both the eBook and audiobook will be available for simultaneous use. Checked out copies of this title will expire at the end of the lending period and not at the end of the program, so a child who borrows the book on September 29th won’t lose access on October 1st. The chosen title will once again be prominently displayed on our OverDrive site and during this program checkouts for the eBook will not count against licenses purchased by us.

Based on our previous experience, the program’s success doesn’t necessarily depend on any in-house advertising. But libraries interested in highlighting this program may wish to check out the marketing kit available from OverDrive. Materials provided virtually include a press release template, poster, bookmark, and web graphic. OverDrive will also promote Big Library Read on your website via a graphic and a link on the title details pages for more information about Big Library Read.

OverDrive is also planning a hosted forum and online chat with the author. They promise that more details are to come.

During the Big Library Read program, OverDrive plans to measure title impressions, views, checkouts, and social media interaction to further its advocacy efforts for libraries in validating the unique and valuable role they play in connecting readers with books and authors. Aggregated data will not contain any personally identifiable information and will be shared with publishers, libraries, and library associations.

And speaking of ways that libraries connect readers with books, have you heard about Library Reads? This is a new, online forum that allows librarians from across the country to participate in creating a list of the top ten most recommended books coming out each month. It’s an all-volunteer endeavor that welcomes your opinions if you want to share them and encourages you to share the lists created. For more information, check out their FAQ.

Lisa (CLP)

Continue ReadingThe Big Library Read is Back (soon)!

There’s a new way to answer that age-old question: what do library users want?

We’ve just recently signed up for a free service that OverDrive provides called Recommend to Library. But don’t worry–it’s not an open invitation to request all the titles we can’t provide because they’re simply not available. Rather it’s a way to search the entire list of titles offered by OverDrive, including titles not currently available in our collection.

One way to see what OverDrive offers that we don’t currently own is to click on the Additional Titles radio button when you do a simple search.

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Another way to get there is to go the Advanced Search page on OverDrive. As you can see at the bottom of the image below, users can choose to search “Additional titles” here as well.

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In either case, what comes up will be a list of titles that match the search criteria. The first titles that appear will be those that we currently own, followed by those that we don’t.  If one (or more) of the latter is of interest, searchers can click the Recommend button.

For those with plenty of time on their hands and no particular authors or subjects in mind it’s also possible to browse the entire list of non-owned titles.  When users do a search of the library collection they’ll see this link at the bottom of their search results.

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One thing that might be a little confusing is that recommendations can’t be made by casual browsers.  They can only be made after signing in to OverDrive.  On the bright side, this means that users can keep track of the titles they’ve recommended in the “My Account” section of OverDrive.

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When the recommendation is made, users are prompted to check what action they’d like to have taken.  They can ask to be notified by email or to have the title put on hold for them–or both–if the library purchases the title in question.  They’ll also be required to confirm their recommendation.  For now recommendations are limited to 5 per day per person.

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So, what happens next? OverDrive creates and sends lists of recommended titles regularly for consideration by selectors.  Titles are added when they meet the selection criteria and funds permit.

Happy Searching!

Lisa D. (CLP)

Continue ReadingThere’s a new way to answer that age-old question: what do library users want?