All Things Overdrive

[NJMetal]

One of the trifectas of Nook ownership is that of the Nook coupled with Adobe Digital Editions software rounded out with the public ebook library web site Overdrive.com.  In times of increased and frustrating eBook pricing the ability of the Nook to utilize access to eBooks via public libraries is invaluable.  Thanks to these very B&N discussion boards I and many have been introduced to and frequently utilize the services of Overdrive.com. 

In homage to Overdrive.com and Nook I would like to start this discussion of all things Overdrive.  I would love to hear all those who use the service share their stories and strategies for using the web site.  To perhaps offer up some features or function you may want to see incorporated into the Overdrive experience.  So let's get things rolling by contributing the following:

-Through your public library access to Overdrive.com, how many eBooks are available in total for you to borrow?

-Do you feel that the available titles are lacking in any category or author?

-What has been your experience with availability of titles that appeal to you?

-Do you find the lending periods restrictive and pressing in time to finish reading longer length eBooks?

-Do you have any strategies to sync up your reading with your place in the waiting lists for titles so that you always have something available from the site to read?

-Are there any features or functions you think there is a need to add or address?

I look forward to hearing from others who use the site.  Over the past few months I've been reading mostly from material from Overdrive.com.  I'm sure many others here use the service frequently as well.  Maybe we can spread the word even further and get those not in the know into the fray.  Or maybe we should shut up so as not to contribute to the long waiting lists

[NJMetal]

I access overdrive.com through ListenNJ website, a collective of various public library systems in New Jersey.  I have as of this posting 884 eBook titles available to borrow.  Additonally there are about 700 Mp3 audio titles and 5100 WMA audio titles also available but those do not appeal to me.

I've found that nearly every title I have an interest in borrowing has at least one person already waiting.  In fact most titles waiting times are reasonable low, either I would be next in line or 1 or 2 deep deep on the list.  Obviously the more popular titles have extremely high waiting times.  I've taken to using a strategy of place one long wait book, one mid-range wait book and several short wait time books on my waiting list.  Generally when I'm done reading one title another will be ready for me to download when using this method.  It can be a bit frustrating though when you have several books available to check out but you have to pick one and resign yourself to rewaiting for the other titles again.

The 10 day lending period is not unreasonable but I do find myself pressing on titles 400 or more pages in length.  Granted Im not the worlds fastest reader and life gets in the way of reading at times but I have yet to have a book expire on me before I am done.  I do find however that pressing my reading over and over gets a bit tiresome and I have to take a break from Overdrive for an owned title or two to 'relax' the pace for a bit. 

Lastly, I've noticed not many people are rating the books.  This is a feature I like and would like to see expanded a bit.  Not only rating but reader reviews.  Also it would be nice to be able to list titles I've borrowed on my account as well.  Something like a Shelfari organization if you will.

[FrogAlum]

First of all, I'm not trying to rain on your thread... 

Couple of things to keep in mind:

• Keep Up with the Libraries Thread - Please no OT
• The only thing the libraries have in common is that they use Overdrive
• Websites can be very different.  Check these out:
• LA Public
• County of LA
• Free Library

The libraries set the lending period(s) and their budgets set the selections, some of my libraries don't have any plans to add to eBooks this year, many already have.

Most of the libraries I visit act differently in their search function, catagories, etc...

Just a few things to keep in mind.  Overdrive is not a cookie cutter system, every library can act differently and they do.

[ilenekm]

I live in Maryland outside of Washington DC. I got my Nook about 1.5 months ago and love being able to borrow library books.  I have following observations though.  The state of Maryland Overdrive site has 1894 eBooks in total. The lending period is 2 weeks.  The DC library has over 7500 eBooks and the lending period is 3 weeks.  The waiting lists also seem shorter in DC than in MD usually less than one week.  I was lucky that I live in a neighboring county and was able to obtain a DC library card

[gqb]

I use three libraries that are all free to me - Arlington Public Library, Harris County Public Library, and the Houston Public Library.  I check the overdrive site periodically to see if any new libraries in Texas have come on board (El Paso did).  Although I do not live in Denton, I could pay $30 a year as a teacher instead of $50 but their selection is not worth it.  Dallas and San Antonio charge too much.

I just posted on the number of books available on Frog's library thread.  Harris County still has a lot of pdf books.

I will use the classic search on overdrive to do a quick look for a book at all three of my libraries.

When I was reading through Patterson's Women's Murder Club Series, I would put two or three on hold at once.  Arlington has a 21 day checkout period.

[NJMetal]

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FrogAlum wrote:

First of all, I'm not trying to rain on your thread... 

Couple of things to keep in mind:

• Keep Up with the Libraries Thread - Please no OT
• The only thing the libraries have in common is that they use Overdrive
• Websites can be very different.  Check these out:
• LA Public
• County of LA
• Free Library

The libraries set the lending period(s) and their budgets set the selections, some of my libraries don't have any plans to add to eBooks this year, many already have.

Most of the libraries I visit act differently in their search function, categories, etc...

Just a few things to keep in mind.  Overdrive is not a cookie cutter system, every library can act differently and they do.

---

Thank you Frog for contributing to this thread.  I don't believe you thread and my thread have anything to do with one another after reviewing them.  Nor have you lent anything to the discussions I've proposed here.  Please do not take offence to my bringing up a thread that also deals with overdrive and public libraries.  Your thread has a merit of its own, I was merely proposing a discussion of how each person uses and interacts with their own versions of overdrive. 

I am fully aware that overdrive is a service to libraries not end users and as such no two users experiences will be the same (unless of course they are within the same library system).  I am looking to explore how, regionally, each users experiences differ from one another and likewise how each users experiences are the same. 

I will attempt to reiterate my position as it may confuse some.  I completely understand that each every library has a different situation with overdrive.  That is largely the point of this thread.  So with that knowledge in mind let us move forth with my original queries in mind.  Yet I find a new question to pose:  Are there any public library systems offering eBooks not utilizing Overdrive.com's system?

[pmpchefpam]

Is it ture that when put a ebook on the nook will it stay?  Or will it go away in two weeks. Or does it just leave what ever computer you download to.  Trying to ub=nderstand the nook. Thanks for your help!

Pam

[Just_the_facts…]

I have always been a big user of the library and one of the deciding features in purchasing the Nook was the ability to load library material on to it.

I had already been using the Overdrive software to download audio books from my library (Las Vegas-Clark County Library District), so it was a snap to download Adobe Digital Editions by following the directions I found in a post in these boards and then start downloading ebooks.

My biggest complaint is that my library has only one or sometimes two copies available for check out.  Plus, when browsing the catalog, I have to look through all of the books, including those checked out.  I have asked them to get more copies, especially of popular books and to include a search feature that would show only available books.

They replied that budget concerns would limit their ability to acquire multiple copies of books, but they would look into adding a search option for available books.

The lending period is 21 days, just like a regular book, which I find sufficient in most cases.  Their selection is good, but not great.  

Overall, I find the experience to be a big plus and I'm sure as more people get ereaders, this will become more common. 

[AlanNJ Inspired Bibliophile]

My local library is part of the NJ Overdrive system.  Although I'm a very fast reader sometimes 10 days just is not enough time.  That said, the advantage is that books become available more quickly with a short lending time.

I'm also a member of the NY Public Library.  I can borrow books for 21 days.  Guess which one I use more?

[NJMetal]

To those who use the bigger metropolitan public libraries, do you find the issue of availability  and wait time to be better, worse or about the same as the more suburban library selections?

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

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NJMetal wrote:

-Do you feel that the available titles are lacking in any category or author?

---

It's hardly news, but just for completeness I'll repeat here that OverDrive is currently unable to lend titles from Macmillan and Simon & Schuster.

Some representative authors from those publishers (some of these authors may have older or minor titles available via other publishers):

MACMILLAN

• Janet Evanovich
• Emily Griffin
• Lisa Kleypas
• Alyson Noel
• Gina Showalter

SIMON & SCHUSTER

• Sandra Brown
• James Lee Burke
• Carol Higgins Clark
• Mary Higgins Clark
• Vince Flynn
• John Gilstrap (also publishes with Kensington)
• Philippa Gregory
• Stephen King
• Larry McMurtry
• Kathy Reichs
• Brad Thor

[very-simple]

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NJMetal wrote:

To those who use the bigger metropolitan public libraries, do you find the issue of availability  and wait time to be better, worse or about the same as the more suburban library selections?

---

I don't have a suburban library to compare it to, but I use the NYPL, and I find that there are some significant waits for popular fiction.  However, I've gotten better at "timing" it so that I have a book or two ready to be read when I (generally) want them.  If everything I want to read has a long wait list, I'll add them to my active holds, and then peruse my list of books that I want to read that are NOT available from the library and buy one of those to read in the meantime.  

for instance, two weeks ago, I was 9 on the wait list for The Swan Thieves, which I had been waiting MONTHS for (this, due to the fact that the publisher kept forcing the library to push back the actual library release date - it was supposed to be released in April, but didn't become available to anyone until the end of July, when I was 18 on the list).  But "Under the Dome", which recently had a price drop from $16.99 to $9.99 was on my wish list as well, but not available from the library.  So I bought Under the Dome, finished it on Saturday, and on Sunday, I happened to get the email that The Swan Thieves was available for me, so now I'm reading that.

So that worked out pretty well.  

I don't expect to get all of my books from the library, but of the 24 books I've read/downloaded, 17 of them have been from the library.  This obviously helps my book budget significantly, even if it doesn't reduce it to zero.

I've got two other books on hold at the library, and they should be available within the next few weeks (I'm 9 on one wait list and 18 on the other).  Hopefully I've timed it right so that I get them in the ballpark of when I'm ready to read them.  If not, I've got about 10-15 books that I want to read on my B&N wish list, so I can pick up one of those to fill the gap.

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

Of late (like, maybe, this week), it seems that OverDrive has been struggling during the evenings for downloading library e-books. A number of people are reporting various "server communication problem" and similar error messages.

These problems only seem to happen in the evenings, so it may simply be that OverDrive is being swamped by all of us NOOK owners. If you run into this problem, try downloading your e-book in the morning or at some time of day other than evening.

We can hope that this is temporary and OverDrive will get enough computer power online to handle the evening surge (if that's what the problem is).

[chefclaire]

I wish that we were able to return items within Overdrive and not just in ADE. I'm currently having an issue where I returned a title in ADE, but overdrive still shows it to be checked out. I tried to redownload it to ADE, to attempt to "re-return" it, but got an error message that "item already returned" when trying to download it. Annoying, since one of my holds just became available, but I can't check it out, since I already have 4 titles checked out. GRRRR.

[melmyers]

I use the Nashville TN Overdrive site, and there is a setting the library can activate that triggers an automatic purchase of an additional copy whenever the holds list reaches a certain length. The library can set what length triggers the purchase. It can be changed with budget fluctuations, of course.

So I havent noticed my library's holds list being very long, at all.

I have also tried to be good about suggesting titles for purchase. To get genre titles represented, of course..

[NJMetal]

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Doug_Pardee wrote:

Of late (like, maybe, this week), it seems that OverDrive has been struggling during the evenings for downloading library e-books. A number of people are reporting various "server communication problem" and similar error messages.

These problems only seem to happen in the evenings, so it may simply be that OverDrive is being swamped by all of us NOOK owners. If you run into this problem, try downloading your e-book in the morning or at some time of day other than evening.

We can hope that this is temporary and OverDrive will get enough computer power online to handle the evening surge (if that's what the problem is).

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I've had this very problem with the past two books I've checked out.  You add them to your cart and download and get the server communication error message in ADE.  I tired to re-download it several times with the same result.  I found that if I goto my list of checked out titles and download it from that menu -p00f- the title shows in ADE along with duplicate copies from the previous failed downloads.

However, I generally download in the early morning hours or weekend afternoons.  It maybe some sort of coding error but certaily wouldnt rule out traffic problems.