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OverDrive Digital Audiobooks & Video
Information for Library Staff

Trouble? Check the Digital Book Center FAQ.

Basics

What is OverDrive?

OverDrive is a vendor (like OCLC or EBSCO). Their product is called "Digital Library Reserve" and features downloadable audiobooks, ebooks, and video. Wisconsin's OverDrive site is branded "Wisconsin's Digital Library" and can be found here: http://dbooks.wplc.info/.

How will patrons find it?

• There are links to OverDrive/Wisconsin's Digital Library from the SCLS Resources pages (http://www.scls.info/resources and http://www.scls.info/resources/name.html).
  
  
• Each library can have a link to the service from their website. OverDrive has a collection of graphics that you may use.
  
  
• MARC records for individual titles are loaded into LINKcat by SCLS staff and can be loaded into other catalogs.

What publicity materials are available?

Publicity materials are available in the form of sample press releases, bookmarks, flyers, and shelftalkers -- see OverDrive Promotional Materials for samples and ordering information.

What content is there?

OverDrive partners with many publishers. You may view a complete list of publishing partners on OverDrive's site. Currently WPLC subscribes to downloadable audiobooks, ebooks, and a small collection of videos.

Who selects this content?

A WPLC selection committee is selecting the content. Mary Knapp from Madison Public Library is on that committee. If you have suggestions for content to purchase, please contact her at mknapp@scls.lib.wi.us.

The WPLC Digital Selection Policy is available on the Digital Download Center FAQ.

Who can have access to this service?

Any patron living in the 7-county area of SCLS.  Reciprocal LINK library card holders who live outside of the 7-county area cannot have access through SCLS.  These patrons can access the service through their local library system if their system is a WPLC member.

How much do patrons use this service?

Statistics for OverDrive are available in the Reference Databases Information area of the SCLS web site, under "Usage Statistics for Reference Databases." The service was started in October 2005.

Did SCLS buy this service?

Yes, with the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC), a group of library systems around Wisconsin.

SCLS is a member of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC); through our membership fee, SCLS and its member libraries receive OverDrive and NetLibrary titles. In addition to the membership fee, a LSTA grant added $100,000 to the WPLC collection in 2011.

In 2012, SCLS will pay the membership fee of $8,571 plus $30,000 for econtent. The SCLS Foundation will contribute $5,412. The SCIDs program through SCLS and Madison Public Library will dedicate 2.75% or $1,991 to econtent. Member libraries will pay a fee on top of the SCLS contributions totaling $82,098. The total paid by SCLS and its members to WPLC will be $128,072. In addition a LSTA grant will add $51,215 for econtent . All WI systems are doing funding similar to SCLS for WPLC.

When all systems are in, it will result in a $1,000,000 pool of money dedicated to econtent for 2012.

Help & support

Where can I find answers to patrons' frequently-asked questions?

Please check OverDrive Help and the Digital Download Center FAQ for answers to patrons' most frequently asked questions.

Content for the Digital Download Center FAQ was created by members of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium.

Can I install the OverDrive software on my library computers?

This service is intended as a remote service, though patrons may use it on their own laptops/devices via the library's wireless network.

Our contract with OverDrive does not allow the OverDrive Media Console to be installed on libraries' public computers, but it may be installed on staff computers for training purposes.

OverDrive does offer Digital Download Station software for purchase which can be installed on a library PC and used by patrons in the library.

Can patrons still check out titles from within the library, even without the software?

Yes. Patrons can check out the titles in the library, and then go home to download them. If the library offers a wireless network, patrons may use their own laptops/devices to download some titles in the library via the wireless network.

Why are some of the OverDrive materials only compatible with Windows?

Most of the OverDrive audiobooks and video are only available in a format (WMA or WMV) which requires Windows Media Player.

Some audiobooks are available in MP3 format, which is compatible with both Windows and Mac systems. Many publishers are reluctant to license bestselling titles in this format due to concerns about digital rights management.

What about iPods and Macs?

Audiobooks available in MP3 format can be played on iPods, Macs, and other Apple devices, though additional software (iTunes and Quicktime) is required to use this format with Macs and iPod/Apple players. A Mac version of the OverDrive Media Console is available.

Many WMA titles can be played on Apple devices, but they must be downloaded and transferred to the device using a PC (Windows) first, and additional software (iTunes and Quicktime) is required. OverDrive WMA audiobooks, WMA music, and WMV video are delivered in a digital rights management (DRM)-protected Windows Media format that is not supported by Apple devices or the Mac version of Windows Media Player. The transfer process on a PC converts WMA titles to a compatible format for Apple devices.

Note that iPods, other Apple devices, and Zune players cannot be used with library computers due to security problems with the additional software these players require.

For more information about using OverDrive with Apple devices, see "OverDrive and Apple Devices" on the Digital Book Center FAQ site.

Who can library staff call for help?

Help websites: The website for Wisconsin's Digital Library includes help and information on compatible devices and formats. Patrons can also contact their local library as the first line of support, and library staff may find answers on the Digital Download Center FAQ site.

OverDrive Support Request Form: Library staff may request accounts to contact OverDrive Support directly via OverDrive's Support Request Form (email to request an account). The form for obtaining technical support is part of Content Reserve, a staff-only website provided by OverDrive. Support requests are submitted by logging in to the Content Reserve website and filling out the form. OverDrive assigns a case number to each request and responds to library staff via email. Instructions for using the support form.

WPLC Support Request Form: If the problem is not covered elsewhere, patrons may request help using the WPLC OverDrive Support Request form. They will be prompted for:

• Name
• Email Address
• Local Library
• Library System
• Library Card Number
• Description of the problem
• Screen Print (optional)

Library staff and patrons can also find OverDrive tutorials and other information on the BadgerLearn site.

TechBits posts pertaining to OverDrive are archived on the TechBits blog.

Where can library staff get training?

• In-person training for library staff is available by contacting Jean Anderson.
• OverDrive offers pre-recorded webinars and slides for library staff training.
• OverDrive offers live webinars on an annual basis (usually in September).

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For more information about OverDrive, contact the Help Desk.

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