What is OverDrive?

Overdrive is an online resource database of ebooks and audiobooks. We have partnered with Overdrive to provide access to these resources through our library system. This means that a student will not require separate login credentials and different weblinks to access the resources.

Confirmation of the purchase will be provided by your overdrive representative. If you have purchased primary ebooks now (PEN) or secondary ebooks now (SEN), you will need to run the import of the ebook/audiobook resources and ensure that students/borrowers have their own Reading Cloud login credentials.

If you have purchased overdrive marketplace, you will need to obtain the website ID/library ID and ILS name from your overdrive representative, these will be entered into the Reading Cloud system.

Things to Know Regarding Overdrive Resources

Customers that are subscribed to PEN/SEN are accessing a shared catalogue. This can mean that eResources will not always be available to immediately issue out, as there will only be a select number of copies available to distribute amongst those sharing the catalogue. This is where the reserve option would be utilised.

Resources that are loaned are on a 7-day period with an automatic return. They cannot be returned prior to the 7 days.

The PEN/SEN catalogue is updated on a bi-weekly basis, with the allowances being increased and decreased as demand requires, as well as new resources being added in and older resources removed. It is important to therefore ensure that the Overdrive import via 'Catalogue Enrichment' is run on a weekly basis so that the records present in the system reflect what is currently available in the collection.

Overdrive do provide their own app called SORA, which also provides access to the collection. Any guidance on using this will need to be raised with your Overdrive Representative