OverDrive- A Blessing or a Curse?

With so many people receiving new computers, eReaders, tablets, smart phones, and iPods/mp3 players, OverDrive has been working overtime to keep up the demand. Downloading may be slow or the service may not be working at all.

We at Rapid City Public Library pride ourselves in knowing how to operate these new devices and create user friendly information to help patrons set up their new device so that the patrons can download items from the library's catalog. By looking at the Downloadable page's Quick Start Guide, the users will be able to figure out what software is needed for particular devices. OverDrive does help by providing a link that shows what devices are able to download particular format. For example: an audiobook on Overdrive can be found in wma format or mp3. However, this does cause some frustrations:

• Nook 1.0 can use mp3s but Nook 2.0 (Simple Touch) and the Nook Tablet can't use any audio formats in OverDrive.

• All Kindle products (from Kindle 1.0 to the new Kindle Fire) cannot use any audio formats in OverDrive.

• iPads can only download mp3 and ePub formats.

• But the good news is that even if you still have your 1st generation iPod Shuffle, it will be able to download that audiobook that you wanted.

To find out if your device will allow you to download auidobooks or ebooks from the library through OverDrive, please use OverDrive's Device Resource Center . Remember, even if you have a Coby, Kobo, Sony eReader, Zune, or another device that is not normally mentioned when libraries mention, your device could still be able to use OverDrive to download items from your library's catalog.

So, give it a try. Even if the service is slow it will be running fast again in no time. Please remember to check with your individual library to make sure your device will work. Check their website before giving them a call.

Happy New Year everyone!


If you still haven't taken the device out of the box, try looking up unboxing videos for a "how-to" guide and save the tough questions for the librarians. Here's a good source for such videos: http://unboxing.gearlive.com/.


Other Resources
RCPL (Rapid City Public Library)
Download Info - with step by step instructions.
Quick Start Guide - Start here first!
OverDrive Basic Info- FAQ

Don't forget my previous blogs: Free eBooks and Free Audiobooks, and at the end of eKids- Free eBooks and Audio Books.


Still need help, but this time trying to find which book to read? Try looking at RCPL's LibraryThing account which offers several books to browse with over 200 personal reviews. Or try GoodReads.com.