Spence Overdrive Ebooks: Overdrive Classic: FAQs

Q: How many items can I have checked out?
A: 3

Q: How many items can I be on the waiting list for?
A: 3

Q: How long is the loan period?
A: 14 days

Before you check out a title, you may have the option to change the lending period, or you can change default lending period options by going to your Account and clicking on Settings from the right-hand menu. Pick the desired lending period option for each format. Titles expire around the same time of day that they were checked out. If you finish a title before the lending period expires, you can return it early.

Q: How do I change how long I can borrow titles?
A: Go to your Account > Settings to change your default lending period for different kinds of titles. You can adjust these lending periods at any time.

Q: Can I return a Kindle Book early?
A: Yes, library users can return Kindle Books early. If you go to "Manage Your Content and Devices" on the Amazon site (under Your Account, or at the bottom of the page), you can view your library loans. There is an action button for each item and one of the choices is "Return this book."

Q. Can I return an EPUB eBook early from the iOS or Android app?
A. Yes.  Swipe left to right, choose your Bookshelf, and hold your finger (long press) on the book cover. The option to return it will appear.

Q. How do I put an unavailable title on hold?
If a title is unavailable, you will see a "Place a Hold" button instead of a Borrow button for that title. You can join the title's holds list and be notified when it becomes available for you to borrow. Move your mouse over the title (or tap it on a mobile device), then select 'Place a Hold'.

If you’re over 13 years old:
You’ll be prompted to enter and confirm your email address then click "Place a Hold". If you want the title to be automatically borrowed for you as soon as it's available, make sure that "Automatically borrow this title when it becomes available" is selected.

When a title you put on hold from your library's digital collection becomes available for you to check out, you will get a notification email. You have 5 days to borrow the title; if you fail to check it out, it goes to the next user on the Hold list. To borrow the title, follow these steps: Follow the link from your email to get to your Holds list on your library's digital collection website. Or, you can browse directly to the library's website and find your holds list on your account page. Click the Borrow  button to check out the title. Note: If you have already borrowed the maximum number of titles from your library, you will be unable to retrieve your hold until you return a title or a lending period expires. 

Q: Can I see where I am on a waiting list?
A: Yes. Go to "Holds" under "Account" to see where you are on a waiting list. Once it is your turn, you will have 5 days to "pick up" [check out] your item.

Q: What is a “Wish List”?

You can use the 'Wish List' feature on your library’s website to save titles that you might be interested in checking out later, including titles that have not yet been released. Titles added to your wish list will remain there until you manually remove them. Note: A Wish List is NOT a Hold or Request List. 

Content derived from the OverDrive Help Page and the Newton Free Library eBook Libguide.

Adobe Digital Editions: Free eBook reader software from Adobe Systems built using Adobe Flash. It is used for acquiring, managing and reading eBooks, digital newspapers and other digital publications.

Compatible Devices: Electronic devices, hand held or desktop, which work with the Spence School Library’s OverDrive Collection.

DRM: Stands for "Digital Rights Management." DRM refers to a collection of systems used to protect the copyrights of electronic media. Can be used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to impose limitations on the usage of digital content and devices.

eBook: An electronic version of a printed book which can be read on a personal computer or hand-held device designed specifically for this purpose.

eInk: A display technology designed to mimic the appearance or ordinary ink on paper. eInk reflects light like ordinary paper.

EPUB: Short for “electronic publication,” is an open standard format for eBooks. As an open standard, it has great compatibility across a wide range of eReaders and has become the de facto universal standard within the eReader sector

eReader: An e-reader (electronic reader) is a device for reading content, such as eBooks, newspapers and documents. A standalone eReader typically has wireless connectivity for downloading content and conducting other Web-based tasks.

Kindle eBook: One of three formats available through OverDrive. Borrow Kindle Books and deliver them to your Kindle, Kindle reading app, or Kindle Cloud Reader. After you select the Kindle download format. You will be taken to Amazon's website so that you can complete the checkout and send the title to your Kindle device or reading app.

OverDrive: Company which hosts the Spence School Library’s downloadable collection of eBooks, audiobooks and videos.

OverDrive Media Console: Free software provided by OverDrive used to transfer DRM files to portable compatible devices.

PDF: A file format that provides an electronic image of text or text and graphics that looks like a printed document and can be viewed, printed, and electronically transmitted.