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* UC Irvine access only

eBook Collections: OverDrive


URL: https://guides.lib.uci.edu/eBooks

OVERDRIVE

BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT OVERDRIVE AT UCI

What is OverDrive?

  • It is a platform for borrowing current "popular and recreational reading" adult and young adult ebooks. It is not intended for course readings, textbooks, university press titles, or juvenile fiction.
  • Note: Due to the fixed layout format, we do not purchase many graphic novels.
  • You can read books online, download titles to your device, or read on your Kindle or ereader.

I see OverDrive also offers audio books, magazines, and streaming video. Can I access those formats from UCI Libraries?

  • No. At this time UCI Libraries only has access to ebooks in OverDrive. Newport Beach and Orange County Public Libraries also has OverDrive and both offer audio books, etc. and will in general have a much larger ebook collection than what UCI Libraries can provide.

UCI Libraries offers over 4 million books, so why is the OverDrive collection so small?

  • UCI Libraries has only recently acquired this service and we will slowly be adding new titles. Our policy is to buy current, popular, bestseller-type books.

Who can access OverDrive?

  • Any current UCI faculty, student, or staff member can borrow e-books from OverDrive.

How do I get to OverDrive?

Do I need to create an OverDrive account?

  • You do not need to create a separate OverDrive account to browse the collection. Your UCInetID and password are sufficient.
    If you use the Libby App (more info below) to download books, you will need to create a username/password. Using an app is the preferred reading/viewing experience.

How do I read books on OverDrive?

  • Computer or laptop -- read in a web browser or download to Adobe Digital Editions
  • Phone or tablet: download the Libby App
  • Nook
  • eReaders: Use Adobe Digital Editions
  • Kindle ereader: you'll be asked to log into Amazon to send to Kindle.  Not all OverDrive titles are available for Kindle.  Look at the Format information for each title, to see if the Kindle format is available, or use the Kindle tab at the top of the OverDrive platform to limit to titles available in the Kindle format.  
    OverDrive eBooks Format Screenshot​

How long can I borrow an OverDrive ebook?

  • You can select either 7 or 14 days. Materials will be returned automatically. There are no late fees.

How many OverDrive books can I borrow at one time?

  • You can borrow up to 5 books at once.

How do I renew OverDrive books?

  • Before a book is due, you will have the option to renew from your OverDrive loans page.

How do I place a hold on an OverDrive book?

  • If a book is checked out by another patron, simply put a hold on the book in OverDrive. You will receive an email when the book is available. You may place a hold on up to 5 books at a time.

What is OverDrive's Privacy Policy, i.e. do they store my data?

USING THE LIBBY APP

The Libby App is a free product that allows you to download and read ebooks from your OverDrive Digital Library.

Libby's minimum iOS version is now iOS 10. See more here: https://help.libbyapp.com/en-us/6242.htm.

Watch: Explore the Libby App 

Read: https://static.od-cdn.com/Libby.pdf

Need More Help?

Instruction on transitioning from OverDrive app (no longer supported)

Attend a webinar on Getting Started with Libby (usually offered once a month)

Directions:

  1. Download the App from your preferred App Store.
  2. You will be prompted to add your library (University of California Irvine)
  3. You will get the messages:
    1. Let's add a library card for UCI. Enter Library Account.
    2. At this library, you sign into your card via a secure website. We'll open this site for you now.
    3. Libby wants to use OverDrive.com to Sign in. Continue.
  4. You are then taken to a page to enter in your UCInetID and Password.
  5. You will get an image of a generic library card that you can rename if you want.
  6. You now have access to UCI Libraries ebook content in OverDrive.