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.
- Libby is now available to download from the Amazon Appstore. Users with Amazon Fire tablets should download Libby directly from Amazon.
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.
How do I make a recommendations for new titles?
- In the Libby App, you can select "Notify Me." More info here.
What is OverDrive's Privacy Policy, i.e. do they store my data?
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