using overdrive on kobo

[nellie27]

Greetings, all.

1. At the present, I read library books on the android overdrive app. I am signed in to more than one library, and all of my downloaded loans are on a single bookshelf, without regard to which library it was borrowed from.

Is this multiple library connection possible with the kobo? How does overdrive work on the kobo?

2. The ereader function of the android overdrive app is more or less adequate. However, it seems to be missing a search-in-book function.

Are overdrive-borrowed books read with the built-in kobo ereader? Is it possible to search within a loaned book?

Thank you.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by nellie27

Greetings, all.

1. At the present, I read library books on the android overdrive app. I am signed in to more than one library, and all of my downloaded loans are on a single bookshelf, without regard to which library it was borrowed from.

Is this multiple library connection possible with the kobo? How does overdrive work on the kobo?

The builtin function is limited to a single library. You can link to an Overdrive account and then use Libby or similar to borrow the books which will then sync to your Kobo though I only tested that once a few years back when Overdrive was first added to Kobo's ereaders.

Originally Posted by nellie27

2. The ereader function of the android overdrive app is more or less adequate. However, it seems to be missing a search-in-book function.

Are overdrive-borrowed books read with the built-in kobo ereader? Is it possible to search within a loaned book?

The ereader can search inside a borrowed book. To the ereader, it is no different from reading or searching a book that was purchased from Kobo and synced to your ereader.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by nellie27

Greetings, all.

1. At the present, I read library books on the android overdrive app. I am signed in to more than one library, and all of my downloaded loans are on a single bookshelf, without regard to which library it was borrowed from.

Is this multiple library connection possible with the kobo? How does overdrive work on the kobo?

Yes and no.

You’re limited to searching one library on the device. When you go to set up Overdrive it’ll ask you to pick a library (I suggest picking the one you use most often though ultimately it won’t really matter).

Proceed through the set up until it asks for your card information (I believe it does this right after you pick a library but I can’t remember). Do not use your card information. Instead there’s an option to login with Overdrive instead. You might need to dismiss the card info entry pop up to see login with overdrive, it’ll be toward the bottom of the screen. Anyway pick that, login with your overdrive account and you’re good to go.

As noted you will only be able to search the library you selected if you’re using the Kobo. However with most books if you find it in the Libby app from any library you can then just sync your kobo and the book will download.

I say most because on occasion books between kobo and overdrive don’t match up. I’ve never had it happen to me but others have reported it. If this happens you can still side load the book using ADE.

[nellie27]

Generally, I browse the libraries' Overdrive sites on my computer, and borrow books from there, since the Overdrive app is very slow,clunky and annoying for this.

I have used Libby, and prefer Overdrive.

Recently I opened an Overdrive account, and added my libraries to that sign-in. How would this work on the Kobo?

[Elektron]

On the Kobo, when you sign into OverDrive, you choose a single library to borrow books from.

[nellie27]

Thank you all for your contributions.

My understanding is that if I sign into Overdrive or Libby rather than a library, all of my borrowed books should download once I sync. So even if I have books from 3 libraries, I should be able to read them all on a Kobo, were I to buy one.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by nellie27

Thank you all for your contributions.

My understanding is that if I sign into Overdrive or Libby rather than a library, all of my borrowed books should download once I sync. So even if I have books from 3 libraries, I should be able to read them all on a Kobo, were I to buy one.

As stated above, when you sign into Overdrive on your Kobo with your Overdrive account, not your library account, you can download books from multiple libraries IF you also have Libby set up. This is assuming there isn't an issue with the book and Kobo's store, which sometimes has different ISBN numbers, etc that cause the sync to fail. For some, it never happens. For me, it happens all the time. Of the five books I downloaded tonight, one of them never downloaded no matter how many times I tried. Even repairing the Kobo account in Settings>Device Info didn't fix it. Otherwise, and 99% of the time, the books will download onto your Kobo when you sync.

You don't have to use Libby to borrow books, however. It just acts as a bridge between Overdrive, all those libraries, and your Kobo. You can borrow from multiple libraries using Overdrive.com if you wish after setting all this up.

[Cootey]

I should add that ONE library only will be your main library with this setup. I believe it is the first library you associated with Overdrive. I have three libraries linked through Libby. Books from all three can appear on my Kobo. However, I can only return or renew holds on my Kobo with books borrowed from the main library. If browsing the Kobo store in the Overdrive section on my Kobo, the books listed are the ones available from the main library. To avoid any confusion, I just borrow and manage my loans from Libby or Overdrive.

This seems complicated, right? But if you only have one library, as Kobo intended, this isn't an issue. But we figured out how to link additional libraries using Libby. It gets a wee bit complicated, but once you understand the limitations, you can power borrow from as many public libraries as you have access to.

[nellie27]

Originally Posted by Cootey

I should add that ONE library only will be your main library with this setup. I believe it is the first library you associated with Overdrive. I have three libraries linked through Libby. Books from all three can appear on my Kobo. However, I can only return or renew holds on my Kobo with books borrowed from the main library. If browsing the Kobo store in the Overdrive section on my Kobo, the books listed are the ones available from the main library. To avoid any confusion, I just borrow and manage my loans from Libby or Overdrive.

This seems complicated, right? But if you only have one library, as Kobo intended, this isn't an issue. But we figured out how to link additional libraries using Libby. It gets a wee bit complicated, but once you understand the limitations, you can power borrow from as many public libraries as you have access to.

I've been using Libby more often since my initial post, and have a better idea now of its function. I most often use my computer to manage my library borrowing, so the kobo limitations are not so meaningful. Any book not available on the kobo (ISBN difference, etc.) can be read on my tablet via overdrive, no problem.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to reply, your posts have been very informative! (Not to mention, it's what I wanted to hear.)

[nellie27]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Yes and no.

You’re limited to searching one library on the device. When you go to set up Overdrive it’ll ask you to pick a library (I suggest picking the one you use most often though ultimately it won’t really matter).

Proceed through the set up until it asks for your card information (I believe it does this right after you pick a library but I can’t remember). Do not use your card information. Instead there’s an option to login with Overdrive instead. You might need to dismiss the card info entry pop up to see login with overdrive, it’ll be toward the bottom of the screen. Anyway pick that, login with your overdrive account and you’re good to go.

As noted you will only be able to search the library you selected if you’re using the Kobo. However with most books if you find it in the Libby app from any library you can then just sync your kobo and the book will download.

I say most because on occasion books between kobo and overdrive don’t match up. I’ve never had it happen to me but others have reported it. If this happens you can still side load the book using ADE.

I did finally find this post https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...39&postcount=6 of yours. It seems that most of the info I wanted was already available.

Thank you for not being snarky about it.