Is Overdrive integration always sketchy?

[jmw1011]

I got an H2O 2 for Christmas. My main reason for upgrading was Overdrive integration on the device. So I set up my H2O and started looking for books to check out. Most of what I wanted was unavailable, so I put them on hold. I have two libraries, so I switched cards and had better luck. I checked out one book, but then when I tried another, I got a message saying there was a problem and to try my library's website. I switched back to the first library, same problem.

It didn't work the rest of the day, or this morning. I just tried it again on a random book, and it worked. I then immediately tried to get a book I wanted and got the same error message!

Can anyone give insight into the problem? Is this common? I'm guessing it is on Overdrive's end, or could it be Kobo's end?

I also checked my library accounts on the overdrive app, and only the first two out of four books I picked out were put on hold, but I got confirmation messages saying the other two were put on hold.

I've only lightly browsed the Overdrive on my H2O2, but so far the one book I placed a hold came through with no difficulty, and when I showed my wife how to setup Overdrive on her H2O2, she browsed and placed holds on several books with no issues (ha!)

[jmw1011]

I'm glad it is working for you and your wife. I still can't use overdrive myself.

Originally Posted by jmw1011

I'm glad it is working for you and your wife. I still can't use overdrive myself.

Indeed. I replied because the fact that it's working for us suggests that it is possibly specific to your library. More responses would be helpful to be sure

[jmw1011]

Originally Posted by stuartjmz

Indeed. I replied because the fact that it's working for us suggests that it is possibly specific to your library. More responses would be helpful to be sure

I had tbe problem with both my local library and the Free Library if Philadelphia.

Perhaps thr problem could be with the device itself?

[jmw1011]

I think I figured it out. Kobo is giving me the Overdrive option for books that aren't in my Library's catalog. But I now see that I can filter the results on my kobo to show only overdrive books. I feel silly now.

[jmw1011]

Nevermind. I just tried holding a book the library does have and it didn't work. Grr.

[bgalbrecht]

I have a Clara HD, and one of the books I checked out from the website was not available from my Clara. I reported it to my library, and they reported it to Overdrive. I returned the book, and the librarian couldn't download it to her Kobo reader either. I also couldn't find that book when I searched overdrive for it on my Clara. I don't know if it was ever fixed because I had an issue with a different reader, and I authorized it after a factory reset, and I was able to copy it from Digital Editions. Unfortunately, Digital Editions always crashes if my readers have all of my books loaded on them. I've downloaded about a dozen ebooks to my Clara since I got it, and once it's downloaded to the Clara, I can also download it to my Glo HD. I normally check the books out from the website and not my Clara, though.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

I have a Clara HD, and one of the books I checked out from the website was not available from my Clara. I reported it to my library, and they reported it to Overdrive. I returned the book, and the librarian couldn't download it to her Kobo reader either. I also couldn't find that book when I searched overdrive for it on my Clara. I don't know if it was ever fixed because I had an issue with a different reader, and I authorized it after a factory reset, and I was able to copy it from Digital Editions. Unfortunately, Digital Editions always crashes if my readers have all of my books loaded on them. I've downloaded about a dozen ebooks to my Clara since I got it, and once it's downloaded to the Clara, I can also download it to my Glo HD. I normally check the books out from the website and not my Clara, though.

One item to remember is the if the version in the library catalogue does not match the version in Kobo's store, the book is not available. Generally, I check the ISBNs if the book does not appear to be available. If they don't match, you are out of luck.

[HLS]

I had no issues but I only took 1 book out at a time

[jmw1011]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

I have a Clara HD, and one of the books I checked out from the website was not available from my Clara. I reported it to my library, and they reported it to Overdrive. I returned the book, and the librarian couldn't download it to her Kobo reader either. I also couldn't find that book when I searched overdrive for it on my Clara. I don't know if it was ever fixed because I had an issue with a different reader, and I authorized it after a factory reset, and I was able to copy it from Digital Editions. Unfortunately, Digital Editions always crashes if my readers have all of my books loaded on them. I've downloaded about a dozen ebooks to my Clara since I got it, and once it's downloaded to the Clara, I can also download it to my Glo HD. I normally check the books out from the website and not my Clara, though.

I figured out that once a book is checked out, you can sync your reader and it will be added to your library, as long as your reader is signed in to Overdrive. It at least eliminates the need for adobe digital editions and I can use the app on my phone, so it still works if I'm not at home.

[jmw1011]

Originally Posted by DNSB

One item to remember is the if the version in the library catalogue does not match the version in Kobo's store, the book is not available. Generally, I check the ISBNs if the book does not appear to be available. If they don't match, you are out of luck.

That makes perfect sense. I'll start checking ISBNs. It is a shame that could be the case. It seems like an easy fix on their end, but probably not important enough to do anything about.

[robko]

Originally Posted by jmw1011

That makes perfect sense. I'll start checking ISBNs. It is a shame that could be the case. It seems like an easy fix on their end, but probably not important enough to do anything about.

Actually not such an easy fix. The way Kobo does the Overdrive integration is by "serving" you the book from the Kobo server, in Kobo format rather than from Overdrive's servers. That presumably allows Kobo to get around at least some of the fee's associated with using Overdrive (Overdrive integration happened before Rakuten, Kobo's parent company bought Overdrive). However, that also means that they have to be giving you EXACTLY the same book (i.e. ISBN) in order not to be violating copyright laws. So the only fix would be for them to add a 2nd version of the book (with whatever the different ISBN is) which would cost $ and be a nightmare to manage.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by robko

Actually not such an easy fix. The way Kobo does the Overdrive integration is by "serving" you the book from the Kobo server, in Kobo format rather than from Overdrive's servers. That presumably allows Kobo to get around at least some of the fee's associated with using Overdrive (Overdrive integration happened before Rakuten, Kobo's parent company bought Overdrive).

Rakuten bought OD at least a year and maybe two years before the OD function was added to the firmware. And I think the fee they are saving is the Adobe license for the books.

However, that also means that they have to be giving you EXACTLY the same book (i.e. ISBN) in order not to be violating copyright laws. So the only fix would be for them to add a 2nd version of the book (with whatever the different ISBN is) which would cost $ and be a nightmare to manage.

But, it is worthwhile asking Kobo to look at it. There might be an error somewhere or a box not ticked.

[compurandom]

I've got an older kobo that doesn't (yet?) support overdrive, so I have to sideload all of my library books with Adobe Digital Editions.

An older version of ADE tried to scan the library on my ebook and upload it to Adobe. I use to eject my SD card (which has all my sideloaded books) in software before running ADE to prevent this, but I think newer versions stopped doing that.

(My main objection is that it took a very long time for ADE to scan the sd card, although I wasn't happy about it polluting ADE with a booklist it wasn't suppose to manage either, and even less happy about it sending that anywhere.)