Library dropped Overdrive for 3M. You could be next!

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

For our city and funding ONLY patrons who come in count--the city does not count overdrive checkouts. It's crazy because that is a growing part of the use. The computers in my library are funded by grants--not the city budget. So some things you see in a library are not even funded by the city. Grant givers can specify how money is to be used. For example, Dell was a big grantor--duh--that is where we got out computers. A few years ago when I worked there, we got a grant that HAD to be spent on books. Not audio, not computers, not children's programs. So looking at the funding can be a very incomplete picture.

I don't quite understand why "online" visits don't count, but they don't and it's hurting the possible funding for online books.

As always, the politics involved are complicated. Stop in and ask someone why it was cancelled. It may not have had support by the City for some reason. It may have originally been funded by a grant that ran out. Or it may be that there was temporary funding to see if was going to be used.

My library has to make certain numbers to receive funding for certain areas. The library fines do not stay with the library--it goes into a city "General" fund. This means that when someone pays for a lost book, that book may not be replaced--because that money goes into a pocket somewhere and then when ordering books, it's completely up to the discretion of the librarian whether to use those funds for the same book or a different one. Our patrons often ask if they can just buy the replacement book for the one they lost (answer: No.) It's cheaper for them to buy a replacement, usually, but that's not allowed.

Every little thing is over-organized...

Interesting information. I've been borrowing books from my library through Overdrive since 2009 as the earliest I can remember (maybe even 2008). Our visitor and circulation rates are in the millions. The numbers look similar to surrounding suburbs. I haven't found too many specifics about where the non-city funds come from (state, private funds, corporate grants, etc).

Good suggestions. I will have to stop by my local branch and see if a librarian can offer any more details. If that doesn't yield anything, then I'll have to go by the main branch.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I know--but in my library they charge a 7 to 10 dollar FEE for the lost book on TOP of the price of the book. So if you lose a hardback, it's 25 plus 7. You do NOT want to lose or destroy a book in my library. It's worse for audio. Those things are 50 and 75 dollars. And they still leverage the 7 dollar fee...plus any late fees...

That is monstrous -- the library here simply waives all fees, and offers you the choice between:

• replacing the book, or
• paying for it plus a $28 processing fee.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

That is monstrous -- the library here simply waives all fees, and offers you the choice between:

• replacing the book, or
• paying for it plus a $28 processing fee.

I agree. Some people just walked out and never returned or had a spouse get a card instead. It was only really bad for a reference book or some of the audio books. And then, those fees didn't even go to the library! They just went in a general fund. So it wasn't as though we'd necessarily get the book back in, either!

Let me tell you, I was glad when overdrive came along because I lived in fear of losing a print book from the library!

[eschwartz]

Yeah, way to convince people to go to the library.


And funnily, the same with ditching OverDrive.

The point is to make your library as attractive as possible (within the budget), not cut spending wherever it looks like something costs too much, and hopefully even get something attractive to patrons.

I somehow get the feeling they are missing the point...

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I agree. Some people just walked out and never returned or had a spouse get a card instead. It was only really bad for a reference book or some of the audio books. And then, those fees didn't even go to the library! They just went in a general fund. So it wasn't as though we'd necessarily get the book back in, either!

Let me tell you, I was glad when overdrive came along because I lived in fear of losing a print book from the library!

My library will eventually turn you over to a credit collector for failing to return books.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

My library will eventually turn you over to a credit collector for failing to return books.

Mine too!

I downloaded the 3M desktop software and linked it to my ADE account so I can read on eink again. Both the desktop and tablet/phone apps are cumbersome and missing key functionality. The desktop and website has a tab to see your wishlist, but I can't figure out how to add anything to the wishlist! Only how to borrow, hold and rate items. There is no info in the support FAQs about wishlists. The desktop and website can sort by either audiobook or ebook only but the device apps can't. Very frustrating!

I've discovered a few books that are available on the new 3M site that aren't on the Overdrive site. I suppose I can use it as a last alternative if I can't find something on Overdrive or my Oyster subscription.

I put a book on hold with an estimate of 45 days. We'll see how long it takes before it's available and if I get an email notification.

[Tarana]

A lot depends on how much support your state provides for libraries. Let's face it - we have Congress people who think libraries should just be closed down because THEY have never used a library once they were out of high school (yea, stupid people). My state supports libraries and currently, Overdrive is the only one that fully supports ebook and audiobook, so I'm sure it will be around for awhile, but then they have the FUNDS to do so. Thank goodness for that because large print books don't really address many people's difficulties with reading.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Tarana

A lot depends on how much support your state provides for libraries. Let's face it - we have Congress people who think libraries should just be closed down because THEY have never used a library once they were out of high school (yea, stupid people). My state supports libraries and currently, Overdrive is the only one that fully supports ebook and audiobook, so I'm sure it will be around for awhile, but then they have the FUNDS to do so. Thank goodness for that because large print books don't really address many people's difficulties with reading.

I too live in a state where the libraries have Overdrive. I use Overdrive a lot and it's something I would hate to do without.

[BearMountainBooks]

Some libraries are funded by state. Some by county. Some by city. It helps to know which one if you are asking about budgets. My local library is city funded so I can have an impact (read: make a fool of myself) by attending the city council and demanding to know why my 6 dollars a month is not getting me more library services (It's taken out of my water bill. And it's FOR library services not "we needed a new fancy city hall building." ) There are generally county meetings if yours is run by the county and you can write or appear or suggest that libraries get more funding.

There is also a national "Friends of the Library" --you can join or see if they would be willing to target their donation. I think my local one specifies the donation be for purchasing of books. You could work with them to do a donation for overdrive books.

Last, but not least, donate used books to your library. If they are not "dated" (old references, reader's digest, old magazines are thrown out) they are often added to the shelves. Many that are duplicates show up in the Friends of the Library sale and help the library a tiny bit!

[Catlady]

Yeah, well, some libraries have plenty of money to pay bureaucrats and are plagued by gross mismanagement and/or corruption.

And as for donating books? It's rare that they'll end up on the shelves; they'll either be sold at a book sale or end up in a Dumpster.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Yeah, well, some libraries have plenty of money to pay bureaucrats and are plagued by gross mismanagement and/or corruption.

And as for donating books? It's rare that they'll end up on the shelves; they'll either be sold at a book sale or end up in a Dumpster.

Depends on the library. My library uses about half of what is donated and in fact for the entire time I worked there, they never once ordered a paperback romance. We had enough donations that the ENTIRE section was filled with donations. The only romance that was ordered was those that made the bestseller lists or the handful of authors that were popular enough to be auto-buys.

Much of the sci/fi and fantasy was supplied by donation as well at my library.

So it really does depend. But you can always ask if they will use it and not leave it if they say they can't. The librarian can research authors/titles and get back to you.

Most reference books are not shelved because they are dated. Very few non-fiction titles are accepted. Indie books/self-published are rarely accepted. Hardbacks are greatly preferred in most libraries. They all have rules so it just depends!

[Bookworm_Girl]

My library is primarily funded by our city. However we also get funding from the county library district. Intel is a major source of corporate grants for helping with technology improvements and education services. i just discovered that our local Friends of the Library chapter participates in the Amazon Smile program so maybe I'll keep that in mind while cyber-shopping this holiday season.

I found a recent article in our community paper about our library's technical innovation to improve the user experience. It provides more details about the switch to 3M. I discovered that my city had a two-year contract with Overdrive for their share of the consortium which was not to exceed $200K. This contract just expired. I also found out that there were 3,000 monthly ebook checkouts on Overdrive for my library. Not sure what the 3M contract price is. A few months ago our library switched to the Polaris Integrated Library System as their new catalog tool. The 3M Cloud Library integrates with Polaris such that you see electronic and regular paper checkouts and holds all in the same system. The article also makes the point that 3M gives customers more titles with less wait times. The switch to Polaris was a big factor in their decision.

The county paid for the new Polaris system costs and will pay annual maintenance fees. An Intel grant paid $100K to upgrade our RFID technology and self-checkout equipment at several branches (which is made by 3M). Interesting!

Just because your library has budget to fund Overdrive doesn't mean they can't switch to funding a different system like has apparently happened recently to more than just me.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Just because your library has budget to fund Overdrive doesn't mean they can't switch to funding a different system like has apparently happened recently to more than just me.

This is ABSOLUTELY true and pretty much one of the points I was trying to make--mine was initially funded by a grant or it wouldn't have happened at all. It's been VERY popular. However, because it was a grant funding it, that means no money was actually budgeted. Grant money usually has to be spent in a very specific manner. So it pays to know how something is funded and make sure your voice is heard in support. The checkouts definitely help (because those things not used get chopped faster.)

I made sure I was one of the pestering voices at my library to HAVE online checkouts. I continue to nag when the opportunity arises about book selection and so on.

Letting you city council members know you are paying attention helps too. Two of mine are on twitter. Sometimes just a tweet in support of a particular program can lodge the idea that hey, people like this thing...

[Bookworm_Girl]

I noticed that as more people start to notice the change they are voicing their opinions on the library Facebook page. Only one person has said I like it! Everyone else is pretty similar to my opinion that it's harder to use, poor selection, bad software, no Kindle integration, etc. Several people have posted what other city libraries they've now joined to be back in the Overdrive consortium. That's sad as I'm sure most like me would rather support your own city. The library's only response to people seems to be give it a try and help us build our collection by making suggestions for purchases.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

The library's only response to people seems to be give it a try and help us build our collection by making suggestions for purchases.

Make a purchase suggestion. Tell them to purchase 66,000 ebooks that matched what the consortium carries and to do so before Spring of 2015.