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

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by disconnected

I just saw this article about 3M updating their patron app --

http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/1562...anced-browsing

Interesting. The iOS app can't filter by format (ebooks or audiobooks). However the Android app can. Big oversight! I hope they issue an iOS fix.

I've confirmed the hold wait-times are accurate. My library website (not 3M) shows you hold position, number of copies, and the return dates for each copy. I can also see how much it will reduce if someone doesn't checkout the book and skips their turn. I can also suspend and resume holds within the library website similar to Overdrive, although you can't do that within the 3M app. These must be the benefits of 3M and Polaris integration that the library stated as a reason for selecting the 3M Cloud library.

[Barty]

Anyone has an idea how much it costs the library for me to check out from Overdrive an: a/ current bestseller b/ bestseller from last year c/ well reviewed book on many year end best lists d/ perennial favorite like Harry Potter e/ popular sci fi / genre fiction f/ contemporary classic e.g. Updike g/ classic in public domain (copyrighted edition).

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Barty

Anyone has an idea how much it costs the library for me to check out from Overdrive an: a/ current bestseller b/ bestseller from last year c/ well reviewed book on many year end best lists d/ perennial favorite like Harry Potter e/ popular sci fi / genre fiction f/ contemporary classic e.g. Updike g/ classic in public domain (copyrighted edition).

You'd have to ask. You can also go to Overdrive to get an idea of what they charge for various books/services. But if your library is in a consortium, they may pay a portion to a fund that then buys "Bestsellers" or "latest political books" and so on. It would vary from library to library, I think.

[eschwartz]

I want to know why the libraries even buy all those PD works. The library in Atlanta has hardly bought a single book other than PD stuff in months, instead there are pages and pages of PD stuff.

[Bookworm_Girl]

I went to a party on Saturday and people were talking about the library switch to 3M. Apparently I'm not the only one who got a new library card with another city to go back to the Overdrive consortium! Their neighbor volunteers in the library bookstore. She didn't have any special insight to the switch other than lots of people have been complaining.

I have learned a lot about library funding through this process. I have to sort through loads of old books this winter, and I will consider donating some to the Friends of the Library store. I learned that my library participates in Amazon Smile so I will consider that when making purchases too.

I now have library cards from 3 cities which includes access to 2 Overdrive libraries, 3M Cloud Library and Axis 360 catalog. I also have an Oyster subscription. It will be a long time before I run out of books to read!

[eschwartz]

7 -- OverDrive
1 -- Axis360
2 -- 3M Cloud
(I have some doubles, too.)



Collect from all your friends and relatives.

I think I am protected from a catastrophic switch.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

7 -- OverDrive
1 -- Axis360
2 -- 3M Cloud
(I have some doubles, too.)



Collect from all your friends and relatives.

I think I am protected from a catastrophic switch.

That reminds me. I should contact the nephews to see if I can get a library card for more Overdrive access.

[tubemonkey]

Libraries

• 2 - city
• 3 - county
• 2 - regional
• 1 - consortium

Platforms

• 8 - OverDrive
• 1 - 3M Cloud
• 1 - Axis360
• 1 - EbscoHost
• 4 - Hoopla
• 3 - OneClick Digital
• 7 - Zinio

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Libraries

• 2 - city
• 3 - county
• 2 - regional
• 1 - consortium

Platforms

• 8 - OverDrive
• 1 - 3M Cloud
• 1 - Axis360
• 1 - EbscoHost
• 4 - Hoopla
• 3 - OneClick Digital
• 7 - Zinio

I have access to these services too. It's amazing the variety of information that is available, and I expect more platforms to develop as more people go digital and technology keeps changing.

Thankfully my library did not drop Zinio because I certainly make good use of it! I need to check out Hoopla. I don't realize that it was more than audiobooks and also had movies!

Some other services that I have access to are:

• Gale Reference Library
• National Geographic
• IndieFilms
• Freegal

Freegal has a great selection of music.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I have access to these services too. It's amazing the variety of information that is available, and I expect more platforms to develop as more people go digital and technology keeps changing.

Thankfully my library did not drop Zinio because I certainly make good use of it! I need to check out Hoopla. I don't realize that it was more than audiobooks and also had movies!

Some other services that I have access to are:

• Gale Reference Library
• National Geographic
• IndieFilms
• Freegal

Freegal has a great selection of music.

I have access to those and more. In the end, the only platforms I use are OverDrive, Hoopla, and Zinio. I have no need for the others.

My libraries were early adopters of digital downloads and have experimented with other platforms. Instead of switching from OverDrive to the competition, they end up dropping the other ones. No one uses them. My friends use OverDrive. To them, nothing else exits. These other platforms just aren't gaining traction here in Seattle.

Hoopla does audiobooks, music, and videos. I've used it a couple of times to get the Twilight Zone Radio Dramas. Haven't tried videos yet. I never do music from the library, because I get more than enough through streaming radio and Prime.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I have access to those and more. In the end, the only platforms I use are OverDrive, Hoopla, and Zinio. I have no need for the others.

My libraries were early adopters of digital downloads and have experimented with other platforms. Instead of switching from OverDrive to the competition, they end up dropping the other ones. No one uses them. My friends use OverDrive. To them, nothing else exits. These other platforms just aren't gaining traction here in Seattle.

Hoopla does audiobooks, music, and videos. I've used it a couple of times to get the Twilight Zone Radio Dramas. Haven't tried videos yet. I never do music from the library, because I get more than enough through streaming radio and Prime.

You might find this Forbes article interesting. Are digital libraries a winner takes all market? Overdrive hopes so.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/avaseave...rive-hopes-so/

Hoopla definitely sounds interesting. It has some good videos, and I could mirror those to my TV from my iPad. I haven't done a comparison yet to see if they duplicate what I already have access to from Prime.

I haven't sampled Prime music. I should check that out too!

You probably already know this but Freegal allows you to keep 3 songs per week. It's not a borrowing system.

I had no idea that there were so many options for audiobooks. I've only used Overdrive and Audible. I love to listen to audiobooks on my iPhone while I work out. This will give me more options to find specific titles.

[tubemonkey]

A couple of things to note. 3M has added audiobooks to its catalog and OneClick has added ebooks to their catalog. Of course, it's up to the libraries whether or not they'll buy the new content.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

You might find this Forbes article interesting. Are digital libraries a winner takes all market? Overdrive hopes so.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/avaseave...rive-hopes-so/

Hoopla definitely sounds interesting. It has some good videos, and I could mirror those to my TV from my iPad. I haven't done a comparison yet to see if they duplicate what I already have access to from Prime.

Thanks for the article. I'll read it later.

Hoopla's neat, but it does have restrictions. Borrow times are short for videos (3 days) and music (7 days). For audiobooks, you get 21 days. But the biggest restriction is the number of titles you can check out each month. I have four Hoopla libraries and you can only borrow 10, 10, 12, 20 items per month; and that's not per category. Once you reach that limit, you're done for the month and have to wait until next month to borrow more. That's why it pays to belong to multiple libraries.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

A couple of things to note. 3M has added audiobooks to its catalog and OneClick has added ebooks to their catalog. Of course, it's up to the libraries whether or not they'll buy the new content.

I only have access to audiobooks in OneClick. I just created an account and checked one out to listen to while I exercise later. Thanks for the tips! The book was not available on Overdrive or 3M.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Thanks for the article. I'll read it later.

Hoopla's neat, but it does have restrictions. Borrow times are short for videos (3 days) and music (7 days). For audiobooks, you get 21 days. But the biggest restriction is the number of titles you can check out each month. I have four Hoopla libraries and you can only borrow 10, 10, 12, 20 items per month; and that's not per category. Once you reach that limit, you're done for the month and have to wait until next month to borrow more. That's why it pays to belong to multiple libraries.

I get 20 items. I was wrong on Freegal - it's been upped to 5 songs.

Now I understand why you have so many cards. Thanks again for the info.