Comments on: A New Overdrive Interface is Coming, Are You Ready?

By: Brian Herzog

Brian Herzog — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 18:26:58 +0000

@Mike: thanks for the reply Mike – that is good news about the WIN features being opt-in. I’m really looking forward to the new interface and other features.

By: Mike Lovett

Mike Lovett — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:46:35 +0000

Hi Brian- I just caught this blog. I think I can help clear up a few things about the "Buy It Now" option and other aspects of OverDrive's eBook-lending platform. We haven't yet launched our Next Generation Digital Library Platform, but you can get a sneak peak in our webinar. Earlier this year, we began rolling out WIN Catalog features such as "Buy It Now". We've seen a positive response to the Buy It Now feature, both from patrons and librarians. Of course, all WIN features are opt-in, so libraries can choose not to participate in Buy It Now. The banner ads you see on the Boston Public Library are examples of the "Book & Author Impressions" WIN Catalog feature. Like Buy It Now, Book & Author Impressions is an opt-in feature, and libraries get a portion of the revenue in the form of content credit.

By: Brian Herzog

Brian Herzog — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 02:43:43 +0000

@Christina: Thanks for sharing that you don’t see the Buy It Now or the banner ads – that’s great news.

@tim: I’m not sure of the details, but the scenario you describe is disappointing – although, not surprising. No install sounded too good to be true, so temporarily viewing it in a browser sounds about right. I hope that is clearly marked “Preview” or something, because it sounds like we’ll still need to show patrons the real way to download and transfer ebooks to their readers – and some kind of hybrid “one-click download” might actually make things more confusing. Sigh.

By: tim

tim — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 02:12:11 +0000

Assuming you’re referring to the ability to read ebooks in browser with the “one-click download” that requires no software or installation, it actually requires the installation of the Google Chrome Frame plugin for Internet Explorer. And this plugin doesn’t work in the 64-bit IE.

By: Christina Getrost

Christina Getrost — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:27:58 +0000

Our consortium in Ohio (The Oio E-Book Project) evidently opted out of the Buy It Now option, because I’ve been using our new interface for a few months and never knew that part existed. We also don’t have any banner ads, but that may be because we’re in an ebook consortium. I really like the new interface, it is a vast improvement over the old one. We still have the same problems from patrons who don’t understand how to get Adobe Digital Editions etc, (I am very curious about this One Click option, I hope we get that!) but in general it seems to be working for us. Good luck with your new one!

By: Cam Juniper

Cam Juniper — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:24:10 +0000

I also love the idea of using buy it now as a buy it for the library. I think patrons would really jump on this. I think it’d work really well for folks who’re in line for something & don’t want to wait–instead they can buy a copy for the library & have first dibs on it.

Also looking forward to the one-click option. It’ll greatly reduce the learning curve for folks. Even those with some computer comfort have trouble navigating the multiple steps. I also have two computers I’ve not been able to use the audiobooks with. One runs Linux & has no version of windows media play or itunes on it (have been attempting to use WINE (basically a Windows emulator) with mixed results). The other is a stripped educational license of windows that didn’t come with windows media player–and windows doesn’t offer an online download for it.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:44:02 +0000

This looks a lot like the interface that the Free Library of Philadelphia has been using. It’s definitely more attractive than the original. I have to say, I don’t notice the ads. And I have considered the Buy It Now option once or twice, when I wanted to invest in a book (which is rarely, because I hate the business model of ebooks right now). I considered it mostly because IndieBound was an option, so I could buy through my favorite indie store (Otto’s Books) rather than one of the big guys. But most of the time I don’t notice it.

I absolutely LOVE the idea of being able to use the Buy It Now button to buy a copy for the library and get it first. There are a number of books I would never buy for myself but would be happy to add to my local system’s collection. That’s one of the reasons I don’t buy ebooks, because I can’t share them. Plus, I’m cheap.

The one-click option would be wonderful and I’ll be anxiously awaiting that one. For some reason, I can’t get the Windows Media Player security patch to update on my students’ computers without contortions worthy of an Olympic gymnast, so that could make my life so much easier.

By: Brian Herzog

Brian Herzog — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:24:44 +0000

@Jen: I'm happy to hear it's optional, but I'm sorry you guys are keeping it. However, it has been working for BPL, so maybe I just need to adjust my thinking. But I don't know - it's kind of like Redbox outside of libraries, or having a Wal-Mart coin-operated towel dispenser in the bathroom, which patrons can pay to use when the library's towel dispenser is empty. It just seems like if we get better at meeting demand, we don't need to supplement things with extra-charge services. PS: I absolutely [heart] your domain name.

By: Jen Moore

Jen Moore — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 22:32:03 +0000

I’m fairly sure that the “Buy it Now” button is optional – our consortium was voting on whether or not to keep it at their last meeting. (Alas, I think they opted to keep it in. I’m with you; it seems like a terrible idea.)