Patron Access to OverDrive EContent

For patrons who have logged into their library accounts, the eContent available for checkout or hold requests depends on the OverDrive account with the patron’s registered branch or with the resource group to which the registered branch is a member. If the Polaris Vendor Account has been set up for an OverDrive Advantage account, users who are not logged in and are connected to the PAC at the system level will see availability and hold counts depending which OverDrive Advantage option is selected in the OverDrive Vendor Account: Show availability and hold counts for shared copies only or Show availability and hold counts for a specific Advantage account. See Create an OverDrive integrated vendor account.

For more information about options for displaying, managing, and circulating eContent, Managing EContent in the PAC.

When the OverDrive eContent is accessible to the logged in patron, a Check Out button is displayed in the PAC search results if the title is available. If the patron has access, but the title is not available, a Place Hold button is displayed. If the patron does not have access to the eContent title, a Restricted button is displayed with the hover text Sorry this title is currently not available at your registered branch. You can modify this text string in WebAdmin using the mnemonic: PACML_EBRESTRICTED_TIP.

You can prevent or allow downloads of OverDrive integrated eContent on library computers designated as in-house workstations. See Prevent or allow downloads of OverDrive eContent on in-house workstations.

The library can change the Check Out and Place Hold button text for OverDrive eContent by modifying the following strings in WebAdmin:

PACML_OVERDRIVECHECKOUT
PACML_OVERDRIVEPLACEHOLD

Patrons who are logged into their accounts in PowerPAC or Mobile PAC can check out OverDrive integrated eContent titles and access the file from the final checkout acknowledgment or from their patron accounts. If the title is available in a single format, the PAC user selects the single format shown. If the title is available in multiple formats, the user selects the Get It button, and a drop-down menu displays the available formats.

The patron experience may vary according to the device used to access the eContent; the operating system and the apps installed; and the browser settings. To access the eContent, the patron may need to allow one-time pop-ups or turn off the pop-up blocker on some devices, such as on the iPad.

The following variables are outside of the control of the Polaris software:

DRM-protected Adobe PDF and EPUB files (.acsm files) may open in the OverDrive reading application, Adobe Digital Editions, or another reading application.
OverDrive Read, OverDrive Listen, MediaDo, and streaming video titles open and play in a new browser tab or a new browser window.
Kindle titles open in a new browser tab or window with an Amazon login page. The title is sent to the user's Kindle account; the Kindle app does not open automatically.
Nook titles are sent to the user's Nook account; the Nook app does not open automatically. Depending on the user's device and the Barnes & Noble account, a new browser tab or window may open with a Barnes & Noble login page.