New DeKalb Library Audiobook Downloads a Mixed Bag
Decatur Metro | June 7, 2010 | 10:44 am
As I mentioned in a comment yesterday, I’ve been sitting on this post for a while.
A few weeks back, I, along with many other DeKalb Library fans, received an email announcing the library’s new online audiobooks software “OverDrive.”
Heading over to the site in a “this will make a great post!” fever, I was immediately excited by the format of the new site. The audiobooks were now much easier to discover thanks to a more intuitive set-up and prominent book covers.
However, downloading and listening to an audiobook proved a bit more difficult.
What took me a while to figure out is that first you have to download the OverDrive software to your listening device of choice, be it a PC, Mac, iPhone or whatever, BUT this software is only to listen to your already downloaded books. It is NOT for browsing the library’s catalog.
As the “Quick Start Guide” tells us, first download and install the OverDrive software to your computer or mobile device. But then, go back to your web browser and find the book you’d like to take out. If it is currently available, click “add to cart” and then follow the prompts to download the audiobook. If it’s working correctly, it should automatically open the OverDrive software and download your selection.
Once you get the hang of it, the browsing/download process is actually pretty streamlined. It’s just figuring it out the first time that takes a bit of patience. The mobile-friendly website is even easily navigable.
So is easy access to free 21-day access to hundreds, if not thousands of audiobooks really the cat’s meow? Well, yes and no.
Yes, it’s wonderful to click a few buttons and have an audiobook downloaded on your iPhone that otherwise might cost you $40 on iTunes. But making it so easy also lowers the effort-threshold not just for you, but everyone. And that means that with most books having only a single, virtual “copy” to lend out at a time, many, if not most of the popular titles are always checked out.
In all honesty, that is true of many books at the library. It’s just these hold-lines might be a bit longer than you’re used to for disc-format audiobooks. (Cassette audiobook-lovers: the world is your oyster!) Like regular holds at DeKalb, you receive an email when your book is ready, but then have only 48 hours (instead of the normal 7 days) to download your audiobook or you get skipped.
Bottomline: This is a great new resource that makes audiobook check-outs a breeze for all of those in the DeKalb County library system who love audiobooks. However, the limited number of copies of the most popular titles may have you waiting months to get a crack at your favorites.
I have to say that I love the Overdrive system. Yes the first set up is a bit of a pain but after your first successful download and transfer to your mp3 player it is easy. I’ve been using the overdrive library system from the town I used to live in for years. My previous library has thousands of books on hand and ebooks too (books to read on your computer screen or ereader). I’m excited that Dekalb has started offereing digital audiobooks with this service and I can’t wait till their selection increases. Right now they only offer several hundred books all audio. I haven’t had to wait more than a few weeks to have access to a book on hold. I really didn’t like the other audiobook program or selection Dekalb used previously.
I tried to use the system Saturday morning and ended up so frustrated that I just quit. Not that I could have continued with it anyway; somehow I managed to download a wmv file instead of an mp3, and the system would not let me go back and retrieve the correct file. So now I have a book that neither I nor anyone else can listen to for 21 days.
Any file converter should be easily able to swap the format, and they’re free.
http://download.cnet.com and search file converter
It’s more work than you bargained for but at least you will be able to listen to it.
The file converters are also great for videos as well.
I thought of converting the files too late, alas–I had already given up and trashed them because I couldn’t open them.
In full disclosure, I work for DCPL and just wanted to share a few observations about OverDrive. Like with any new product the Library purchases, OverDrive certainly comes with positives and negatives. There is always a learning curve with a new system, but when compared to the other vendor the Library used to contract with, OverDrive is more user-friendly. OverDrive also offers more current, popular titles and many titles that are compatible with Apple devices. The business model in play by OverDrive is completely different than our previous vendor and as DM describes is more like other physical formats with one person authorized to use a title at a time. The other company offered multiple users of a title, but they also only had older titles that not as many people were interested in. So, as with most things there is a trade off. As funding improves, DCPL will begin to buy more titles. Unfortunately, the Library’s materials budget is pretty slim at the moment. In fact, it was a very generous gift from the Friends of the Dunwoody Library that allowed us to buy most of the starting collection.
Alison W.
I used (or tried to use) your previous audiobook provider, NetLibrary, and had multiple problems with it – dropped downloads, trouble getting downloads into iTunes, trouble transferring them to my iPod, and more. I have only used OverDrive once, but I found it infinitely easier to use than NetLibrary, so I’m happy about the new service.
I have wondered about the ability to “return” an audiobook so that someone else can check it out – my older son is the one for whom I checked out the audiobook via OverDrive, and he was done listening in two days. It’s a shame we can’t somehow indicate that we’re done with it so the next person can have it.
DecaturMom–Unfortunately you can’t “return” a book early, but if you think you are going to listen quickly, you can select a 7 day or 14 day loan period.
Allison–As far as support is concerned, you can send an email through our web page. Or if you give me call (4/370-8450) I can put you in touch with a staff member who is very familiar with the service.
Alison Weissinger
I sent an email through the website on Saturday but haven’t received a reply. Wasn’t sure which category of help to use so I may not have used the right one. I will try to call you tomorrow, though. I’d really like this service to work!
Okay, thanks! I didn’t look closely enough to see that there was an option other than a 21 day checkout. Will do next time.
Alison, is there a support number we can call for help with some of these issues? The book I tried to download said it was ipod compatible, but then I ended up with a wma file (not ipod compatible). I saw no other downloading option I could have selected but am now stuck with something I can’t use for 21 days, and because I have it and can’t return it, no one else can use it either. Bummer!
(I just deleted a little rant.) You know what would be really helpful? A little workshop.
This service took me five minutes to setup on a PC and two minutes to transfer and play the “welcome to overdrive” audio file on my plain old Nokia e71 mobile. This is fantastic for the reading public.
My only feedback at this point is on the collection. It looks like there’s approximately 500 titles right now with the overwhelming majority as fiction titles (a total of 10 history books).
While there is a juvenile collection, there is zero for children and as a parent I can tell you we would wear out a children’s collection if/when it becomes available.
Looking forward to seeing the collection expand! Great offering and appreciated here! -Kim Gokce
For our friend the librarian, one more user feedback/suggestion I can see your clients would really benefit from – the sort by options should include the ability to sort to the top items that are actually available.
If a visitor wants to grab a book on the way our the door, they will be hard pressed to find a title they can download on the spot otherwise.
My bad, Alison. I found a way to search for titles that are available. For other readers, simply use the “FIND” Digital Downloads” form at the top of the collection pages. Awesome! Apologies for gushing on the thread but this is a fantastic service to the public.