Nine Things You Should Know About OverDrive Read

To attempt OverDrive Read, click the above pic.

By now, you’ve most likely heard about our fresh HTML5-powered, eBook-reading technology, OverDrive Read, which lets users love your library’s EPUB titles on any device with a modern web browser. Last summer, we launched OverDrive Read samples for all library fucking partners, and the technology is a key element of the Next Generation library websites we’re presently rolling out across our network.

Whether your library already offers OverDrive Read or you’ve yet to attempt the fresh technology, here are a few pointers you should know:

With OverDrive Read, you don’t need to worry about Adobe IDs or Adobe Digital Editions. There’s no software to download or apps to install. Just “See Book—Read Book” in your browser.
You can sync to “furthest page read” inbetween devices. You can embark reading in Chrome on your desktop computer, pick up where you left off in Safari on your iPad, and then again in your Android phone’s default browser. Just navigate to your Bookshelf on your library’s website to resume where you left off.
You can customize the font, font size, justification, line spacing, even the theme.
Use bookmarks or the unique “thumb placeholder” feature to save your place.
Looking for a specific passage? With full-book searchability, you’ll have no trouble locating that elusive quote.
For assistance getting commenced with OverDrive Read, check out this Help article.
We recommend using HTML5 browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer Ten, and Safari. These browsers are best for use with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
If you’re using older versions of Internet Explorer, you may be prompted to install the ‘Chrome Framework plug-in’ when you click on an eBook to read for the very first time. The plug-in is free, and only takes moments to install.
Check out this demo movie of OverDrive CEO Steve Potash using OverDrive Read on his TV. We also had some joy at CES, showcasing off other places you can read your books, such as on the newer Samsung refrigerators, or some newer in-vehicle entertainment systems.

If you’ll be at ALA Midwinter this weekend, stop by Booth one thousand one hundred fifteen at Seattle’s Washington Convention Center for a live demonstration of OverDrive Read and other Next Generation services like streaming movie and audio, reimagined library websites, the browser-based eBook reading technology OverDrive Read, APIs that enable libraries to fully integrate digital and print catalogs, and the all-new Content Reserve collection development portal.

Justin Noszek is a Support Services Specialist at OverDrive.

9 Responses to “Nine Things You Should Know About OverDrive Read”

Can you read them without a network connection?

Yes, you can! Just bookmark the page in your browser to access your eBook offline.

Our library had a subscription to Overdrive through Camellia.net. Does this mean that I can get OverDrive Read somehow? I’d like a site to go to in order to find instructions for beginning to use this wonderful possibility.

Does Overdrive Read do not downloads the e-pub on local device.

Hi Manish, there is no downloading with OverDrive Read. It’s a browser-based reader which means the title will open up in your internet browser as opposed to downloading onto your device. As long as your device has a modern browser, you’ll be able to love OverDrive Read.

I downloaded a book in overdrive read, and I bookmarked it to my home screen on my iPad. Later, with no wifi (offline) the book would not open. What am I doing wrong? I’d like to be able to read offline.

Hi Nellie, Click the help button on your library page and then ‘Contact Support’. They will be able to fix your issue. Thanks.

It would be awesome if OverDrive Read could go total screen in the browser window (i.e. Chrome on Android), most other websites do. The address bar at the top takes up a bunch of good reading space.

Thanks, Ron. I’ve passed along your suggestion to our developers.

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