OverDrive

Owned by Ashley Sneesby, created
Last updated: Dec 19, 2024
6 min read

Configuration options for the OverDrive section of the Library System and Location.

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OverDrive Configuration

Go to Pika Configuration and Library Systems from the left sidebar.  

Screenshot of the pika configuration menu highlighting the library systems option

Click the Library Id number or the Edit link to gain access to the Library Systems page.

Screenshot of the library systems table highlighting the access links

Click on the OverDrive tab to expand the menu.

Enable OverDrive Collection

The Enable Overdrive Collection enables the OverDrive API integration in Pika.

 

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Shared Overdrive Collection

The Shared Overdrive Collection setting controls which shared Overdrive collection is included in search results for the library. Usually this value is set to -1 and there is only one option in the Share Overdrive Collection field.

Typically, library systems only have one shared collection and there will be only one option to choose for this field.

There are cases where library consortium members might subscribe to a unique OverDrive collection. When this scenario occurs, there will be two options in this field.

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Include Title Options

The Include Adult, Teen, and Kids Titles options allow libraries to enable or disable individual subsets of the main Overdrive collection.

The Include titles audience designations are driven by the target audience determinations of OverDrive Subjects as described in the Target Audience Facets documentation, specifically under the Target Audience OverDrive Subjects section.

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Repeat in OverDrive

The Repeat in Overdrive option enables patrons to repeat a search from the catalog in your library’s OverDrive interface. This displays as a search source option and will redirect to the search results for the search term in your library’s OverDrive interface.

The Repeat in Overdrive option does not need to be enabled in order to see the subcollections from the Repeat In Alternate Overdrive Libraries section.

Repeat In Alternate Overdrive Libraries

The Repeat In Alternate Overdrive Libraries enables patrons to to repeat a search from the catalog in a subcollection of the larger Overdrive collection. Each alternate Overdrive library is designated with the OverDrive library code from the specific collection in the OverDrive URL.

Each subcollection option in the list needs to be separated by pipes ( | ). The subcollections will display in the source dropdown menu in the order they are listed in the Repeat in Alternate Overdrive Libraries field.

Determining Overdrive subcollections for Repeat in Alternate Overdrive Libraries setting

In order to determine the codified value for the Overdrive subcollection that can be added to the Repeat In Alternative Overdrive Libraries, you will need reference the OverDrive site for your library. Each subcollection will have the URL structure of:

<your OverDrive site address/library/collection name>

Example for Marmot: marmot.overdrive.com/library/kids .

Enter the collection name listed for the desired subcollection in the Repeat In Alternative Overdrive Libraries field.

 

 

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Advanced Overdrive configuration options

ILS Name for Authentication

ILS Name Overdrive uses for user Authentication is the name of the ILS that OverDrive uses to authenticate users logging into their OverDrive website. This field typically isn’t fulfilled when using the Overdrive API functionality.

Is PIN required?

Is a Pin Required to log into Overdrive website? option is enabled if users need a PIN to log into the OverDrive website.

OverDrive Advantage Information

  • Overdrive Advantage Name is fulfilled when a library has an OverDrive Advantage account. 

  • Overdrive Advantage Products Key is used when building URLs from the Advantage Account for the API call.

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Overdrive Support Address

The Overdrive Support Address should be valid email address that is monitored for patron support requests. All Overdrive eContent support requests originating from patrons in the catalog are delivered to the supplied Overdrive Support Address.

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OverDrive eContent Support Form details

The Overdrive Support Address is used in conjunction with the Pika OverDrive eContent support form. Patrons can either access this form from an OverDrive record in Pika or it will be generated when they encounter a download error in OverDrive.

Patrons can access the full record view for an individual OverDrive record by clicking on the More Info button or one of the hyperlinks such as Source or Publisher in the editions table.

The link for the support form is located under Formats tab in the record view in the messaging titled Need Help?  The this support form link will open the Overdrive Support Form as a popup window. The patron must be logged in to their account to complete the form and will be prompted to login if they have not already done so.

 

The OverDrive Support Request form will appear as a popup dialog. The form auto-populates with the patron’s contact information from their patron record and with the title information for the Overdrive title they’re generating the form from. The form also includes a box to fill in the type of device, format, operating system, and an area for the patron to describe their issue.

Once the form is submitted, an email will be sent to the email address listed in the Overdrive Support Address.  The email will include the patron’s home library information as well as the information they submitted in the form.  

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OverDrive API Information

A user with the Cataloging or OPAC Admin roles can access the OverDrive API Information page. 

The Overdrive API Information page details the OverDrive Advantage Name and OverDrive Advantage Products Key for any library that is a member of the shared Overdrive collection with an OverDrive Advantage account.  This is located under the eContent Info tab. 

Related Documentation

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