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Idaho Digital E-Book Alliance (IDEA) is a state-wide partnership
between the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL), public libraries, and school libraries
with the goal of expanding access while reducing barriers to digital e-books and e-audio content via OverDrive.

Public Library Participation
School Library Participation
Idahoans without a public library

Idaho Digital E-Book Alliance

In 2020, in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic and in response to the growing need for electronic materials, the ICfL embarked on a quest to find a way to supplement e-book and e-audio materials already available in public and school libraries. While a true state-wide access collection was our wish, the cost for this service and the presence of existing Overdrive use throughout the state made it impossible. With the feedback of an Advisory group and after investigating several service models, the ICfL chose to contract with Overdrive to create a collection that will be made available to libraries with existing OverDrive service through agreements with public libraries and school districts/libraries. These materials will also be available to 280,000 Idahoan living outside of a public library service area.  Public libraries without OverDrive collections are encouraged to reach out to Dylan Baker at dylan.baker@libraries.idaho.gov or Tammy Hawley-House at tammy.hawleyhouse@libraries.idaho.gov to explore ways of gaining access.

The collection began with $200,000 in LSTA funds and Cares Act funds, with requests made to several other funding sources. The ICfL is committed to supporting student learning and therefore is initially dedicating 75% of the IDEA collection to children, juvenile and teen titles.

The ICfL Electronic Resources policies related to this collection include:

more info coming soon…….

October, 2020- Over $22,000 in kid and teen titles have been added to the collection. View titles here.

October 15, 2020- The ICfL Board of Commissioners approved the Electronic Resources Collection Development and Borrowing Policies.
October 8 & 9, 2020- The IDEA service premieres at the Idaho Library Association Conference

Agreements

  • OverDrive Reciprocal Lending (RLA) This form is required for reciprocal borrowing between the ICfL IDEA collection and other Idaho public library Overdrive libraries/consortia.
  • Public Library Connect (PLC) This form is required for public library OverDrive titles to be shared with ALL school district students, including those without a public library card. Authentication happens through the School Information System, after the school district has set up a free or paid OverDrive account.

How to:

Purchase Suggestions

Suggestions for purchase are encouraged to assure the collection is meeting the needs of all Idahoans. Idaho library staff can request that specific items be purchased by filling out a Recommendation for Purchase form. Other Idahoans are encouraged to submit their requests to their local library, as the ICfL collection supplements individual library collections. Idahoans without a local library are welcome to complete a form.

The ICfL Electronic Resources policies related to this collection include:

To obtain a form, please contact Dylan Baker at dylan.baker@libraries.idaho.gov or Tammy Hawley-House at tammy.hawleyhouse@libraries.idaho.gov.

Public Library Participation

Idaho Public Libraries with existing OverDrive access can gain access to and borrow items from the IDEA collection through a Reciprocal Leading Agreement (RLA). This agreement can be signed at no additional cost to all parties. Each library/consortium can choose which types of items they wish to include in the reciprocity. Once the agreement is in place, OverDrive will make the IDEA collection available to customers of public library via their normal access point- OverDrive website, OverDrive app, or Libby app.

Idaho Public Libraries without OverDrive service are encouraged to start an OverDrive collection or join an existing OverDrive Consortium to leverage buying power.

Public Libraries are encouraged to offer their OverDrive collection at no additional cost to students in their services areas by signing a Public Library Connect agreement (PLC) with the school district. This agreement can be signed at no additional cost to all parties and allows public library titles to be used by students without a public library card via the Sora app. Authentication happens through school’s Student Information System so student privacy is maintained.

To get started contact  Dylan Baker  or Tammy Hawley-House.

School Library Participation at the District Level

School libraries may obtain access to and borrow items from the IDEA collection at the school district level. School districts will need to sign a Public Library Connect (PLC) agreement with the ICfL or their local public library, if their public library already has access to the IDEA collection, and will access OverDrive materials via the Sora app. This agreement can be signed at no additional cost to all parties and allows IDEA collection/public library titles to be used by students without a public library card via the Sora app. Authentication happens through a district’s Student Information System (SIS). OverDrive does not collect data or have students create accounts. Through the authentication process student data is protected and there is no need for a public library card. The benefit of signing an agreement with a public library that already has IDEA access, is that the students will gain access to both the public library collection and the IDEA collection.

There is a three-step process for getting this collection in the hands of students

  1. If your school district has OverDrive access via the Sora app, skip to #2. School districts in Idaho without OverDrive access should begin by signing up for the free Sora Starter platform via Overdrive’s Activation Form.
  2. School districts should determine if their local public library has OverDrive access by contacting staff at their local public library or searching existing OverDrive libraries.
  3. If the public library does have access, the school should inquire about signing a Public Library Connect agreement (PLC) with the public library. If the local public library does not have OverDrive access or is unable to sign an agreement, the school district may sign an agreement with the ICfL to access the IDEA collection.

To get started contact Dylan Baker  or Tammy Hawley-House.

Idahoans Without a Public Library

If you are one of 280,000 Idahoans that lives outside of a public library service area, you may access the IDEA collection by contacting Dylan Baker  or Tammy Hawley-House.

FUNDING PARTNERS

IMLS

imls logo

This program is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

For more information on the IDEA project in Idaho, please contact Dylan Baker at dylan.baker@libraries.idaho.gov or Tammy Hawley-House at tammy.hawleyhouse@libraries.idaho.gov at the Idaho Commission for Libraries, 208.334.2150

Tammy Hawley-House

Tammy Hawley-House

Deputy State Librarian
Email / 208.639.4144
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Dylan Baker

Dylan Baker

E-Services Program Supervisor
Email / 208.639.4167
Read my Blogs