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Public Library Participation

Idaho public libraries with existing OverDrive access can gain access to and borrow items from the IDEA collection through a Reciprocal Lending Agreement (RLA). There is no additional cost to participate. This reciprocity allows patrons of each library/consortium access to all OverDrive collections in the alliance.

Each library/consortium can choose which lending models they wish to include in the reciprocity. The only required lending model to be shared with others in the alliance is one copy/one user (OC/OU). Any of the four metered access (MA) options can be included or excluded. Simultaneous use and titles purchased under Advantage plans are never shared. Libraries/Consortia may prioritize holds for their patrons ensuring they receive items before other alliance patrons.

FAQs

There is no additional cost for libraries with OverDrive collections to participate.
Public libraries without OverDrive collections cannot participate, but are encouraged to join an existing OverDrive Consortium to leverage buying power.

Each library/consortium can choose which lending models they wish to include in the reciprocity. The only lending model required to be shared with others in the alliance is One Copy/One User (OC/OU). Any of the Metered Access (MA) options can be included or excluded. Simultaneous use and titles purchased under Advantage plans are never shared. Libraries/consortia may prioritize holds for their patrons, ensuring they receive items before other alliance patrons, or they may choose to turn off the availability of holds for visitors.

You can choose to have your patrons prioritized for your OverDrive collection or even to turn off the ability for “visitors” (anyone who is not one of your patrons) to be able to place holds on items in your OverDrive collection.

In addition to the OverDrive statistics available through Marketplace, an OverDrive representative will share a monthly statistics sheet with each participating public library. If you are not currently receiving these monthly statistics, please reach out to Marina Rose, marina.rose@libraries.idaho.gov.

No. Advantage titles may not be shared with other IDEA libraries.

The short answer is access to MANY more titles at no additional cost to you. The IDEA collection is focused on juvenile and teen titles, supplementing existing OverDrive collections. Once your library is participating, your patrons will have access to the OverDrive titles shared by other participating libraries as well.

Yes! By signing a Public Library Connect agreement (PLC), at no additional cost to all parties, public library titles can be used by students without a public library card via the school’s Sora app. Authentication happens through the school’s existing sign-in method, so student privacy is maintained.

Yes, multiple copies will be purchased as holds for those titles increase.

Yes! OverDrive released a new feature called “Deep Search” that allows patrons to search items across all added libraries.

Patrons can choose between 7, 14, and 21-days at the time of checkout.

Public Libraries without OverDrive

Idaho Public Libraries without OverDrive service are encouraged to join an existing OverDrive Consortium to leverage buying power. The Idaho Digital Consortium is currently accepting new members. Contact Terri Summerfield at Clearwater County Library District or Laura Wheatley at Larsen-Sant Library for more information.

Public libraries are also encouraged to offer their OverDrive collection at no additional cost to students in their service areas by signing a Public Library Connect agreement (PLC). 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 school’s Sora app. Authentication happens through the school’s existing sign-in method so student privacy is maintained.

Contact Marina Rose at Marina.Rose@libraries.idaho.gov with questions.

Idaho School Library Participation

School Library Participation

Idahoans without a public library

Idahoans without a public library

FUNDING PARTNERS

Idaho STEM Action Center

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 Marina Rose at marina.rose@libraries.idaho.gov or 208.639.4165.

Marina Rose

E-Resources Library Consultant
Email / 208-639-4165
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