OverDrive is pleased to announce that Amazon® Kindle compatibility with your U.S. public or school library’s eBook collection is here. See the press release. This update, which is included at no additional cost to OverDrive partner libraries, allows most existing eBooks in your library’s collection to be read on all Kindle devices or by using free Kindle apps for iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and other mobile devices.
OverDrive is quickly updating all U.S. public and school library partner websites to support Kindle compatibility and will complete this update as soon as possible. Sections of your website, including My Help wizard, Help pages and FAQs, will also reflect these changes and help new Kindle users.
Here is the process for checking out a library eBook for Kindle:
- Visit your library’s ‘Virtual Branch’ website
- Browse and check out a Kindle book.
- Click the ‘Get for Kindle’ button. This opens the Amazon.com website. You may be required to sign in with your Amazon.com account if you are not already logged in.
- Select a Kindle device or Kindle reading app. Click the ‘Get library book’ button and sync your device or app to download the book, or choose to send it to your device via USB.
- An active Wi-Fi connection is required for wireless delivery to a Kindle device. If your Kindle is not Wi-Fi capable or you do not have an active Wi-Fi connection, read Amazon’s instructions for transferring files via USB.
Kindle compatibility with library eBooks also takes full advantage of Amazon’s Whispersync technology. If you check out the eBook again at a later date or choose to purchase the eBook from the Kindle Store, all of your notes, bookmarks and highlights will be preserved. The last page read will also be synced between your Kindle and free Kindle reading apps.
For more details, please check the Help pages and FAQs on your library’s web site.
Brianne Carlon is a public relations specialist at OverDrive.
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Very nice. Can’t wait to get it activated on our site.
Yay!!! So excited this is finally happening. I’ve been putting off buying an e-reader because of this. I think it’s a win-win for everyone. Amazon will end up getting more people buying ebooks, libraries will get more people using their services, and Overdrive will benefit as well. I have some overdue library books to return today and will be giving a donation check along with paying my fine just as a thank you for providing such a great service.
I am SO excited to finally borrow books onto my Kindle! Hope the updating happens quickly!
Do you expect this service to be extended to Canada? If so, is there a timeline in place? Most of my local public libraries already use the overdrive system.
Thanks.
This is fantastic! Christmas has come early!! Very use to use on both iPad and Kindle.
I’m excited for American Kindle owners; any chance this service will be coming to Canada?
I cannot get the book to download if I am using the iPhone for the entire process. I have successfully downloaded a Kindle format onto the iPad when following the entire process on teh iPad…but the when using the iPhone (and my Droid friends had the same problem)..we get stuck on the Amazon page with a download that never finishes. We get the spinning disc, then nothing. I have seen nothing in your promotional material that warns of this…we librarians will be explaining this quirk to a lot of customers. I know that the work around is to be on Amazon’s page on a PC and send the item to the mobile device…but many library customers these days do not own PC’s; they do all their online on their mobile devices.
any word on when this will be up and running?
Will the dictionary application be available for epub books, or just for Amazon-purchased books?
Can we expect the same service in the UK soon?
Hi,
This is exciting news. Can i just ask if this will be implemented in countries outside US? If yes, when can we expect that to happen?
Thanks.
Hi everyone! We are working with Amazon to expand the service outside the US; however, there are no solid plans to announce at this time.
Pat, I will forward your issue to our support team and hopefully they can find a solution.
Don, the dictionary application will work on library eBooks for Kindle just as it would for any other Kindle book.
-Brianne
So excited about this! Will you have updated PR materials for your library partners up anytime soon? We can make them inhouse, but yours are so much nicer!
Sarah, you can find marketing materials here: http://overdrive.com/Resources/PartnerServices/MarketingOutreach/Kindle/ Thanks!
So pleased this offering is coming out of the Brevard County, Florida, Library! I’m thrilled! Thanks!
I have echo Pat’s issue above. We deal with many patrons who access content exclusively through their mobile devices, and clicking “Get for Kindle” from the Downloads page takes you the an Amazon page with a “Click to Buy” button in lieu of the “Get library book” button. Dangerous territory. This happened on both iOS and Droid.
ALSO– is there any way to get an Advanced Search option added the mobile-formatted MyMediaMall website? Without advanced searching options, the mobile-formatted MyMediaMall website is utterly useless for anything other than browsing.
Can’t wait for you to activate Manchester, NH! I went to the site as soon as I heard the news, but sadly, no Kindle update yet. Please add it soon! As soon as I see it’s live, I’ll put the word out to everyone I can in the area.
Thanks!
Thanks Brianne, Don’t forget Australia!
Just wondering if I will be able to recheck out a book after it expires if I didn’t manage to finish it in the allotted time.
Hi Darrell, you can renew the title. However, if there is a wait list for it, you will need to add yourself to the wait list. There is no auto renew.
Hi Stephen, I am sending your issue to our support team (support@overdrive.com). They can help solve the issue.
I could not check out any eBook titles on my Android at all using the “Get eBooks” feature. I got the message “these formats are not available on your device”. When I switched to the desktop view on my mobile phone, I had the same experience as others have stated above. Where I was sucessful was using my desktop, checking out a Kindle eBook and receiving the message that the next time I synced my Android, my book would be available. The book was there on my Kindle app under archive. Hope this helps the support team, as I know we would all like the experience to be sucessful for our Kindle owning or app patrons.
I checked out kindle book with overdrive on my android tablet and was directed to Amazon with only option to purchase with one click. What is going on?
Will I be able to download audio books to my kindle from OverDrive I am so happy I have been counting the days til this was available.Thanks so much.
Hi Louise, library audiobooks are not supported for the Kindle at this time. -Brianne
About Whispersync, I just highlighted a sentence and added a note in an Overdrive ebook, then returned the ebook early, then checked it out again. It did not retain my highlight & note, nor my last page read. How is this supposed to work?
#7 Pat & # 16 Stephen K – I have same issues. “An Amazon page with a “Click to Buy” button in lieu of the “Get library book” button. Dangerous territory.” I get same results on my iPhone. I am getting questions from our users and am unable to assist them.
I am so excited to have the capability to use my Kindle with OverDrive, now if I could get it to work…
OK great news for US library patrons in the US but when is it coming to UK Libraries?
Amazon just launched their new version Kindle in the UK too (but not the FIRE) so I’m sure many of our library customers in Edinburgh will receive a Kindle for Christmas, particularly given the price point. We wan’t these residents to access our library content.
Excited to use this service. Confusing instructions, but just did download a book. Instructions were so confusing that I don’t think I can do it again. I tried. Maybe they could make the instructions easier. Perhaps this 5th grade teacher could help with making easy-to-use instructions.
Hi Leslie, sorry for the issues you experienced. At this time, Kindle books cannot be downloaded directly on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows phones. As a result, users will not be able to browse or checkout Kindle books on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows phones; however, Kindle Books can still be sent to the Kindle Reading App from a desktop or tablet. Kindle books are supported on the iPad and Android tablets running v3.0 (or newer). OverDrive has removed the ‘Switch to Desktop’ link on our mobile sites. This was done to prevent users from trying to check out a Kindle title from their device as Amazon cannot support the library loan feature on their mobile website. -Brianne
Brianne…I also wondered why I wasn’t able to browse and checkout Kindle books on my iPhone. I would like to buy the new $99 Kindle with wireless for my children for Christmas but admit that it will be a pain if they’re not able to check out Kindle books right from their Kindles. Do you know whether you can browse and checkout Kindle books directly from a Kindle with wifi?
Hello Kim. At this time, you will be able to deliver eBooks to your Kindle or free Kindle apps from a PC or Mac. We hope to expand mobile access in the future. Please keep checking back for updates. -Brianne
Will Kindle Fire also be compatible?
Kindle does not allow Wi-Fi download for free library books. USB connection is required to read library books.
Hi
Your instructions for getting a public library book onto the kindle app for iPad seems to require me to connect my iPad to the computer and sync. The only thing I know how to sync with is iTunes. This does not seems to work.
“Select a Kindle device or Kindle reading app. Click the ‘Get library book’ button and sync your device or app to download the book, or choose to send it to your device via USB.”
I can get the deliver to my … Page on my iPad and it shows my iPad in the list of devices to deliver to. Can I utilize the wifi connection? When I try this a message saying successfully delivered comes up, but nowhere can I find the book. Have even looked in the archived list – nothing.
What am I doing wrong?
Many thanks for any help.
Hi Bill, sorry for the issue you are experiencing. The Kindle book should be delivered to your iPad Kindle app via wifi and show up when you sync. I am sending your information to our support team and they will help figure this out. Thanks for writing. -Brianne
Hi Michelle: An active Wi-Fi connection is required for wireless delivery to a Kindle device. If your Kindle is not Wi-Fi capable or you do not have an active Wi-Fi connection, read Amazon’s instructions for transferring files via USB. Please write support@overdrive.com if you are having trouble doing so. -Brianne
I work in the Idaho Springs Public Library, in Idaho Springs, CO. We are frequently asked how patrons can check their e-books (on their Kindle) back in early.
Relying on the automatic return at the end of the lending period limits the number of e-books fast readers can use.
So please help me help them…how do they return books early from their Kindles?
Hello Bob, Here are basic instructions for returning Kindle titles early: Log into your Amazon Account and click on Manage Your Kindle. In your queue of titles, click on the Action button on the right and select Return this book. Hope this helps! -Brianne
Thanks! Always good to have an answer! Much appreciated!
Using the Dolphin HD web-browser on an Android 2.2 device, I was able to set the user agent to “Desktop” and complete the checkout process without resorting to a desktop PC. The user agent is set under Settings -> Dolphin Settings -> User Agent. The Dolphin browser is available in both the Android Market and the Apple App Store (though I haven’t test it on an iOS device).
How do I return a Kindle book when I have finished it before the allotted time so that someone on the wish list may get it earlier?
Hi Bill, Here are basic instructions for returning Kindle titles early: Log into your Amazon Account and click on Manage Your Kindle. In your queue of titles, click on the Action button on the right and select Return this book. Hope this helps! -Brianne
The initial rollout of Kindle titles was great. Now we are seeing some books available as EPUB only (Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 for instance). Will these titles eventually have Kindle counterparts or is it something to do with the publisher (Knopf). Thanks!
Hi Brad, Amazon and OverDrive are working together to have all newly published content updated with Kindle availability. We expect to have the catalog refreshed with additional availability of Kindle titles in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience. -Brianne
i am having trouble finding libraries who offer the digital services for my kindle, i live in atchison, ks. my local library does not offer this,,where can i go to find a library that does?
Hi Roxann, visit search.overdrive.com and enter your zipcode under ‘Find a Library.’ This will show you a list of libraries near you that offer the OverDrive service. Hope this helps! -Brianne
Was nice. The authors that had kindle book available to borrow from the library are no longer available. I had kindle books on a hold but when the became available this weekend the kindle format was no longer availabe. There are still kindle books availabe in the library but not for the author I want.
Would be good to see an open discussion of the criticisms raised in this video by a librarian (contains some strong language).
http://youtu.be/moy1w89TOss
Can you tell me what kindle devices i can download overdrive to? I want to be able to get library books directly to the device without going through the computer first.