Smart Lists make ongoing collection development faster and easier, allowing you to create custom title selection profiles. With Smart Lists, you can enter factors into a selection profile including “What?”, “When?” and “How Much?” You can customize by author, series, review sources or publishers, and request titles not already in your collection. Options for Smart Lists include data-driven and editorial lists. With Smart Lists, you can choose to create a select list of titles or automatically purchase content according to the collection profile.

To start using Smart Lists, log into Content Reserve and click on the Collection tab > Select Express Tools> Smart Lists. Then click ‘Add’ to view the profile options.

If you have any questions or need assistance setting up Smart Lists, please contact your Collection Development Specialist or the Collection Development team at collectionteam@overdrive.com, or call (216) 573-6886 ext. 6.

Fear not, I have something to brighten these dark days. Here’s a list of eBooks to make you laugh because even though you’re buying the smaller carton these days, we all need a little milk out the nose to remind us summer will be here…eventually.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames By David Sedaris: Sedaris is a wordsmith to epic proportions. He takes you through metaphors, hyperboles, and analogies so effortlessly you’re not even surprised your following his train of thought—and it actually makes sense. I read this one on a plane and laughed so much the stewardess asked me to keep it down. It’s that good.

The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy By Douglas Adams: It’s what happens when Science Fiction meets ‘What the…?’. Complete with a bumbling hero whom you can’t help root for, whose equal parts ridiculous andlovable. Arthur Dent has faced the apocalypse head on a couple of times in this beloved series and the end of the world has never been less terrifying.

When Parents Text: So Much Said…So Little Understood By Sophia Fraioli and Lauren Kaelin: When my dad first attempted to text me, after learning from the guy at the generic mobile kiosk counter how easy it was, he wrote ‘lylad’. Which I pronounced lie-lad and assumed he misspelled, it was only after he sent that a couple of times that I finally asked. ‘Love you like a daughter’—thanks for the clarification dad, I was nervous you loved me like a son. It’s decidedly hilarious when our parents first attempt to contact us using a miniscule keypad and ambiguous emoticons—but I bet you love them more for it.

Christina Bernecker is a Training Associate for OverDrive.

With Harry Potter (which is the most common comparison), there is always a problem present which moves Harry and the plot forward.  It’s fairly cohesive, and it’s imminently compelling.  In other words, it’s hard to put down.  You grow to love Harry, Hermione, Ron, and all the rest.  You root for them and want them to succeed.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman is completely different.  Yes, there is a ‘magical school’ where Quentin (the main character) learns to become a magician.  Yes, there is ‘magic’, but that’s where the similarities end.

Grossman has an impressive gift for descriptive prose when it comes to feelings, tone, and setting.  You know what Quentin is feeling, and through his observations, what his friends are feeling too.  The problem is that they never feel anything positive.  By about halfway through the book, I found myself wanting to kick Quentin in the tail and tell him to stop moping around.  I grew to loathe Quentin as the book progressed.  He found ways to be miserable about every single aspect of his life, no matter how wonderful and amazing the gifts he was given actually were.

Because of my disposition toward Quentin, I found this book hard to digest.  I just couldn’t get into it.  My problem was that this book isn’t about magic, a thrilling plot, or any kind of adventure.  It’s about the inevitability of stagnation.  No matter what is happening around Quentin, he stays right where he has always been.  He doesn’t change or grow.  He can’t because he won’t let himself.  That’s why I couldn’t like the main character.  I fundamentally disagree with his outlook on life.  People can grow, change, and ultimately be happy if they want to.  Quentin was just too busy pitying himself to realize that, and it drove me batty.

Was the book terrible?  No.  It just wasn’t for me.  However, if you’re a big Steinbeck person that liked reading books like The Grapes of Wrath, then you might enjoy this more than I.  Happy (hopefully) reading!

Quinton Lawman is a Technical Writer at OverDrive.

With OMC v2.4, iOS users now have the option to return eBooks and audiobooks any time within a title’s lending period. eBooks and audiobooks returned before the end of a lending period are removed from your checkout list and made available to your library. You free up a checkout slot, which allows you to enjoy more of OverDrive’s excellent content selection, and your fellow patrons spend less time on the waiting list.

The system requirements have not changed. OverDrive® Media Console™ v2.4 remains a free app, available for installation on any device running iOS v4.0 or newer. Users with OverDrive Media Console already installed will be notified that an update is available. New users can find the updated app in the App Store.

Future versions of OverDrive® Media Console™ for iOS will continue to add features that support mobile eBook and Audiobook use, including dictionary lookup. Stay tuned!

With the iPad 2, your library will be able to reach people already familiar with Apple’s mobile devices.  Since it’s a popular platform, a lot of users will feel comfortable picking an iPad up and learning how to use it to access their library’s digital collection.

Knowing that technology is expensive, we’ve added the DroPad A8i as a more affordable option.  Though inexpensive, the DroPad is a fully functional Android 2.3 device that can be used to download eBooks and audiobooks.  The 7” form factor is good for both reading and portability.

The Thrive offers features and polish for a reasonable price.  Currently running Android 3.2, the Thrive has full-size USB, HDMI, and SD card ports.  Users can plug in a USB flash drive or an SD Card from a digital camera and easily view their own personal files on the Thrive without the need for special adapters or cables.

All Test Drive devices have full access to their respective markets.  In this case, the iPad 2 has the Apple App Store while the Thrive and DroPad have the Android Market.  All three of these devices support the use of OverDrive’s mobile app which provides a simple way to download titles directly to each device with a Wi-Fi internet connection.

If you’d like more information on these devices, or on the Test Drive program, please check out the Test Drive website.

Jon Krakauer learned of the McCandless story in the early 1990’s and wrote a 9,000 word news article in Outside Magazine that was received so well he decided turned it into a full length novel. This novel is a tale of the hardships McCandless endured while roughing it in the Alaskan wilderness, attempting to live, survive and thrive off the land with little (or no) supplies, food or even shelter.

McCandless was an extremely intelligent young man who wanted to take some time in solitude and “find himself” in some way during his early 20’s. He never imagined the things he would discover on his own, the lengths to which he’d have to strive in order to get food or the welcoming atmosphere of a broken down, decrepit school bus.

If you want to find yourself or find some inspiration in someone else, take a look at Into the Wild.  You can grab it for your patrons at Content Reserve and allow them to take their own adventure.  What books inspire adventure in you?

Jason Sockel is a Collection Development Associate at OverDrive.

From eBooks and audiobooks to music and video, OverDrive Help covers everything users need to get started and enjoy your OverDrive service. These image-rich articles contain screenshots, download links and links to related articles. Plus, each article can be printed, emailed or shared via Facebook, Twitter and other sites using the ‘Share this page’ button available at the top of most pages.

Each section of OverDrive Help is designed to help you and your users find what you’re looking for, no matter what method is preferred:

• Search – Type in what you’re looking for to view articles that match your search terms.
• Get Started With… – Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad, Sony Reader or whatever you have.
• Most Popular Articles – This section shows the articles that are being read the most. Three are displayed on the homepage; click ‘view more…’ to see additional articles.
• Recent Searches – This tag cloud shows you what other users are searching for.
• Recently Added Articles – When new articles are added to OverDrive Help, they’ll show up here.

OverDrive Help replaces the FAQ that was formerly linked from your OverDrive-powered site at ‘Help.htm’. Going forward your ‘Help.htm’ page now contains links to OverDrive Help, the Device Resource Center, Digital Books Tour, Library Lending Policies and Support.

Early feedback on OverDrive Help

Before releasing OverDrive Help, we asked the experts (OverDrive Library Advisory Council) for feedback and here’s what they had to say:

• 93% of library staff surveyed agree that OverDrive Help is an improvement over the existing FAQs.
• 93% of library staff surveyed agree that the OverDrive Help website is clear, well-organized, and attractive.
  These same users think that the articles are clearly written and easy to understand.
• “I love the new look and feel of OverDrive Help over the current help pages. I think the screenshots will be very helpful in illustrating what could take a thousand words.” – Ruth Ann Copley, Director of Davidson County Library System

We’re writing more articles all the time, so let us know what information you’d like to see next. For more information about the OverDrive Help website, please visit http://help.overdrive.com/about-overdrive-help.

We’ve seen some great examples of libraries using QR codes in innovative ways over the past year. A few months ago, Broward County shared their success  using a QR code on a large display at the airport so any travelers could scan the bar code and be linked to their Project Gutenberg collection of eBooks. Many other libraries and schools have adopted this tactic to raise awareness in places like bus and train stations, around a school campus and even local businesses. Frisco Public Library in Texas added a QR code to a  flyer that they posted around their area, including right in storefront windows (as seen in the accompanying photo).

Now you’re probably asking, “Melissa, this is all great but this kind of fancy technology is too complicated for me.” But I promise it’s not. My valentine to you is just how simple (and free!) it is to create QR codes. You can use free services like Google’s URL Shortener (http://goo.gl) or Bitly (http://bitly.com) to instantly create QR codes – all you need is your digital collection URL. You can then save the graphic that is created and paste it right onto promotional materials. It’s that easy! All users need is a smart phone or mobile device with a camera that supports applications. They can download a barcode scanning app like Shop Savvy or Barcode Scanner. Once installed, they can go out and scan any QR codes they see.

Once you know about QR codes, you’ll start noticing them all over the place (magazines, billboards, even on the back of ketchup bottles!) You can join in and use this free marketing tool to make it even easier for patrons to be connected with your digital titles.

Learn more by visiting our Social Networking PDF and keep an eye out for our new Community Outreach training coming soon!

Melissa Work is a marketing & outreach specialist at OverDrive.

From:  Steve Potash, OverDrive CEO

Despite recent changes by some publishers regarding their policies for library lending and continued review of pricing models and digital book lending issues, the 2012 outlook for growing your digital book catalog with more options for your readers is encouraging. I share this opinion following dozens of advocacy meetings with executives from trade and educational publishers, publishing associations, author groups, library directors, consortia and leadership from ALA and PLA, as well as state and regional library groups.

For nearly a decade, I have been advocating the extraordinary value that public libraries, through both branch locations and online catalogs, provide to publishers by connecting readers with books and authors. Until recently, we had only anecdotal evidence that digital book lending leads to more retail sales. This included many authors voicing their support for digital library lending and how discovery and the social aspect of the library grows sales for both their physical and digital editions. At Digital Book World last month, Amazon provided new data that eBook lending programs resulted in remarkable spikes and elevated ongoing sales for participating books and authors. Library Journal also reported a similar strong book buying behavior of library users in its Patron Profiles reports.

Below are highlights of relevant new initiatives from OverDrive that will help bolster momentum.

Dozens of eBook publishers joining the library lending market. These include best-selling authors in almost every genre. A few who have more recently joined OverDrive include ABDO Publishing Company, Andrews McMeel Publishing,  Cherry Lake Publishing, David C Cook, Disney Digital Books, Evan-Moor Educational Publishers, Harvest House Publishers, Inc., Johns Hopkins Uiversity Press, Lonely Planet Pty, Ltd, McFarland, Raintree, Rosen Publishing Group, Saddleback Educational Publishing, Skyhorse Publishing, Thomas Nelson, Baker Publishing Group, Belgrave House, Carson-Dellosa Publishing, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Houghton Mifflin, Open Road Integrated Media and many more.

Top selling publishers and authors support public library digital lending. Random House, HarperCollins, John Wiley, Harlequin Romance, Kensington, Perseus, Sourcebooks, Scholastic, Chronicle, among others, and hundreds of their best-selling authors strongly support and are partnering with OverDrive to build stronger connections to library eBook readers.

New WIN initiatives. As part of how libraries, publishers and readers can all continue to WIN, here are a few of the newest
initiatives that are now live or will go into live pilot this and next month.

• Buy It Now: Now in 60 library markets (also coming soon to UK and Australian libraries), readers can easily discover titles from your digital media catalog and instantly link to online booksellers offering the title for sale. We are seeing
  modest early success which will provide another data point of how online library browsers frequently become book buyers. A portion of each sale is credited back to the referring library as an affiliate fee. We are live with direct Buy It Now links to over 300 independent US booksellers through Indiebound as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
  BooksonBoard.com, Powells.com and others.
• Discovery and Sampling of complete eBook and audiobook catalogs (mid and backlist) with  “Recommend to Library“: Last month at ALA Midwinter, we demonstrated a new option for patron driven acquisition. During February, we will begin pilot programs for the new WIN Catalog. These ”additional titles” can be displayed following a search to complement your library’s current digital book holdings. The WIN Catalog will enable discovery, sampling, Buy It Now (US only to begin) and a new ”Recommend to Library” option for hundreds of thousands of titles from nearly 1,000 publishers and suppliers. This feature alone will provide an ongoing and fresh feed of more than 25,000 new eBook and digital audiobook titles for discovery and sampling each month above and beyond your holdings of titles available for checkout from your OverDrive digital collection.
• Readers’ Advisory Services and “Author Impressions”: In addition to adding hundreds of thousands of eBook and digital audiobook titles for discovery and sampling from your library catalog, the WIN Catalog will also provide a series of new librarian recommendation services and author impressions that will offer options for readers to directly connect with authors and discover “Read-a-Likes.” A rapidly growing series of book, author, book trailer, author event and librarian recommendations will be included in the WIN catalog feeds. These features will also be live at select pilot public libraries later this month.
• Library lending and book interest data: OverDrive will expand the data and reports we provide to our library partners and to our supportive publishers and authors on the circulation and interest in our digital collections.  Without any changes to your patron privacy policy, we will offer to share aggregated data on how readers discover, sample and connect with books and authors. OverDrive and our library advisors are formulating guidelines to benefit libraries, publishers and authors who support library lending.

We will continue to provide updates and more details about each of these initiatives, including how you can opt-in, and are very interested to hear your thoughts as well. I want to thank everyone — including public libraries, library associations and executives from many publishing houses — for the guidance provided to OverDrive. In separate updates, my team will provide
details of other enhancements to streamline our services for your patrons and your staff. If you are attending PLA in Philadelphia, drop by to see me and our team in Booth 818. If you have any questions, please contact me or your Account Specialist at OverDrive.

Sincerely,

Steve Potash

After a hiatus of less than two months, our awareness- spreading, 74-foot, 18-wheel tractor-trailer is dusted off, prettied up, outfitted with some new technology and headed to the left coast! The Digital Bookmobile is back on the prowl and this time we’re following the sun, giving patrons in warmer climates a chance to experience eBooks in an entirely new and exciting way. So far, there are more than 20 stops over the next several weeks in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada, with many
more to come!

The Digital Bookmobile provides visitors the opportunity to interact with several touch-screen workstations, view video tutorials on the local library’s OverDrive service, as well as experiment in our recently upgraded Gadget Gallery, which now houses a Samsung Galaxy Tab™, Kindle Fire, Sony Reader Wi-Fi®, SanDisk Sansa®, Creative Zen®, Barnes & Noble Nook™, iPod touch®, plus Blackberry® and Windows
Phone smartphones.

This hybrid of entertainment and education has helped OverDrive partner libraries reach out to their communities and introduce the eBook service they provide to their patrons and we are thrilled to be a part of the excitement it creates around the library!

Look out for the Digital Bookmobile coming to a library near you by checking our calendar, plus connect with us on Twitter and Facebook. If you are interested in hosting a Digital Bookmobile event, contact us at events@digitalbookmobile.com.

Jason Sockel is a Collection Development Associate at OverDrive.