How is OverDrive Funded?
- The OverDrive platform is paid for with Central Library funding.
- Ebook, Audiobooks, and Video are funded through library-managed Advantage Accounts. Central Library Book Aid is used to supplement Non-fiction content.
- In 2021 Magazines were funded by Central Library funds with support from Columbia, Greene, Putnam, and Ulster Counties and also with additional contributions from the Plattekill, Kingston, and Woodstock libraries.
Mid-Hudson Library System patrons now have expanded access to OverDrive materials through a Reciprocal Lending Agreement (RLA) with the Upper Hudson Library System (UHLS), Southern Adirondack Library System (SALS) and the Mohawk Valley Library System (MVLS).
MHLS patrons can continue to use our OverDrive collection through the Libby app and the OverDrive website as they always have, but they now also have additional options to search the UHLS collection and borrow materials from there as well.

MHLS Directors approved participation with UHLS on 2/18/21 and affirmed the parameters on 2/3/22. Later, on 2/9/2023 the Directors approved further expansion to include MVLS and SALS.
How to access the expanded content:
- Access Additional Collections in the Libby App
- Access Additional Collections on the OverDrive Website
Get the word out / Marketing Materials
RLA FAQs
Will visitors have access to the entire collection of the other system?
No, visitors will only have access to titles available under the One Copy/One User lending model, and certain metered access titles that are metered by time only, or by earlier of time or checkout.
Which formats/lending models are excluded from the RLA?
Visitors will not have access to:
• Metered Access by checkout
• Metered Access concurrent use
• Cost Per Circ
• Copies included in Lucky Day collections
• Magazines or other materials in the simultaneous use model
• Databases and streaming media
What will patrons see when something is unavailable?
When visitors are logged in, titles that are not eligible for checkout will not appear in their search results.
If a visitor navigates to a title that is not available to to them (such as by viewing the collection before logging in, or clicking on a direct link) and attempts to check it out, they will see an error message that only the home library card holders can borrow that title.
Can visitors place holds?
No, visitors will not be able to place holds outside of their home library system. Access will be limited to available materials when they are not in use on loan.
Can visitors renew their loans?
Yes, as long as there is no one else waiting for the title, a visitor will be able to renew their copy.
How many titles can be borrowed at one time?
Both MHLS and UHLS each allow users to borrow up to 10 checkouts at once. The limits set by each system will function independently. Checkouts borrowed from UHLS will not count against the MHLS 10 item limit. Likewise, checkouts from MHLS will not count against the 10 item limit set by UHLS.
Can visitors recommend titles?
No, neither MHLS nor UHLS will allow visitors to make recommendations of titles to purchase. Users should make all requests for purchase through their home library system.
Will settings applied to an MHLS account carry over to the UHLS collection?
Any settings you configure in the Libby app (accessibility options, notifications, etc.) will by applied to all library systems linked to your account.
Settings that you apply on the website version (default lending period, display options, etc.) will only apply for the specific collection associated with them. If you want the same settings on both collections, you will have to configure them separately for each site.
Will statistics be available for visitor usage?
The MHLS OverDrive reports for Checkouts, Unique Users, and New Users will include usage from UHLS visitors. Reports will include a column designating home or visitor activity. These statistics will be included in the monthly report generated by MHLS staff posted at the top of this page.
MHLS accounts will not be able to run reports to find the activity of MHLS patrons in the UHLS collection. MHLS and UHLS staff will work together to share statistics with each other.
Will students accessing the MHLS collection through Sora’s Public Library Connect feature have access to the UHLS collection?
No, Public Library Connect users will only have access to their home library system’s collection at this time. They will not see options to access additional content from other systems.
Guidelines for OverDrive Collections
- Advantage Accounts [2019]
- CLDA & CBA Funds [2019]
- Operational/Management Functions of OverDrive Marketplace – updated 2020
Reports & Purchasing
- Get Help with Marketplace Reports – how to gather your own OverDrive usage statistics by library
- Marketplace Help from OverDrive
- Training Videos from OverDrive
- How to Purchase Content Credit
- Lending Models
- Cost per circ
Marketing and Promoting
- Resource center – training and marketing materials
- Lucky Day – designate no-holds copies in your collection
- Advantage Curation – Build your own custom homepage for your Advantage patrons
- Sora– The OverDrive app for K-12 Students
OverDrive Magazine Subscription – Begins February 2021
List of available titles as of Jan 22, 2021
- eMagazines added to MHLS OverDrive platforms on February 1st, 2021. As of March 31st magazines are no longer available through the MHLS RBdigital platform.
- More than 3,500 magazine titles are currently available.
- Titles in Overdrive are available for simultaneous use with no circulation limits or caps
- All titles will be included in our shared account, and therefore available to all users
- Up to three years of back issues will be included where availability exists.
- Our discovery platform Encore and later Vega will include MARC records like those you see today for eBooks.
- Marketing information including Logos, buttons, text
eResources now in OverDrive:
Universal Class: Lifelong learning courses in over 30 subject areas, many of which offer continuing education units (CEUs).
Patrons can now discover the MHLS consortium subscription to Universal Class in the Libby app.
Our custom link to Universal Class is still https://midhudsonlibsysny.universalclass.com/ and can be accessed directly.
Other eResources supported in the OverDrive platform:
If you are already subscribing or choose to add resources to the OverDrive platform, OverDrive will work with you to set up the access within your advantage accounts. If you need information or require assistance, please open a ticket by emailing techsupport@midhudson.org
- ArtistWorks: instruction for the most popular string and band instruments through video lessons from professional musicians.
- Classica: classical music, operas and ballets
- Craftsy: (and Craftsy en Español) basic instruction to advanced techniques for fabric and yarn crafts, baking, drawing, and more
- The Great Courses: lectures by esteemed professors, professionals, and experts in a wide range of topics
- IndieFlix: streaming movie service of pop culture favorites, box office hits, award-winning feature films, documentaries, and shorts.
- Kovels Antiques and Collectibles: articles, identification guides, histories, prices, marks, and how-to guides on buying and selling antiques and collectibles
- LawDepot: documents and legal resources that serves a wide range of legal needs
- Learn It Live: Live and on-demand classes for wellness and personal development.
- Method Lerning: test prep for the SAT and ACT exams
- Qello: full-length concerts and music documentaries.
Overdrive has provided the following information on their website.
https://resources.overdrive.com/library/apps-features/databases-streaming-media/ – marketing information for adding services and an introduction to the service
https://resources.overdrive.com/rbdigital-acquisition-faqs/#dbstream – An FAQ on streaming media formerly available in RBDigital
Hold redelivery replaces auto-checkout
Hold redelivery replaces auto-checkout and gives users more options for their holds. Users can now select “deliver later” on an available hold if they’re not ready to read it but want to stay on the wait list. Users can still suspend a hold before a title is ready to borrow as well.
This means users can now manage their holds both before and after they become available. By enabling users to pass books they aren’t ready to read on to the next person in line, hold redelivery helps your library connect more readers to the right book at the right time.
How does hold redelivery work?
After receiving notification that a hold is available, users can:
1) Borrow the title within 3 days.
2) Choose “deliver later” and pass the book to the next person in line for a self-selected period. After the “deliver later” date, the user will receive the next available copy.
3) Cancel the hold.
If the user takes no action during the hold pickup window, the “deliver after seven days” option will be automatically applied as a one-time courtesy. If the user takes no action a second time, their hold will be canceled.
Big Library Read
Background: Big Library Read is an opportunity for those with a valid library card to read the same digital title at the same time without any wait lists or holds. Participating in this event allows your library to offer a new simultaneous use title for community-wide access from your library at no cost. It’s a worldwide digital version of a local book club, and an opportunity for your library to generate more interest in your digital collection beyond the bestsellers. Thousands of libraries have already enjoyed great success engaging thousands of new and current users with Big Library Read.
Visit Big Library Read for information on current or upcoming titles.
Macmillan
One copy, 8 week embargo *Lifted 3/17/2020*: In July of 2019 Macmillan Publishing house announced that they would have an “Embargo” on purchasing for libraries. Any title with a street date after 11/1/2019 would have an 8 week embargo, where a library may purchase only a single copy. Once the 8 week period expired additional copies could be purchased. On March 17, 2020, Macmillan announced that they would lift the title purchasing embargo, citing COVID-19 as a reason that Macmillan would set aside differences with libraries.
Macmillan One Copy One Use (OC/OU) titles cannot be shared outside of advantage accounts: At the same time Macmillan limited library purchasing through the 8 week embargo, they also stopped libraries from sharing OC/OU titles outside of the advantage account that they were purchased in. This completely undermines our consortial borrowing. This affects any OC/OU title with a street date of 11/1/2019 or later. This element was not lifted, and Macmillan has indicated no agreement to change this.
Macmillan Moving to metered access only since March 2020: Macmillan uses the metered access selling model, with a 24 month activity window. For More information on Lending models, click the link to view a brief video from OverDrive, or view the information in PDF