Up next for Technology Tuesday is the app “Overdrive Media Console” simply known as Overdrive.
I love to read and you can say that I have a healthy obsession with books. As an alternative to buying books, I started borrowing books from the New York Public Library (NYPL). At first I borrowed physical books but after I bought my Nook in 2012 I started borrowing from the library’s ebooks collection via Overdrive Media Console.
Overdrive is available for most devices
Photo courtesy of Overdrive
I was pleased at how easy it was to borrow ebooks and audio books from the library using this app! I recently borrowed the e-book for Boundaries by Elizabeth Nunez and the audio book for Who Asked You? by Terry McMillan using the Overdrive app.
I’m enjoying audio books for the summer. It’s the perfect solution to laying out on a beach somewhere and enjoying a good book. I especially enjoy audio books narrated by the author because I feel they’re extra connected to the book. Unfortunately, the NYPL is still building its audio books collection. There isn’t a wide variety of available books I’d like to read in audio format, example the collection of fiction audio books is a little over 9,000 titles.
Overdrive has partnered with thousands of libraries across the country to give access to thousands of titles via the Kindle, Nook, PC and MAC. You can create an Overdrive account for free but you will still need a library card to borrow books.
What’s also great about the app is that you don’t have to worry about returning books to the library. Overdrive will automatically remove expired books from your shelf. If you need more time to read a book you can extend check out, if that option is available. In the NYPL, there are some books that are popular and have a waiting list. As a result, you may not be able to extend the check out time.
So what are you waiting for? Search whether your local library has partnered with Overdrive and check out a great book.
