eBook borrowing with Overdrive

December 1, 2011

A past blog entry of mine related my frustrations with borrowing from the Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales du Quebec. I expressed my frustration at the difficulty I had finding a book and loading it onto my Kobo eReader.

Recently, the BAnQ moved to the Overdrive ebook lending system, and I have to say it’s a HUGE difference in ease of use.  Last Saturday my husband and I went to see the movie The Help and as I enjoyed it I decided to borrow the book on which it was based.  I logged into the BAnQ’s Overdrive site and discovered that both copies of the book were out.  (Libraries can only lend as many copies as they have licences for that book.)  However, there was a handy link nearby: Place a Hold.  I entered my email address to register my hold.

So, this evening I got an email from BAnQ saying the book was available, providing a link and directing me to My Holds page on the Overdrive system.  A couple of well guided clicks and a login later, the book was downloading to my computer and then a drop and drag moved it to my Kobo.  All in all, it took maybe 5 minutes from receiving the email to being able to read it on my eReader.

Now, maybe it’s just because I’m more used to the way the borrowing works, but I do find the Overdrive system a big improvement. I would just like to say well done and thank you to BAnQ for this big improvement in service.

 

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