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Ebooks available through Lindenwood Library Services: OverDrive
 

About OverDrive

OverDrive is a system by which current Lindenwood University students, faculty and staff can check out and download eBooks and audiobooks.  First time users should download the OverDrive app to make accessing, reading, and/or listening to books easier.  If you have a mobile device, go to your app store and search for Libby by Overdrive.

The default lending period is 14 days but may adjusted to 7 or 21 days, if desired.

Maximum number of titles that can be checked out at any one time: 10

Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, so there are no late fees. You can renew titles as long as no one has placed a hold on the title since you checked it out.

The most commons formats for eBooks are ePub and Kindle, with a few titles in PDF.  For audiobooks, MP3 is the only format.

Overdrive has an app for all types of devices, allowing the user to read or listen to a book as long as they have a constant internet connection.  For Overdrive, the app is the simplest way to have easy access to a book.

If a book is downloaded through Overdrive, it can be accessed from the device that has the file, without an internet connection.  Once the checkout time has been reached, the book will no longer be accessible unless it is checked out again.

Getting Started-From a Computer

Here is a brief guide to getting started using OverDrive from a computer:

Step 1: Download the Overdrive Media Console to your computer.

Step 2: Logging in.
On the OverDrive page, sign in by choosing Lindenwood University and using the number on your Lindenwood ID followed by the letters "LU".

 

Ebooks

Step 1:  Borrow the book you want

Select the title you want and click on borrow to add the book to your available loans to read.  The borrowing time is set for two weeks,  but if you desire a shorter time, there is a drop down arrow on the borrow button that allows you to change it to 7 days. Once you have borrowed the book, you can either continue browsing for more titles or go to Loans in order to stream or download the book.

Books can either be streamed directly to the Overdrive app on your device, or downloaded. If you will be reading the book at a location without an internet connection, you will need to download the book. Shown here are the format choices you'll see in OverDrive; suggested devices are listed just below. 

  • Amazon offers free Kindle apps for a wide array of e-reading devices, so you don't have to have a Kindle to use this format.  Note: there are select publishers that require that the Kindle download be done via USB port (requiring a Kindle device); this will be noted just below the format icon.
  • Both Adobe EPUB and Adobe PDF e-book formats can be used on many devices, as well.

Regardless of your format choice, if you haven't done so already, you will need to download some additional software before downloading your e-book (see below).  After checkout, you are free to download your e-book when you are ready (no immediate time limit).

Step 2:  If you are streaming the book to your Overdrive app, you are ready to start enjoying your book.  However, if you plan on downloading the book to your device, make sure that you have the software you need for the type of e-book you want to download.  Here is the software needed for the different formats:

  • Titles that have an OverDrive Read format are streaming titles that can be read immediately in your Overdrive app.
  • Kindle format choice will take you into the Amazon page; choose "Get Library Book".  Login to your Amazon account and choose a delivery option.
     
  • For the Adobe EPUB and PDF formats you'll need to download and install the free Adobe Digital Editions software or the OverDrive Media Console.  Once installed, you will be able to download your new title into your Adobe Digital Editions library for reading on your computer or for transfer to a device.


Step 3:  When you are finished with your e-book, you can return it early (this lets you to check out a new one and removes this book from your list.)

  • For Kindle books, go into Amazon and look for the Kindle link to find "Manage Your Kindle" to return and/or delete the item from your Kindle Library.
     
  • For  EPUBs and PDFs, within your Adobe Digital Editions Library or OverDrive Media Console click on the small arrow to the left of the title, and choose from the dropdown menu that appears.

Getting Started-From a Phone or Tablet

Here is a brief guide to getting started using Overdrive from a phone or tablet:

Step 1: After you've downloaded the app to your device, choose "Sign in using your library card."

Step 2: Under "Find Your Library", type in and choose Lindenwood University.

Step 3: Sign in using your library card number (same as your Lindenwood ID) followed by the letters LU.

Step 4: Click on "Add a Title" to see the books that you can check out.

Step 5: Find the book you want and download it.

Step 6: Once you've downloaded the book, click on the books icon in the top right hand corner to access them.

Audiobooks

You can enjoy our audiobooks in the MP3 formats.

Step 1:  Find what you want to listen to.

On the Lindenwood Library OverDrive page, search for the book(s) you'd like to check out or locate the book in the Library Catalog.

If you are using a smartphone or tablet, you will need to download the Overdrive app for your device first, before you can browse the titles.

Step 2: Borrow the book that you would like to listen to.

You will be able to listen to the book in your browser or download an MP3 of the book.

Step 3: Listen to the your book!

If you are using a smartphone or tablet, if the title is available in the OverDrive Listen format and your device is constantly connected to the internet, you can begin listening immediately by using the Overdrive app. 

For devices that don't have a constant internet connection, you will need to download the book to your computer, tablet, or phone.