Now you can provide eBook devices for your patrons to test and borrow, while still honoring publisher copyright permissions. Serve your whole community and allow your users to try before they buy with Test Drive™.
OverDrive Test Drive is a program that enables your public library to offer eBook devices for demonstration and lending. OverDrive provides guidelines, recommendations, best practices and promotional materials to help you successfully integrate eBook devices into your everyday services, all within publisher copyrights and library lending policies.
The program can be extended to your community in three ways, depending on the needs of your library:
- Option 1: Staff education and training
Provide a variety of Test Drive devices to your staff for hands-on practice downloading eBooks from your digital library.
- Option 2: Demo devices at the library
Offer an opportunity for your library users to test drive an eBook device along with your OverDrive digital library.
- Option 3: Lending devices to users
Your library users can borrow a Test Drive device and download eBooks from your OverDrive digital library from anywhere with Wi-Fi. Borrowed devices can be used both inside and outside your location.
You can trust OverDrive to make reliable recommendations. Devices must:
- Enable a user to check out eBooks with their own library card.
- Support direct download via a mobile website or app.
- Honor copyright protection for eBooks.
- Respect library lending models offered by OverDrive.
Devices are tested and selected based on value, compatibility, and ease of use.
OverDrive’s Test Drive program is built upon several key principles:
- With the rush of interest in eBooks and rapid introduction of new devices, OverDrive is in an ever changing space. As a result, the Test Drive program will evolve with the market and as we gain experience with our library partners.
- Test Drive respects library staff time and resources. The program incorporates real world guidance and practical resources.
- OverDrive Test Drive is currently designed for public libraries. As the program expands, additional guidelines and materials will be made available for schools as well.
In addition, OverDrive Test Drive honors two key considerations:
- Copyright Permissions: Test Drive programs must be operated with consideration for publisher copyright permissions for lending eBooks. Libraries can lend devices when:
- Each eBook title borrowed is associated with a unique library card.
- The lending program does not expand the number of permitted users accessing a title beyond the number of authorized copies a library has acquired rights to lend.
- Accessibility: Libraries participating in Test Drive programs will have access to recommendations and best practices to acquire, demo, and lend devices that provide assistive features for low vision and blind readers. Accessible devices and tablets in the Test Drive program will support OverDrive LEAP.
OverDrive will provide additional resources, including the Program Guide, device information, promotional materials and FAQs, to help you design your own Test Drive program.
Once your library purchases the devices (note: OverDrive does not sell devices), you may use the Test Drive toolkit to help you prepare the devices for training, demos and/or lending. When lending, users can check out the device, then browse, check out and download eBooks anywhere there is Wi-Fi access (even your library!), and enjoy titles right on the device they’ve borrowed. When the devices’ lending period is over, users simply return the device as they would any physical item.
Your staff can then clear the device to remove all borrowed content and user activity. The device is then ready to be checked out by the next user!
