More Sora/Overdrive Updates & FAQs
What's new with Sora and Overdrive?
Questions regarding Sora/Overdrive offline access, particularly Chromebooks
1. Newer Chromebooks, Smartphones, tablets--this is where downloading the app from the Chrome store is helpful. If you do not have access to download apps for Chromebooks, ask your IT folks. When accessing ebooks/audiobooks via the Sora app on a Smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook, the user can go to their shelf and prompt their device to download the materials onto their device. (On my iPhone, I see a little cloud next to the title, and "Download queued". I'll check on it in a little bit to make sure it downloaded. I have another title with a red check mark next to it, indicating that it is downloaded to my iPhone.)
2. Older Chromebooks--here's a potential alternative to try, using the traditional Overdrive interface... How to read ebooks offline on Overdrive
3. Fyi, Overdrive is working on an update for Sora to enable offline reading in the browser. We'll let you know when we hear more.
Q: When will my district be Google authenticated? (If you aren't already)
Districts already authenticated include Indian Lake, Lake George, Whitehall, Bolton, Ballston Spa, WSWHE BOCES, and Fort Ann. Saratoga is Follett authenticated, and your IT is looking at improving the process through Microsoft authentication, if they haven't already. Saratoga folks should ask your IT if you have any questions.
Q: I can't find my school in those squares when I try to "find my school". How do I get to my school?
UPDATE: try going directly to the URL https://soraapp.com/library/wswhe for the easiest way to get in. If you're using the app and get the squares, read on...
Here's the secret: it doesn't really matter which one of those squares you click on, as long as they are a WSWHE region school. What matters is getting to the screen with the drop-down menu. OR...click on "I have an access code" at the bottom and type "wswhe" on the next page, to get to the drop-down menu.
The good news is that users generally don't have to repeat those confusing parts once they get in. If you have any questions, email or call us and we can help walk you through. Once you can Google authenticate, that makes the process easy peasy.
Q: Why do I have issues clicking on ebook links in my catalog?
1. The Overdrive catalogs are now combined, so there may well be titles in Sora that you can't see in your catalog that you have access to, because Overdrive materials in catalogs may not be up-to-date.
2. Titles sometimes expire, so if a link doesn't work, it might be an expired title. That is set at the publisher's level, unfortunately. Some expire after a certain number of checkouts; some expire after a certain length of time. We receive alerts about metered titles and re-purchase if it's a title that gets checked out, but if it doesn't show any activity, we might let it lapse.
3. If you are a Follett library who usually has your Overdrive materials in your catalog, let us know. If you are a Saratoga school, Lucas Manny has reached out to us regarding Sora/Overdrive and is working on making the process with your catalogs as seamless as possible.
4. If you are an OPALS library, we are waiting for OPALS to release an update that includes the ability to push content, which is an update they are working on right now. Currently, any Overdrive titles would have to be loaded independently into up to 56 catalogs, which is a cumbersome process, and some librarians don't even want the ebooks in their catalogs because it causes confusion. We're hoping to have the push update soon!
Now that the BEDS form asks only for you to report how many titles you have in your catalog, print or otherwise, that adds another layer to the conversation...
Q: I want to access Sora, but the button in my waffle is for Overdrive. Can I access Sora?
Q: Why isn't there a Sora button in the G Suite waffle?
Karin Howansky, WSWHE BOCES SLS and Model Schools
Email: khowansky@wswheboces.org
Website: www.wswheboces.org
Location: 27 Gick Road, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA
Phone: 518-581-3700