CloudLibrary Transition – Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this change happening?
Windsor Public Library is always on the lookout for new & exciting opportunities to provide a great service experience. The executive decision to transition over to cloudLibrary™ as Windsor Public Library’s go-to platform for eBooks & eAudiobooks is data-driven and informed. We acknowledge that the landscape for digital content consumption is rapidly changing as are consumer needs and expectations. Based on valuable feedback from our membership, we also know that there is an increasing demand for more: more titles, more copies, and more content overall.
You asked, we listened, and cloudLibrary™ is our best answer. Thanks to a continuously expanding cloudLinking consortium, Windsor Public Library members can benefit from a rapidly growing collection with greater selection and more ‘available now’ titles to choose from. With the goal of developing a larger digital collection alongside other participating cloudLinked libraries, we will strive to provide our valued members with more digital content and an improved service experience with cloudLibrary™.
How long will OverDrive®/Libby and Axis360 be available? When is the last possible day I can use OverDrive® or Axis360 before they are shut down?
OverDrive®/Libby will be available until May 30, 2019. During this time, OverDrive®/Libby users will still be able to access content, however several features will be turned off and impact the user experience leading up to the service shut-down date. cloudLibrary™ is currently available and we encourage you to try it out.
Will the current OverDrive®/Libby and Axis360 collections migrate over to cloudLibrary™?
Yes. Most content hosted on OverDrive®/Libby and Axis360 will migrate over to cloudLibrary™. This change will benefit members by offering one go-to place to access all eBooks and eAudiobooks provided by Windsor Public Library.
What happens to my account after OverDrive®/Libby is shut down?
Once OverDrive®/Libby and Axis360 are shut down and no longer available to Windsor Public Library customers on May 30, 2019, existing information associated with the OverDrive®/Libby account you made using your Windsor Public Library card (i.e., email, reading history, holds, etc.) will be eliminated.
When is the last day I can borrow titles in OverDrive®/Libby or Axis360?
Beginning on May 13, 2019, you will be limited to one checkout in OverDrive and one in Axis360. May 23 is the last day you can borrow titles in OverDrive®/Libby or Axis360. You will still be able to read or listen to borrowed titles in OverDrive®/Libby after Axis360 after this date until the borrowing period expires.
When is the last day I can place holds on titles in OverDrive®/Libby or Axis360?
May 23, 2019 is the last day you can place holds on titles in OverDrive®/Libby or Axis360. However, keep in mind that borrowing features will be unavailable shortly after this date. Beginning on May 13, 2019, customers will be limited to one hold at a time in OverDrive and Axis360. We encourage you to switch over to cloudLibrary™ to start placing holds on titles.
Will my holds be automatically transferred from OverDrive®/Libby to cloudLibrary™?
No. Your holds from OverDrive®/Libby and Axis360 are unable to be automatically transferred to cloudLibrary™. We encourage you to switch over to cloudLibrary™ to start placing holds on titles. If the title you’re looking for isn’t in our collection, you can let us know by suggesting a title for purchase.
Will my reading history be automatically transferred from OverDrive®/Libby or Axis360 to cloudLibrary™?
No. Your reading history in OverDrive®/Libby and Axis360 will not be automatically transferred to cloudLibrary™. If you want to keep your OverDrive® reading history, you will need to copy this information and save it elsewhere before the OverDrive® platform is shut-down. We encourage you to switch over to cloudLibrary™ to discover your next great read or listen to start building a new reading history.
Will my OverDrive®/Libby account from another public library (e.g., Essex County, etc.) be impacted by the OverDrive®/Libby shut-down happening at Windsor Public Library?
No. Windsor Public Library will be discontinuing subscription to the OverDrive®/Libby platform, however users can still access OverDrive®/Libby using their library card from other participating municipalities. To discover a participating public library near you, please visit https://www.overdrive.com/libraries.
If I already have an account with OverDrive®/Libby, do I need to sign up for an account with cloudLibrary™ to use the platform?
Yes. You will need to sign up for an account to get started with cloudLibrary™, but it is incredibly easy to do. Download the cloudLibrary™ app on your desktop or mobile device and simply follow the prompts to find your library and sign in using your Windsor Public Library card. Visit our Getting Started with cloudLibrary [see above] page for helpful instructions and tutorials.
What devices are compatible with cloudLibrary™?
cloudLibrary™ has downloadable apps available for desktop and mobile devices. For more information on device compatibility and how to get started, please visit our Getting Started with cloudLibrary page for helpful instructions and tutorials.
I own a new Kobo® eReader with OverDrive® as a built-in feature. Can I get cloudLibrary built in for my Kobo® eReader?
No. cloudLibrary™ integration is not available for Kobo eReader products (both Kobo® and OverDrive® are owned by Rakuten, Inc.) However, cloudLibrary™ eBooks (epub, pdf) can be transferred over to all Kobo®eReaders, including those with built-in OverDrive® compatibility using the cloudLibrary™ desktop app (Windows OS/Mac OS). Kobo® eReaders with built-in OverDrive® compatibility currently include the Aura ONE, Aura H2O Ed. 2, Aura Ed. 2, Clara HD, & Forma. For more information on how to download and transfer eBooks to your Kobo®, please consult the ‘Transferring to an eReader’ section (p. 13) in the cloudLibrary PC/Mac App User Guide.
Can I download and transfer eBooks through cloudLibrary™ to my eReader? How does this work?
Yes, once you have checked out a book using cloudLibrary™ desktop app (Windows OS/Mac OS), you can transfer a copy to your eReader. To learn how this works, please consult the instructions outlined on the How to transfer eBooks to your eReader with cloudLibrary page.
Note: When you first use the cloudLibrary™ desktop app, you will be prompted to activate your cloudLibrary™ account with an Adobe ID after you log in. It is important that the PC and the eReader have both been activated with the same encrypting account – either an Adobe ID account or a cloudLibrary vendor ID Adobe account.
If you will only be using cloudLibrary™ (without OverDrive): When you log in to the cloudLibrary™ desktop app, choose the recommended option to “automatically generate an ID.” Note that if you have used OverDrive® in the past, Adobe Digital Editions must be uninstalled from your computer before installing the cloudLibrary™ app in order for it to function properly.
If you will be using both cloudLibrary™ and OverDrive®: You must have both the cloudLibrary™ desktop app and Adobe Digital Editions installed on your computer. Any eBooks you download in cloudLibrary™ will redirect to Adobe Digital Editions. When you authorize the cloudLibrary™ app, do not use the recommended instructions to “automatically generate an ID.” Instead, choose “explicitly provide an Adobe ID”, and enter the same ID that you have used for Adobe Digital Editions. Some computers may recognize your ID automatically, and you can simply click to activate the detected ID.
How many items can I check out in cloudLibrary™ at one time?
Up to 20 items.
How many holds can I place in cloudLibrary at one time?
Up to 20 items.
How long can I borrow an item for in cloudLibrary™?
Up to 21 days. After this time period, your item will automatically expire.
How do I suggest a title for purchase in cloudLibrary™?
Can’t find what you’re searching for? Let us know!
Why do some titles ‘disappear’ in cloudLibrary™?
Windsor Public Library has partnered with public libraries across Ontario to form a cloudLinking consortium, which will be available to our customers later in June. Basically, cloudLinking allows participating libraries to pool eBook & eAudiobook collections together on cloudLibrary™, providing a greater selection of titles and more ‘available now’ copies to library cardholders. The reason why some titles may seem to ‘disappear’ in cloudLibrary™ is because they belong to another library within the consortium and have been borrowed. These titles will reappear once they are returned and available to borrow again. All Windsor Public Library owned titles remain visible, borrowable, and holdable on cloudLibrary™ regardless of their availability status.