More eBooks & eAudiobooks!
July 24, 2018
Use your Harvard Public Library card in other Massachusetts library networks’ OverDrive collections!
C/W MARS is participating in a new OverDrive Reciprocal Lending agreement with several other Massachusetts library networks.
Patrons can now borrow available OverDrive titles from these library networks.
How does this work?
Searching OverDrive Library Network Collections
Always start your search in the C/W MARS OverDrive Collection.
If the item you are looking for is unavailable or not in the C/W MARS OverDrive Collection you can then search any of the participating Massachusetts library networks’ OverDrive Collections:
Note, each collection has to be searched separately.
If you want to search within either the OverDrive app or Libby app you will need to add each library network separately to the app under the Add a Library link.
Signing into an OverDrive Library Network Collection
After you have selected a collection to search click or tap on Sign in on the upper right corner. When signing in, under SELECT YOUR LIBRARY FROM THE LIST BELOW, Harvard Public Library patrons should select CW MARS Patrons from the list.
Next, in the card number box below enter your Harvard Public Library card number (the barcode on the back of your card – enter with no spaces and if it begins with a "D" use a capital D).
This process is the same regardless of which Library Network you are logging into. Always select CW MARS Patron from the drop down.
There is no "single sign on" and you will have to sign into each library network separately.
Borrowing from OverDrive Library Network Collections
When you have found an item you would like to check out, click or tap Borrow. The checkout process is the same across all library networks.
Accessing the borrowed title
If you are using either the OverDrive app or Libby app each library network needs to be added as a library to the app. Once you have added the new library network to your app, login with your Harvard Public Library card (C/W MARS card). This will link your card to the new library network and allow for downloading of items checked out from the new library network to your app.
Adding the new library network and linking your Harvard Public Library card (C/W MARS card) is a one-time action for each library network. The OverDrive app and Libby app should save your information.
Loan Periods
The loan periods are subject to the rules of the library network from which you are borrowing.
If you have adjusted your default lending period loan settings in your C/W MARS OverDrive account, the setting adjustments do not carry over into other networks’ OverDrive “settings”. You will have to log into each network separately and adjust the default settings.
Checkout Totals
Each checkout counts towards the checkout limit for that particular library network.
Holds
Patrons can place holds on materials in other library networks.
In fulfilling holds, the system will always give preference to cardholders of that library network (as opposed to cardholders from outside the library network).
A C/W MARS cardholder placing a hold in the Minuteman collection, for example, will always have his or her hold ranked lower than a Minuteman cardholder’s holds on the same title.
Each hold counts towards the holds limit for that particular library network.
More information including app and help links are available on our OverDrive Learn More page.