UPDATE: Hold redelivery is live
UPDATE: Overdrive holds redelivery is live!
In early 2020, Overdrive will be replacing auto-checkout with hold redelivery. Hold redelivery will be applied to all new and existing holds.
WHAT IS HOLD REDELIVERY?
Hold redelivery will allow users to suspend a hold even after it’s made available to them, while maintaining their place on the wait list. By enabling users to pass on books they don’t have time to read to the next person in line, hold redelivery will help connect more readers to the right book, at the right time.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
Libby notifications (available now!) will alert users when their holds become available. A notification section is also available on the Overdrive catalog and the Overdrive app.
After receiving notification that a hold is available, customers can:
- Borrow the title within 3 days.
- Suspend the hold and pass the book to the next person in line. After the suspension period (set by the user), the hold will be redelivered when the next copy is available.
- Cancel the hold.
If customers take no action, their hold will automatically be suspended one time for 7 days. If no action is taken a second time, the hold will be cancelled automatically.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CUSTOMERS
It will require action. Customers used to auto-checkout will need to become more proactive in managing their holds. Notifications will help with prompting action. Even if they do not check the book out the first time, it will be suspended one time to give them another chance.
Hold redelivery will cut down on missing out on titles customers just didn’t get around to. Instead of having a book auto-checkout and check-in before customers can read or listen, they will be able to delay the check-out without losing their spot and read/listen when ready.
Action Steps
- Visit Libby or the Overdrive catalog to customize your notifications
Talking Points
- Overdrive now lets you suspend a hold, even if it’s already been received.
- Too many books? No problem, suspend the book you don’t have time for and return to the front of the line, ready to read when you are.
- Log in to post comments
Comments
This is great! Will there be an email to customers with this information sent to our Libby users? Or do we have some promotional materials that will be available to hand customers?
Since we don't know the exact timeline, sending out an email may just be more confusing than informative. Overdrive is pretty good at keep customers connected and, like most apps, any updates are usually pretty apparent. I don't think customers will have much trouble figuring out the change and if they do, they get excellent service when they contact CIS.
The FAQ at help.metrolibrary.org will soon be updated with this info, so that's always a good resources to provide to customers.
Multiple entries in the FAQ at help.metrolibrary.org have been updated to reflect OverDrive's new hold redelivery feature.