Help - Policies and Procedures - Borrowing Help

• What is 'My Downloads'?
• How many titles can I have in my Downloads at the same time?
• How long will a title in my Downloads remain there?
• How many titles can I have checked out at the same time?
• When I check out a title, for how many days do I get to keep it?
• How do I specify my preferred lending period(s)?
• Once the lending period is over, what happens to the title I checked out?
• Can I return items early?
• Can I renew the items I have checked out?
• What happens when I place an item on hold?
• How many items can I place on hold at the same time?
• Once a title that I have placed on hold becomes available for me to check out, how much time do I have to check out the title before the hold expires?
• How do I cancel a hold?
• What is the 'Average rating' shown by titles at this site?
• How do I rate titles?
• I rated a title before, and want to change the rating. How do I change previous ratings?
• I rated a title before, and want to delete the rating. How do I remove previous ratings?

What is 'My Downloads'?

When you come across an available title that you may want to check out, you can click 'add to My Downloads' to place the title in your Downloads. Placing a title in your Downloads is like placing it on temporary reserve; as long as the title is in your Downloads, it will remain available for you to check out. Please note that the system will automatically remove a title from your Downloads 45 minutes after you have placed it there, making the title available to other customers at your library.

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How many titles can I have in my Downloads at the same time?

While you can have up to 15 titles checked out at any given time, our system allows you to put up to 17 titles in your My Downloads at once. This policy enables you to treat your My Downloads as a place to collect a subset of titles to consider before making your final checkout decision. If you have decided against checking out a particular title, you can click the 'remove' link to pull it from your My Downloads. Please note that the system will automatically remove a title from your My Downloads 45 minutes after you have placed it there, making it available to other customers at your library.

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How long will a title in my Downloads remain there?

Once you add a title to your My Downloads, it will remain there for 45 minutes. Once 45 minutes have elapsed, the title will be automatically returned to the collection, making it available to other customers at your library.

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How many titles can I have checked out at the same time?

You can have up to 15 titles checked out at any given time.

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When I check out a title, for how many days do I get to keep it?

Lending periods can vary from title to title. Additionally, you can set personalized default lending period(s) on a format-by-format basis at the 'Lending Periods' page. Click here to specify your personal lending period(s).

Additionally, you can select a lending period on a title-by-title basis. In the course of checking out any title, you will have the option to select a different lending period for that specific title.

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How do I specify my preferred lending period(s)?

You can set personalized default lending period(s) on a format-by-format basis at the 'Lending Periods' page. To set your lending period(s), click the desired number of days next to the format. Click 'Done' once you have selected your desired lending period(s). Click here to specify your personal lending period(s).

Additionally, you can select a lending period on a title-by-title basis. In the course of checking out any title, you will have the option to select a different lending period for that specific title.

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Once the lending period is over, what happens to the title I checked out?

You do not need to return a borrowed item. Once the lending period has elapsed, the title is automatically 'returned' to the library. Although the file(s) will remain on your computer, the file(s) will no longer be accessible. Please review the instructions below for deleting titles after they have expired.

To delete an expired OverDrive Media file…

1. Open OverDrive Media Console.
2. Select the item you wish to delete in the 'Media Library'.
3. Click the 'Delete' button.
   The title is deleted.

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Can I return items early?

Due to publisher licensing agreements, OverDrive media titles cannot be returned early. They will automatically be returned at the end of the lending period.

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Can I renew the items I have checked out?

The items you have checked out cannot be renewed, but you can check them out again if they are available when the checkout expires.

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What happens when I place an item on hold?

The title you have placed on hold will be reserved for you to check out once it becomes available. When the title is available for you, you will receive an email with instructions on checking the item out. The item will be held for you for 3 days (starting when you are emailed notice that the title is available).

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How many items can I place on hold at the same time?

You can place up to 15 titles on hold at a given time.

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Once a title that I have placed on hold becomes available for me to check out, how much time do I have to check out the title before the hold expires?

Once the title you have placed on hold becomes available for check out, you will receive an email indicating the title is available. If 3 days elapse from the time you are emailed this notice, and you have yet to check out the title, the title is returned to the library collection, making it available to other customers at your library.

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How do I cancel a hold?

To cancel a hold, please take the following steps:

1. From any page, choose the 'My Digital Account' button.
2. Log in to your account.
3. Click the 'My Requests' link.
   The list of titles that you have currently placed on hold is displayed.
4. Click the 'Remove' link next to the title in which you are no longer interested.
   This action cancels the hold.

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What is the 'Average rating' shown by titles at this site?

Once signed in at this site, you can rate titles on a scale of 1-5 stars. The ratings displayed for each title are an average of the ratings submitted for that title.

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How do I rate titles?

Once signed in at this site, you can rate a title from its details page. Alternatively, you can rate a title you have currently checked out from the 'Items Out' page. From either of these pages, next to 'My rating', click the number of stars you want to award the title. This site automatically applies your rating to the existing average, and recalculates the 'Average rating' to include your input. To rate a title you currently have checked out, click here.

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I rated a title before, and want to change the rating. How do I change previous ratings?

After signing in at this site, you can change the number of stars that you have awarded a title from its details page. Alternatively, you can change any of your previous ratings at the 'Rated Titles' page. Or, if you want to rate or change a rating for a title you have currently checked out, you can do so from the 'Items Out' page. At any of these pages, next to 'My rating', click the number of stars you want to award the title. This site automatically recalculates the 'Average rating' to include your revised input.

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I rated a title before, and want to delete the rating. How do I remove previous ratings?

After signing in at this site, you can remove the rating that you have awarded a title from its details page. Alternatively, you can remove ratings from any previously rated titles at the 'Rated Titles' page. Or, if you want to delete a rating for a title you have currently checked out, you can do so from the 'Items Out' page. At any of these pages, click 'Remove rating' to remove your rating for a title. This site automatically recalculates the 'Average rating' for the title, excluding your previous rating from the recalculation.

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