OneClickDigital to Replace OverDrive

The replacement for OverDrive digital Audiobooks is going to be Recorded Books’ OneClick Digital.  The State Library of Kansas and NEKLS staff are currently testing this new-to-us service and there are several libraries across the nation already using it, so we gathered a few samples below.

Notes from our testing and the State Library’s EZ Library Web site:

• OneClick Digital is a stand-alone Web site – libraries will need to investigate ways to integrate records into their own catalogs to facilitate discovery of these digital audiobook titles.  Heather is working with OneClick to make this happen in NExpress.
• To download the titles, you can use the  One Click Digital Media Manager or use the Manual Download procedures , which we are finding is easier than using the software.
• We have been test the Media Manager in the Lab with DeepFreeze, and if you install the Manager and re-Freeze the public computer prior to anyone logging into it, everything appears to work well.
• The key is to re-freeze prior to anyone using the software because the Manager has a bad habit of remembering previous sessions and displaying full names in a drop-down menu, which goes against our needs for patron privacy.
• Installation of the Manager requires .NET Framework 4 and Microsoft Windows Media Player as part of the process, which can complicate matters.
• (The installer will check to see if you need .NET 4 or upgrade to Media Player 11 and start that process before installing the Media Manager)
• Everyone will have the ability to create their own usernames and passwords.
• You will not be required to use your Kansas library card numbers and birthdate as password, as you had to with OverDrive.  However, when you create your account, you will be asked for your Kansas Library Card number.
• One idea is to have patrons use the same username and login that they use for their local Online Catalog.
• Media Manager can be set to download books on hold to your computer as they become available.
• Audiobooks can be returned early or renewed (if no one else is on hold).
• For all the KLOW Libraries, in November you will need to remove any Audiobooks, Music and More links and buttons on your Web site and replace them with something like the banner above. We expect additional promotional materials from the State Library, soon.
• Here is a List of Supported Players (including iPods and SOME Creative Zen players)
• Heather has tested this new service with Macs and unfortunately, it was not a quick and easy process (as seen in these instructions).  We have been told that a Mac-friendly Media Manager is in development. (This process is pretty similar to the manual process for non supported devices)(also, the linked instructions mention  duplicates created in iTunes, Dan found if you just copy over the the “book name”.m3u file, you will have no duplicate tracks.)
• If you are not sure if your device will be supported or if you might want to use this service with a mac you might want to choose manual download when you create your account. You can still use the media manager later but it seems impossible to switch to manual at  a later time.