If access is an open door, accessibility is the design that leads people—regardless of age, physical impairment, or cognitive ability—through that door. And as a longstanding beacon of access, the public library often shows its community what accessibility should look like.
For both access and accessibility, OverDrive has been monumental. The ubiquitous online book checkout service, offered for free by public libraries and many schools, lets people borrow digital content like ebooks and audiobooks anytime and anywhere. Over 40,000 schools and libraries participate in OverDrive all over the world.
To start borrowing digitally, all you need is a library card or student ID. And for a righteous bonus perk, there are no late fees. When the due date hits, the title simply vanishes from your digital collection.
Now, there’s a bit of a catch: Digital doesn’t always mean accessible. The fact is, many students rely on accommodations to read, whether they’re at home or in the classroom. OverDrive alone doesn’t provide accessibility tools to cover the entire range of diverse needs of the population.
At least, it didn’t used to. But we have good news. Snap&Read, our effective and beloved reading tool, is now completely compatible with OverDrive and its Chrome Apps Libby and Sora. It’s the first text reader accessibility tool with full native integration, and it will bring a new level of accessibility to students who are ready to read.