1. What is Sora/OverDrive?

The Wethersfield Public School district offers a broad collection of eBooks and audiobooks that can be used easily on Chromebooks or downloaded by students to multiple types of personal digital/mobile devices (Kindle, Nook, Tablet,iPad,computer, cell phone, Mp3 player, other). Sora is the public school and student app/platform for OverDrive while Libby is the public library version. Sora/Overdrive is free for our students.

2. Is our WPS Sora/Overdrive collection mixed with the Wethersfield Public Library Overdrive collection?

While WPS Overdrive collection is separate and for Wethersfield Schools students only, beginning in the summer of 2020 WPS partnered with the Wethersfield Library to participate in OverDrive’s Public Library Connect Program. This program allows WPS students to access and use the school and public library OverDrive collections through the Sora App using only their school Gmail login credentials; no public library card number necessary.

Once students log in to Sora/Overdrive with their school GMail account, they can add our public library consortium, Library Connection, Inc. and select a check box that enables them to search both collections at once. The first time students attempt to borrow or hold a book from the public library collection, they'll be prompted to "sign in." Students should use the drop down arrow to select "Wethersfield Town Schools." Then, they can proceed to borrow or hold the book. Note that Sora recognizes the grade level of students here and will show age appropriate books from the public library in the search. Here’s a short video from Sora about the Public Library Connect Program.

3. What is the web address for our WPS Sora/Overdrive Collection?

The address to go to Sora is: https://soraapp.com/library/wethersfieldct. Note: the older OverDrive address, http://wps.lib.overdrive.com, will also take you to our collection where you can choose to be redirected to Sora.

Links to Sora are available on the Wethersfield Public Schools web pages for parents, students, and staff.

4. What do students/staff use to log in to Sora/Overdrive for checking out materials from the WPS Overdrive collection?

Students and staff log in with their School GMail accounts. It will prompt them to select their school GMail account the first time they go into Sora/Overdrive.

5. Can students check out all the books in the collection?

Students at the elementary level cannot check out books from the middle school and high school collections. Our collection is organized in the same way our school physical libraries are organized; K-6, 7-8, 9-12. Students in high school have access to all materials in the collection, middle school students have access to middle school and elementary materials, and elementary students have access to elementary materials only. At the checkout point, some students will be restricted from downloading materials based on school grade level.

6. What is the lending period?

The lending period for materials is three weeks, but students and teachers may return books early as well.

7. Do multiple users have access to one title?

Most titles are checked out on a one to one model due to digital rights management (DRM). In other words, one book, one user. When the lending period is done, the title expires and is available for another user to check out. Most of the audiobooks and eBooks operate very much like a physical library book or material.

However, as our collection grows, we may have some class sets of books available that teachers assign and some that allow multiple students to access since the cost of their use is per checkout.

8. Can I renew a title?

Titles may be renewed before their checkout expires or they may be checked out again after the checkout expires, if they are still available.

9. How many digital materials can I have out at a time?

You can check out up to 3 titles at a time.

10. How many titles can you have in your cart at once?

Your cart will hold up to 5 titles at a time. Titles are removed from your cart after 30 minutes so that other users can have the chance to check them out.

11. Can I return a book early?

Yes! And please do! Sora makes it easy to return a book early if it does not suit you --or you finish reading it in less than three weeks. We encourage you to return books early if you are done with them so others can enjoy them! You can return a book under Options on your shelf.

12. How do I place a hold on a material if it is already checked out?

Up to 4 titles can be placed on hold at one time. You will get a notification in Sora that your hold is ready. Other information on managing holds or freezing or postponing them is available here.

13. How can I cancel a hold?

Login to your account. Go to your Shelf. Go to Holds. Click Option and Remove link to cancel the hold.

14. Where can I view tutorials or get help in using Sora/Overdrive?

The help link has links to Sora troubleshooting tips or to Overdrive/Libby information.

15. Video Tutorials

• Getting Started with Sora video

• Sora How To Videos

• Overdrive/Libby Video

16. What are easy to follow tips for using the different features in Sora?

• Reading and Listening

• Returning and Renewing

• Holds

• Notes and Highlights

• Downloading

• Searching

• Where to find your assigned books

17. Will the district be adding more eBooks and audiobooks to the collection?

The district adds titles every year, making sure to include the Nutmeg Nominees, award winners, classics through Gutenberg library, and other important titles that support the school reading units and pleasure reading.