We are writing to update you on the progress of our move from the current Wheelers eplatform to our new OverDrive offer.

We are aiming for a complete transition to OverDrive by 3 May 2022 with significant landmarks as follows:

31 March             Reservations on Wheelers stop

9 April                  Access to Wheelers ends

25 April                Early adopting schools access OverDrive

3 May                   All schools access OverDrive

We will work to reduce disruption to schools but there will inevitably be short term impacts as our stock migrates to the new platform. Please be aware of the dates above and advise students that books may disappear while they are reading them if publishers move content. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

OverDrive will operate to a similar hub-and-spoke model as our current platform, with each school having its own Advantage account through which SLS stock is accessed. When the new platform is live, you will notice a few changes including increased loan and reservation quotas and different loan periods – all this will be explained in more detail in the next couple of weeks. We will also be going live with our magazines and comic packages, the former including titles such as the National Geographic portfolio, New Scientist, TES and Minecraft to name just a few.

If you currently use the ebook platform or intend to do so from May, please complete the form below with your IT colleagues. This will enable OverDrive to start planning how your pupils will log into your School’s portal and set up any authentication processes or single sign-on systems.

https://sls.hias.hants.gov.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=3652

Once our platform is set up, the school platforms will be created according to this information and assistance on getting your students started will be provided. Schools will not be able to access the eplatform without completing this process and we ask that you do so in good time.

If you have bought stock or packages from Wheelers for your school platform, please email digi.sls@hants.gov.uk so that we can assist you in working with OverDrive to transfer your stock. OverDrive will contact the publishers on your behalf to request like for like access to titles.

We will be providing some webinars and support on using the new platform, both the borrowing App Sora and the management interface, OverDrive Marketplace. OverDrive has an extensive online training site which you may wish to visit in advance of these sessions

 https://resources.overdrive.com/k-12-schools/self-paced-training