Ebook Options -- Axis 360 & OverDrive

You’ve got your Chandler library card. You’ve got your tablet, eReader, or computer. Now you want to check out a few eBooks and you aren’t sure where to start. Below we’re going to tell you about the features of two of our most popular eBook platforms: Axis 360 and OverDrive.

The Basics: 

OverDrive, the host of the Greater Phoenix Digital Library, is a huge collection of eBooks, audio books, and streaming videos shared with several libraries in the Greater Phoenix area. The eBook collection includes a large collection of older books and nonfiction titles mixed in with many new & popular books. Because OverDrive is available to many library users, at times the list of those waiting on titles can be in the hundreds. 

Axis 360 is our newest eBook collection just for Chandler cardholders and we focus on adding newer, popular titles to the collection. While it doesn’t have the same number of older titles as OverDrive, books in this collection tend to have a much shorter wait period. For example, you might wait two months for a title in OverDrive, but only two weeks for the same title in Axis 360.

The Formats:
OverDrive eBooks are available in a variety of formats, including Kindle Book, Adobe EPUB eBook, and OverDrive READ.

• If you own a basic Kindle, like a Paper White or Keyboard, then OverDrive is the platform for you. OverDrive is the only platform that connects to your Amazon account to deliver books to your Kindle.
• If you have an Android (Samsung, Nexus, etc) or iOS (iPhone, iPad) tablet or smartphone, you can download the OverDrive app to your device and create an Adobe ID to read books right on your tablet or smartphone.
• OverDrive READ allows you to read a book within your internet browser on your computer or tablet without downloading any additional apps or software.
• For those folks with the basic Nook or Kobo eReaders, you can download Adobe Digital Editions to your computer and transfer EPUB eBooks to your device. 

Axis 360 eBooks are available in two primary formats, Blio and EPUB.

• The Blio format is available on Windows computers and Android & iOS tablets. For this format you will create a Blio account which will allow you to use the cloud to download materials to your device. While the Blio app is not available in the Amazon Appstore for Kindle Fires, there are options available for you to download Blio to your device.
• The other option is the Axis Reader app from either Google Play or the App Store. With the Axis Reader app, you will need to create an Adobe ID – you can use the same ID you use on the OverDrive app.
• Just like with OverDrive, those with the basic Nook or Kobo eReaders can download Adobe Digital Editions to your computer and transfer EPUB eBooks to your device.

Questions? 
If you have any questions or need some help with any of our eBook and digital media services, we have drop-in sessions available:

• Downtown on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:00-3:30 pm
• Hamilton on Mondays from 12:00-2:00 pm and on Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00 pm 

You can also check out our eBook Help page for more tips, tricks, and helpful hints.