You may have seen an announcement online that OverDrive has updated how hold suspensions will work for ebooks and audiobooks affecting users of the Libby app and the OverDrive library website.
What changed?
The term “Deliver Later” has been replaced by “Suspend” and the only options will be to suspend or unsuspend a hold. You will no longer select an end date for your hold suspensions.
Holds will automatically suspend if the first delivery is missed and will stay suspended until you unsuspend it (instead of automatically reactivating after 7 days).
Suspended holds will automatically cancel if they are suspended for 365 consecutive days.
In Libby you’ll see a notice on your hold shelf if you already have holds placed. OverDrive websites won’t show a message, but you’ll see the new hold behavior when using holds there.
What hasn't changed?
You will NOT lose your place in the hold queue when a suspension is done. Once a hold is unsuspended, the next available copy will fill that hold. Just like before, this may take some time if all the copies are currently in use when a hold is reactivated.
Why the change?
In short: Fairness, shortened wait times and improved circulation of titles.
Copies of popular books had been caught in a perpetual loop of non-use as holds were delivered, held for days without check out, then rebuffed with the deliver later feature.
Users will not be offered a hold again until they are ready to use it and unwanted holds will sit unclaimed for less time, freeing copies for users ready to check it out.
FAQ
Q: Is there a limit to how many titles a user can suspend or unsuspend?
A: No, a user can suspend as many holds as they’d like, up to the 12 limit. There’s no limit to the number of times an individual hold can be suspended and unsuspended.
Q: Will users be notified when a suspended hold is close to being auto-canceled?
A: OverDrive library websites will show an alert or countdown on suspended holds that are close to being canceled. This alert will appear when there are 30 days remaining before the suspended hold is canceled.
Libby users can see how many days remain until their suspended hold is canceled by tapping Unsuspend Hold and checking the number next to “Lapsing in.”
Q: What happens to existing holds once this change takes place?
A: Holds that are currently suspended will be updated to have an indefinite suspension period. If suspended holds have not been unsuspended after 365 days, they will be canceled.
- There will be no change to existing active holds.
Need Help?
You can find updated information in Libby Help and OverDrive Website Help. And, of course, our library staff are always happy to answer your questions.
