Good news for audiobook lovers

The Sonoma Valley Library is trying to improve its system for reading, listening to, checking out and reserving electronic and audiobooks.

The library has moved electronic and audio books from its previous Axis 360 platform to the OverDrive website and Libby app. The change took effect on March 4.

OverDrive is a free service offered by libraries that lets library card holders borrow digital content (like ebooks and audiobooks) at any time from any device. Each library’s OverDrive collection is slightly different because each library picks the digital content it wants to offer members.

All that is needed for the free digital content from the library is a library card.

According to library staff, they decided to make the change after receiving complaints and concerns about Axis 360.

In conjunction with the change, the library is doubling the number of checkouts allowed, from six to 12. It is doubling the number of holds allowed, from five to 10. And cardholders will be able to listen to MP3 recordings directly on the OverDrive app.

All current holds will transfer but “wish lists” will not. The same titles will be on Overdrive, however, so library goers can add them to “wish lists” after the format transfer is complete.

The Sonoma Valley Regional Library is at 755 W. Napa St. Call 996-5217 or visit overdrive.com or meet.libbyapp.com.