We’re excited to partner with Botetourt County Public Schools to make it easy for students to access age-appropriate public library ebooks and eaudiobooks through their school library’s app SORA.
Now, before you get too excited, check with your child’s school librarian to see if they use the SORA app. Every school makes different decisions about how to make ebooks and eaudiobooks available to students. But if they do use SORA, you’re in luck!
In the past, students used one app (SORA) for the school library collection, then used a different app (Libby) to access the public library collection (which wasn’t filtered for age-appropriate content) – even though both apps were provided by the same vendor, Overdrive. Now the apps can be seamlessly integrated for easy access to both collections from the same app used at school.
Once you’re sure your school uses SORA, then setting up access to the public library collection is easy.
- Make sure you have your child’s (or your) public library card handy. You’ll need the number later. If you can’t find the card or number, call your local branch so we can look it up for you.
- Open the SORA app.
- Tap on the Main Menu (the 3 lines in the upper right-hand corner)
- Tap “Add a public library.”
- Search for Roanoke Valley Libraries. We’re one of four library members in this consortium, and we share the Overdrive ebook platform as a group.
- Once you find it, tap “This is my library” to add the collection.
- The first time you borrow or put a hold on (request) a title, you will need to enter your public library card number. You’ll only have to do this once during the setup process; after that, you won’t need to enter the card number again.
Once SORA is connected to your child’s school and public library accounts, then any search will bring up results from both libraries. As you browse or search, note that SORA automatically limits public library results to age-appropriate content.
One thing to note: school libraries’ collections are tailored to their students and curriculum, where public library collections reach a broader audience. While Overdrive settings capture titles appropriate for your child’s age and reading levels, the public library settings and collection will be slightly different from your school’s. For either collection, the interpretation and monitoring of what “age appropriate” means for each child is ultimately the responsibility of the parent or guardian, not the school or public library. You know your child best!
If you don’t have a public library card for you or your child, it’s easy to get. You can apply online at RVL.info or drop by during our curbside hours for a free card for anyone of any age in your household.
Special thanks to Lord Botetourt High School’s librarian Kendel Lively for working with us to make digital resources easier to access for students using SORA. School librarians are amazing partners!
Botetourt County Public Libraries
