Overdrive Ebooks

OverDrive allows you to access ebooks, digital audiobooks and movies from your computer, dedicated e-reader, tablet, smart phone, or other devices. OverDrive is provided to our patrons through Southern Virginia Libraries United Electronically (SOVALUe), a multi-library system consortium which provides more of the content you want when you want it! You can borrow 5 items at a time using Overdrive. The Libby app makes it easy to access the SOVALUe collection on your Apple or Android device.

The Basics

  • You will need a Central Virginia Regional Library (CVRL) card to borrow e-books.
  • E-books check out for 7, 14 or 21 days. You can change your default checkout period.
  • Users can have 5 digital items checked out at one time. Many items can be returned early if needed.
  • Users will never receive late fees – the files automatically stop working at the end of their checkout period, and/or the user can simply delete them at or before the end of the checkout period.
  • Digital items can only be checked out to one person at a time. Therefore some items may be unavailable and users will need to place a hold.

How to use the OverDrive (SOVALUe) website

  1. Go to the SOVALUe website and click Sign in in the top right corner.
  2. Click on Central Virginia Regional Library from the drop-down list.
  3. Enter your library card number (found on the back of your library card).
  4. Click Sign In.

Searching for digital items

  1. At the top of the page, click Subjects to search by subject.
  2. Click Collections to see a list of all collections and to search within them.
  3. Click Search to search by title, author, etc.

Borrowing items

  1. Once you find an item, click Borrow to check out the item. If the item is currently being read by another user you will have the option to Place a hold.
  2. To view the items you have borrowed, click My account and then click Loans. You can have up to 5 items borrowed at a time.