Since we buy eBooks from a few different places, you may need to search more than one site to find everything (each company uses a different website to let you read their books). It seems complicated at first, but with the descriptions below and a little practice, you'll be experts in no time.
There are four main places to look for Clinton and CPS eBooks:
- SOAR Library Catalog (eBooks and print books)
- eBooks: MackinVIA
- eBooks: Sora (Overdrive)
- eBooks: Follett
The sections below give you information about what you'll find at each site. The title link will take you to the site. To see a demonstration of a site, click the picture in each section for a How-To video.
NOTE: No matter which site you use, you can sign in using your CPS username and password. They are all linked to your CPS account. You also need to be signed into your account to see the videos below.
SOAR is the place to search ALL books (print and online) available for Clinton students. It probably looks familiar to many of you who have used it to find print books that you can check out in the library. A search here will also show you every eBook and audiobook available to you online, either from Clinton or for all of CPS. Look for titles labeled eBook or eResource if you want to be able to read from home. You can also filter a search using the left menu so you only see those books and aren't confused by all the print books that are in the library. The video shows you how.
Video walk-through:
This site is the best combination of easy to search and biggest selection. All of the eBooks Ms. Mernick selects and purchases just for Clinton students are through Mackin, so you'll find them here. Those books tend to be titles that are popular in our library, and because we don't share them with all the other CPS schools, you're more likely to be able to read them with little or no wait. There are also many other titles purchased by CPS that also will show up on searches here.
To make it easier to find titles of interest, Ms. Mernick added a Groups menu on the left side. Click there to browse books by interest group or format, such as audiobooks, graphic novels, and books in Spanish.
Video walk-through:
Search here to browse eBooks CPS bought from Overdrive, including titles from popular authors like Jeff Kinney, R.J. Palacio, and James Patterson. One great feature of Overdrive is that you can access thousands more eBooks and audiobooks by linking a Chicago Public Library card. The video below shows you how to use the site and how to link your CPL account with the number from your library card or eCard.
Video walk-through:
Visit this site to search Follett eBooks or to access eBooks you checked out from Follett through SOAR. This site has the fewest choices, but still can be worth checking, especially for some popular picture books. Can’t find what you want? Try one of the other vendors for more choices.
Video walk-through: