# OverDrive API

> OverDrive returns public library ebook and audiobook availability as a workflow and API.

OverDrive, also known as Libby, finds ebook and audiobook editions in a public library catalog using a title and library name. Check library availability can also use an author and format to return copies owned, current availability, holds, and estimated wait.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/overdrive
- Handle: `@overdrive`
- Category: [Entertainment](https://fous.com/workflows/category/entertainment)
- Source website: https://overdrive.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with OverDrive.

## Methods

### Check library availability

Operation `check_library_availability`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Find ebook and audiobook editions a public library owns, with copies, holds, and estimated wait when unavailable. Searches public catalog listings; results may omit titles beyond the first ten title-search pages.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `title` | string | yes | `"Lessons in Chemistry"` | Book title, for example Lessons in Chemistry. |
| `author` | string | no | `"Bonnie Garmus"` | Optional author name, for example Bonnie Garmus. |
| `format` | string | no | `"audiobook"` | Choose any, ebook, or audiobook; for example audiobook. |
| `library` | string | yes | `"New York Public Library"` | Public library name or city, for example New York Public Library or Seattle. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "title",
    "library"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "title": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Book title, for example Lessons in Chemistry.",
      "examples": [
        "Lessons in Chemistry",
        "This title does not exist xqzqxy"
      ]
    },
    "author": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Optional author name, for example Bonnie Garmus.",
      "examples": [
        "Bonnie Garmus"
      ]
    },
    "format": {
      "enum": [
        "any",
        "ebook",
        "audiobook"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Choose any, ebook, or audiobook; for example audiobook.",
      "examples": [
        "audiobook"
      ]
    },
    "library": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Public library name or city, for example New York Public Library or Seattle.",
      "examples": [
        "New York Public Library",
        "Seattle"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
      "author": "Bonnie Garmus",
      "library": "New York Public Library"
    },
    {
      "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
      "format": "audiobook",
      "library": "Seattle"
    },
    {
      "title": "This title does not exist xqzqxy",
      "library": "Seattle"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `editions` | array |  | Matching editions in the public catalog. |
| `editions[].title` | string | `"Lessons in Chemistry"` |  |
| `editions[].author` | string or null | `"Bonnie Garmus"` |  |
| `editions[].format` | string | `"ebook"` |  |
| `editions[].catalog_link` | string | `"https://nypl.overdrive.com/media/6384649"` |  |
| `editions[].copies_owned` | integer or null | `17` |  |
| `editions[].available_now` | boolean | `false` |  |
| `editions[].number_of_holds` | integer or null | `72` |  |
| `editions[].cover_image_link` | string or null | `"https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/0111-1/{66227E65-A2C4-42E1-883A-43B8272BBE13}IMG400.JPG"` |  |
| `editions[].copies_available_now` | integer or null | `0` |  |
| `editions[].estimated_wait_weeks` | number or null | `8.7` |  |
| `library_name` | string | `"New York Public Library"` | Public library collection name. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
  "author": "Bonnie Garmus",
  "library": "New York Public Library"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "editions": [
    {
      "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
      "author": "Bonnie Garmus",
      "format": "ebook",
      "catalog_link": "https://nypl.overdrive.com/media/6384649",
      "copies_owned": 17,
      "available_now": false,
      "number_of_holds": 72,
      "cover_image_link": "https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/0111-1/{66227E65-A2C4-42E1-883A-43B8272BBE13}IMG400.JPG",
      "copies_available_now": 0,
      "estimated_wait_weeks": 8.7
    },
    {
      "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
      "author": "Bonnie Garmus",
      "format": "audiobook",
      "catalog_link": "https://nypl.overdrive.com/media/6397003",
      "copies_owned": 81,
      "available_now": true,
      "number_of_holds": 1,
      "cover_image_link": "https://img2.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/1191-1/{5AC0CB3C-7696-490C-9FBE-9D2E53167A7F}IMG400.JPG",
      "copies_available_now": 1,
      "estimated_wait_weeks": null
    }
  ],
  "library_name": "New York Public Library"
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@overdrive",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "check_library_availability",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
    "author": "Bonnie Garmus",
    "library": "New York Public Library"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@overdrive\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"check_library_availability\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"title\": \"Lessons in Chemistry\",\n    \"author\": \"Bonnie Garmus\",\n    \"library\": \"New York Public Library\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@overdrive",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "check_library_availability",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "title": "Lessons in Chemistry",
    "author": "Bonnie Garmus",
    "library": "New York Public Library"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@overdrive","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Check whether a library has a book available now
- Compare ebook and audiobook editions at a public library
- Estimate the wait for an unavailable title
- Review holds and copies owned for matching editions

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with OverDrive?

No. Fous is not affiliated with OverDrive. This workflow reads the public overdrive.com website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a OverDrive account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from overdrive.com when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### Does my library have this book available?

Use Check library availability with the book title and library name to find editions and whether copies are available now.

### How long is the wait for an unavailable book?

Check library availability returns an estimated wait in weeks when an edition is unavailable.

### Can I find audiobook editions at a library?

Use Check library availability with the title, library name, and audiobook format.

## Related

- [Open Library API](https://fous.com/workflows/open-library.md): Open Library returns book search results, catalog details, and author works; availability reflects listed editions, not current loan availability, and catalog details may be missing.
- [Audible API](https://fous.com/workflows/audible.md): Audible offers audiobooks, podcasts, and audio entertainment, with public book details and current bestselling audiobook charts; availability and categories vary by store.
- [Goodreads API](https://fous.com/workflows/goodreads.md): Goodreads returns public book searches, matched-book details with variable editions, popular or newest reviews, author books by popularity or date, and up to 100 quotes.
- [Project Gutenberg API](https://fous.com/workflows/project-gutenberg.md): Project Gutenberg offers free public-domain ebooks and reading materials, with searchable book details and plain text from the most-downloaded matching edition available.
- [Google Books API](https://fous.com/workflows/google-books.md): Google Books searches books and provides book details, reader ratings, and local ebook prices when available; newest results sort by publication date.
- [Library of Congress API](https://fous.com/workflows/library-of-congress.md): Library of Congress returns searchable digital collections and historic newspaper pages; rights notes may be absent, and newspaper text may contain OCR errors.
- [Books to Scrape API](https://fous.com/workflows/books-to-scrape.md): Demo book catalog with synthetic prices.
- [Apple Podcasts API](https://fous.com/workflows/apple-podcasts.md): Apple Podcasts returns chart listings, relevant show search results, show details with newest available episodes, and country-specific ratings and reviews; results are capped, and older or subscription episodes may be unavailable.
- [All Entertainment workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/entertainment)