Why Sora?
Your Library on the GoSora is there when the library is closed. Use it when you're in town, on vacation, or just want to get a book without leaving the comfort of home.
|
|
|
Easy SetupAs a Cazenovia student or staff member, you always have access to Sora. Just set your school to O2CM BOCES, and sign-in with your Caz Google account.
|
Search and BrowseFind a specific book, or discover something new. It's all laid-out on Sora's Explore page.
|
|
|
Preview and ReserveTap a cover to preview a book. Download sample chapters if you want to see more. Place a hold if someone else is already reading. Sora is like the regular library: only one person can use a copy at a time.
|
Read and ListenSora has ebooks and audiobooks. Look for the headphone icon to find audiobooks. Listening to a Sora audiobook is a great way to pass time while exercising or going on a trip.
|
|
|
Have It Your WaySora's preferences menu lets you prioritize the books you want to see. Explore the whole collection, or filter suggestions by availability, popularity, age, format, and maturity level.
|
|
Add Public LibrariesSora makes it easy to borrow from both your school library and local public libraries. Just enter your library card number and PIN to link your accounts.
Don't have a public library card? Pick up an application from Mr. Wightman. |
Tools and TricksWith Sora, you can add bookmarks, search the text, highlight, define words, set a sleep timer, and take notes - all without leaving the app.
Customize everything from the color of your screen, to the size of your font, to the speed of your audiobooks. |
|
Introductory Videos
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have to wait for the book I want?
Most Sora books are like regular library books. Only one person can use them at a time. Other readers have to wait for the first person to finish.
Why did my book disappear?
Sora books have a two-week lending period. When the two weeks are up, the book disappears from your account.
What if I need more than two weeks to finish my book?
You can renew your book if no one else is reading it. Just tap "Shelf," -->"Options," --> "Renew."
The options menu also includes a return button. Use it if you finish early, so the next person can get started.
How do I connect a public library account?
After you log in, tap the 3 bars in the top right corner of the screen, then click "Add a public library." Choose the library system you want to add. The Cazenovia Public Library is part of the Mid York Library System.
Most Sora books are like regular library books. Only one person can use them at a time. Other readers have to wait for the first person to finish.
Why did my book disappear?
Sora books have a two-week lending period. When the two weeks are up, the book disappears from your account.
What if I need more than two weeks to finish my book?
You can renew your book if no one else is reading it. Just tap "Shelf," -->"Options," --> "Renew."
The options menu also includes a return button. Use it if you finish early, so the next person can get started.
How do I connect a public library account?
After you log in, tap the 3 bars in the top right corner of the screen, then click "Add a public library." Choose the library system you want to add. The Cazenovia Public Library is part of the Mid York Library System.
|
I tried to borrow a public library book and Sora asked for my card number and PIN. Where do I find those?
If you have a Mid York library card, your card number is the 13-digit number on the front. The default PIN is the last four digits of the phone number you gave the library when you signed up. If you need to reset your PIN, you can do it on the Mid York Library website. Just click "log in" then "forgot my PIN." |
Sample Mid York Library Card
|
What can I do if I don't have a public library card?
Get an application from Mr. Wightman, or visit your nearest public library. Any New York State resident can also apply here for a Free New York Public Library card.
I already use Libby. How is Sora different?
Sora is similar to Libby, and both apps have advantages. Sora gives you access to both the school and public library collections, whereas Libby can only access the public library collection. However, Sora gets deactivated when you graduate, while you can keep Libby for life.
I highlighted a passage and wrote a note for myself. Where did those go?
Your highlights and notes are stored under "Shelf" --> "Options" --> "Notes and Highlights." From that screen, there is a button in the upper right corner that you can use to export them to places like Google drive.
Are all these books really free?
They are, and will always be free for you.
Behind the scenes, ebook lending is a complicated thing. Some publishers resent digital library services, because they view borrowed ebooks as lost sales. In reality, libraries help publishers engage readers they might not otherwise reach. I'm sure most of you would try out far fewer new books if you had to pay full price for each one. On the flip side, perhaps some of you have bought a favorite author's books after discovering him or her at the library. I know I have.
Most people do not realize how difficult it is becoming for libraries to maintain large collections of popular ebooks. Publishers often charge libraries two or three times as much as regular customers for ebooks. Furthermore, some of the biggest publishers have decided that libraries can only buy ebooks that expire after one year. They say this is to simulate the way physical books wear out as people borrow them. However the expiration date stays the same even if just one or two people borrow the book. Some ebook and audiobook publishers, most notably Amazon, refuse to sell to libraries at all. That's why you will never find an Audible-exclusive audiobook in Sora.
If you want to help keep ebooks and audiobooks accessible to all, make your voice heard. In March 2020, following an intense campaign of public pressure, Macmillan abandoned a controversial policy of restricting library systems to a single copy of new ebooks during their first two months of publication.
If I don't see the book I want in Sora, can you order it for me?
Maybe. The district does budget money for ordering new books in Sora. However, not all books are a good fit for the collection. If you are the only person who wants a book that will expire after one year, it may make more sense for you to buy the book yourself, at a fraction of the price the library would pay.
With that being said, it never hurts to ask. Email me if you would like to see a particular book added to Sora. I can research what it would take to acquire it.
What's your opinion on Sora?
I'm a big fan. I like all the tools, and the easy-to-use interface. I don't borrow a ton of ebooks, because I spend a lot of time working on computers and I like to mix it up in my free time. However, I listen to a lot of audiobooks in the summer. I like to go through them while I'm traveling or riding my bike. It gives my mind something to do at times that would otherwise be monotonous.
Aren't those achievement badges a little childish?
Sure, they look a juvenile but, I've earned 10 of them and it's freakin awesome! Prove me wrong.
Get an application from Mr. Wightman, or visit your nearest public library. Any New York State resident can also apply here for a Free New York Public Library card.
I already use Libby. How is Sora different?
Sora is similar to Libby, and both apps have advantages. Sora gives you access to both the school and public library collections, whereas Libby can only access the public library collection. However, Sora gets deactivated when you graduate, while you can keep Libby for life.
I highlighted a passage and wrote a note for myself. Where did those go?
Your highlights and notes are stored under "Shelf" --> "Options" --> "Notes and Highlights." From that screen, there is a button in the upper right corner that you can use to export them to places like Google drive.
Are all these books really free?
They are, and will always be free for you.
Behind the scenes, ebook lending is a complicated thing. Some publishers resent digital library services, because they view borrowed ebooks as lost sales. In reality, libraries help publishers engage readers they might not otherwise reach. I'm sure most of you would try out far fewer new books if you had to pay full price for each one. On the flip side, perhaps some of you have bought a favorite author's books after discovering him or her at the library. I know I have.
Most people do not realize how difficult it is becoming for libraries to maintain large collections of popular ebooks. Publishers often charge libraries two or three times as much as regular customers for ebooks. Furthermore, some of the biggest publishers have decided that libraries can only buy ebooks that expire after one year. They say this is to simulate the way physical books wear out as people borrow them. However the expiration date stays the same even if just one or two people borrow the book. Some ebook and audiobook publishers, most notably Amazon, refuse to sell to libraries at all. That's why you will never find an Audible-exclusive audiobook in Sora.
If you want to help keep ebooks and audiobooks accessible to all, make your voice heard. In March 2020, following an intense campaign of public pressure, Macmillan abandoned a controversial policy of restricting library systems to a single copy of new ebooks during their first two months of publication.
If I don't see the book I want in Sora, can you order it for me?
Maybe. The district does budget money for ordering new books in Sora. However, not all books are a good fit for the collection. If you are the only person who wants a book that will expire after one year, it may make more sense for you to buy the book yourself, at a fraction of the price the library would pay.
With that being said, it never hurts to ask. Email me if you would like to see a particular book added to Sora. I can research what it would take to acquire it.
What's your opinion on Sora?
I'm a big fan. I like all the tools, and the easy-to-use interface. I don't borrow a ton of ebooks, because I spend a lot of time working on computers and I like to mix it up in my free time. However, I listen to a lot of audiobooks in the summer. I like to go through them while I'm traveling or riding my bike. It gives my mind something to do at times that would otherwise be monotonous.
Aren't those achievement badges a little childish?
Sure, they look a juvenile but, I've earned 10 of them and it's freakin awesome! Prove me wrong.