OverDrive · Authentication Profile

Overdrive Authentication

Authentication

OverDrive secures its APIs with oauth2 across 3 declared security schemes, as derived from its OpenAPI definitions. OAuth 2.0 is offered via the clientCredentials flow(s).

CompanyBooksLibrariesEbooksAudiobooksDigital MediaPublishingEducationReadingCirculation

Methods: oauth2 Schemes: 3 OAuth flows: clientCredentials API key in:

Security Schemes

ClientAuthentication oauth2

PatronAuthentication oauth2

QRCodeAuthentication oauth2

Source

Authentication Profile

generated: '2026-07-20'
method: searched
source: https://developer.overdrive.com/api-docs/authentication
docs: https://developer.overdrive.com/api-docs/authentication
summary:
  types: [oauth2]
  oauth2_flows: [clientCredentials]
  notes: >-
    OverDrive documents three authentication modes: client authentication
    (OAuth 2.0 client-credentials, discovery-only), patron authentication
    (adds a patron token for borrowing and holds), and QR-code authentication
    (an alternative to credential-based patron sign-in). Access tokens are
    valid for 3600 seconds and return the scopes granted to the credential.
schemes:
- name: ClientAuthentication
  type: oauth2
  flow: clientCredentials
  token_url: https://oauth.overdrive.com/token
  grant_type: client_credentials
  client_auth: basic
  client_auth_detail: >-
    Base64-encode "clientKey:clientSecret" (both case-sensitive) and send as
    Authorization: Basic {encoded}. POST with
    Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded;charset=UTF-8 and
    body grant_type=client_credentials.
  token_ttl_seconds: 3600
  used_for: [Discovery APIs, Reporting APIs, Title Link API]
  source: https://developer.overdrive.com/apis/client-auth
- name: PatronAuthentication
  type: oauth2
  flow: clientCredentials
  token_url: https://oauth-patron.overdrive.com/patrontoken
  grant_type: client_credentials
  used_for: [Circulation APIs]
  notes: >-
    Exchanges library credentials for a patron collection token; OverDrive
    recommends using the resulting patron collection token for all subsequent
    calls once a user is authenticated.
  source: https://developer.overdrive.com/api-docs/authentication
- name: QRCodeAuthentication
  type: oauth2
  used_for: [Circulation APIs]
  notes: An alternative to credential-based patron authentication.
  source: https://developer.overdrive.com/api-docs/authentication
environments:
  production:
    discovery: https://api.overdrive.com/v1
    circulation: https://patron.api.overdrive.com/v1
    oauth: https://oauth.overdrive.com/token
    patron_oauth: https://oauth-patron.overdrive.com/patrontoken
  integration:
    discovery: https://integration.api.overdrive.com
    circulation: https://integration-patron.api.overdrive.com

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