For some time, we have been working with Overdrive to resolve a reoccurring and intermittent issue transferring Overdrive eBooks to Kobo eReaders using Adobe Digital Editions.

While some Overdrive eBooks will work, occasionally after transferring an Overdrive eBook to a Kobo eReader, the eBook will display with a completely black cover. Attempting to open the eBook for reading will result in an error message:

Oops! This document couldn’t be opened

This document is protected by Adobe Digital Rights Management (DRM) and is not currently authorized for use with your Adobe ID. Please sign-in with theauthorized Adobe ID and try again. www.kobo.com/help

This is a distinct problem from another where all Overdrive eBooks appear with a black cover and produce the error message. To be clear, the problem described here is one where some Overdrive eBooks will open, but others will not.

Advice found on the Web suggests trying several this to resolve this issue. Including:

Deleting the eBook and downloading it again.

Returning and deleting the eBook then checking it out and downloading it again.

Deauthorizing and reauthorizing both Adobe Digital Editions and the Kobo eReader.

Using older versions of Adobe Digital Editions.

Factory Resetting your Kobo eReader.

Performing much, or all, of the above in a precise order

Sometimes one or more of these suggestions may resolve the problem for a particular eBook. However, the problem may immediately reoccur on a subsequent title. It seems that once a book fails, it will never work, short of steps including a factory reset. Some titles (such as Andy Weir’s The Martian) seem to never work.

OverDrive now offers Front Line Tech Support to Winnipeg Public Library customers.

Winnipeg Public Library never recommends any product for purchase. However, we do advise that customers wishing to begin using eBooks from the Library use caution when considering Kobo eReaders until this issue is resolved. Kindle eReaders do not work with library eBooks in Canada, and Sony no longer sells its eReader in North America. A reliable alternative available in Canada would be a tablet device. If your main reason for purchasing a tablet is for recreational eBook reading, a 7 inch tablet would be ideal for most people. Some of our other online resources, such as eMagazines and eNewspapers, work better with larger tablets.

This sort of intermittent problem, involving multiple companies, can take some time to resolve. We will update this FAQ when we have more information.