22-AUG-2025 - Coming soon: Changes to hold suspensions

Dear OverDrive API partner,

In mid-September, OverDrive is updating how hold suspensions work. We don’t anticipate any breaking changes to API implementations, but we wanted to let you know what’s changing.

What changes are we making to hold suspensions?

• When suspending a hold, users no longer schedule an end date. They must manually unsuspend the hold when they’re ready for it.
• If the user misses their hold on its first delivery, it is automatically suspended until they unsuspend it. It no longer unsuspends 7 days later.
• Holds are automatically cancelled if they’re suspended for 365 consecutive days.

Holds that are suspended at the time of release will be updated to use this new behavior and will expire after 365 days if the user doesn’t interact with them.

What is changing in the APIs?

When suspending a hold with the Holds API, you’ll no longer need to specify a suspensionType or numberOfDays value. Instead, hold suspensions will be automatically limited and set for 365 days, and users can choose when they want to unsuspend the hold. If your application sends a suspensionType of “unlimited” or sends a numberOfDays value other than 365, the OverDrive APIs will automatically convert the suspension to “limited” and 365 days.

Responses from the Holds API will be unchanged.

Why are we making these changes?

After analyzing hold data and partner feedback, OverDrive is making these changes to:

• Provide fairer access for everyone by asking users to be more intentional about when they want to receive a hold.
• Move holds more efficiently and free up copies for users who are deeper in the wait list.
• Reduce how long unwanted holds sit unclaimed.

When are we making these changes?

Our current target release date is September 17, 2025.

The changes will be available for testing in our integration environment soon. We’ll send a follow-up message when these changes are in integration and when they’re in production. 

If you have any questions, please contact support. 

As always, thanks for being an OverDrive API partner,

The OverDrive API team