Sunday April 3rd, 2011 eBooks Tips and Tricks

The use of eBook readers has shifted from hard core techies to pretty much everyone. Your Library offers “How to Download” classes for both eBooks and eAudiobooks and as a result we have met a wide variety of people who love their eBook readers. The main appeal of eBook readers is convenience. It’s wonderful to be able to carry around what would amount to a stack of paper books in your purse, on a reader that’s much thinner than the average paperback. We have received a lot of questions about eBooks over the past few months. Here are the answers to the most common questions.

Does the Library have eBooks?

Your Library has eBooks and eAudiobooks on two platforms: OverDrive and NetLibrary. OverDrive’s collection is more extensive and includes mainly fiction books. NetLibrary’s collection is mostly non-fiction. Both are searchable using our online catalogue (choose “eBooks” from the drop-down menu under “view entire collection”) and by access through our Web site (www.tbpl.ca). Find “OverDrive” under “Quick Links” on our Web site. To get to NetLibrary from our Web site choose “Research” and then log into My Giant Search. Select “NetLibrary” from the List of Resources.

What’s the difference between eBooks and eAudiobooks?

eBooks are “electronic books” which you can read either on your computer or download to a portable device such as an eBook reader or iPad. There are many eBook readers on the market, including the popular Kobo and Sony ebook readers. OverDrive provides a handy list of compatible eBook readers.

eAudiobooks are “electronic audiobooks” which you can listen to online, or download to a portable device such as an iPod or MP3 player. eAudiobooks come in WMA or MP3 format. OverDrive indicates which formats work on which devices and also provides a list of compatible devices.

How can eBooks and eAudiobooks be “out”?

Like other items you borrow from the Library’s physical collection, eBooks may be borrowed by one person at a time. This is due to the agreements the eBook vendors make with publishers. If there is a big demand for an eBook, we would buy more copies, just as we would with a physical book.

It looks like most of the books in OverDrive are signed out – why?

The majority of eBooks in the OverDrive collection are shared with a group of other libraries in Ontario. However, we have been building a local collection available exclusively to our patrons. In order to access the local collection you must log in to OverDrive . Because OverDrive’s collection is shared, often the titles featured on the main page, or via lists, are signed out. An easy way to find out which books are currently available is to use the “Advanced Search” feature found at the top left corner of the OverDrive interface. One of the parameters you can set in “Advanced Search” is the format you’re looking for, and another is to limit your search to items that are available.

How do I log in to OverDrive and NetLibrary?

To log in to OverDrive your Library card number and PIN are used. To get to NetLibrary you need to go through My Giant Search, using your Library card number and PIN. Once in NetLibrary you can make a unique NetLibrary account, which may be used to sign out eBooks.

How long can I keep eBooks and eAudiobooks?

OverDrive eBooks and eAudiobooks may be signed out for 7 or 14 days. You choose the loan period at the point of checking out the eBook. When the loan period is over the eBooks is automatically returned from your record. eBooks that you have transferred to a portable device will be inaccessible when the loan period is over. There are no renewals in OverDrive. You can put an item on hold if it’s out, and will be notified by email when it’s available. NetLibrary eBooks can be read online, or checked out for a week and downloaded to a portable device.

Do I need any extra software to use eBooks and eAudiobooks?

Both OverDrive and NetLibrary use Adobe Digital Editions, which is free software you can download to your computer. Adobe Digital Editions makes it easy to transfer eBooks to eBook readers. If you have an iPod, iPad, iPhone, or Android smart phone OverDrive has an app you can use. The OverDrive app is available in iTunes and the App Store, and is free. The app takes the place of Adobe Digital Editions, and acts as your mobile interface to OverDrive. If you’re downloading eAudiobooks from OverDrive on to a Windows computer you need to use the “OverDrive Media Console”, which is available from every page in OverDrive.

If you need some help using our eBooks and eAudiobooks, please consider signing up for a class, or contact Joanna Aegard at 684-6819 or jaegard@tbpl.ca

Joanna Aegard, Head of Virtual Services