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You can burn OverDrive audiobooks to CD or transfer them to your mp3 player.

Research & Resources

How to Use OverDrive

Go directly to Overdrive

Video Tutorials

Watch these video tutorials to learn how to use OverDrive. Flash required.

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Getting Started: Get the Software

Before you can download any audio books or videos, you need OverDrive Media Console. Read the system requirements and then click on the button to start the download. Click on the OverDrive button until a pop-up box appears, then click "Run." The software will install automatically. Just follow the steps on your screen. It takes only a minute or so.

If you try to download a book or video before installing the software, it won't open.

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Sign In

It is faster if you sign in with your library card number before you begin searching. Click the Sign In button, and then enter your 14-digit library card number.

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Searching for Digital Books & Videos

You can browse the OverDrive catalog from their site, or you can search using the search box at the top of their page.

If you want to see only the titles in a particular format click on the appropriate link at the top of OverDrive's main screen. You can choose to browse just the eBooks, Audiobooks, or Video collections.

Click on a book cover or title to see more about the item, such as:

  • Format - ebook, MP3 audio, WMA audio, or video
  • Availability - if the item is available, you'll see a link that says "Add to ebag." if it's already checked out, the link will say "Place a reserve."
  • File size - helps you estimate how long it will take to download
  • Number of parts and Duration - for audio downloads only
  • Digital Rights Information - whether the file can be burned to CD, transfered to portable devices or shown in a public performance

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My eBag

When you see an item that's available, simply click on the Add to ebag link. It will stay in your ebag for 30 minutes while you search or browse, so that no one else can check it out. Once you check out a file, it is taken out of your eBag, and moved to your eBookshelf, where you can access it during the checkout period.

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Check Out

Go to My eBag to see a list of titles waiting for check out. If you're happy with your selection, click on Proceed to Checkout.

You can remove items from your ebag by clicking on the remove links next to each title.

Click on Confirm Checkout.

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Downloading Audio Books

Remember that you must install OverDrive Media Console before you download any digital books.

You have to use the same computer to download and open audio books, videos and ebooks.

Once you check out, you'll see your item on the screen with a download button. Click the download button on the screen. OverDrive Media Console will open and download the book or video. If you don't want to download the file immediately, you can log into your account later and download the books from your eBookshelf.

When asked which folder you would like to save the file in, it is best to leave it in "My Documents\My Media" because this makes it easier to transfer files to CD's or portable devices later.

Questions about Downloading Audio Books

Do I have to download the entire book at once?
You can download audio books in parts. Select the parts you want to download and then click Ok.
How long will it take to download the book?
Download times will vary with the length of the book and the speed of your Internet connection. If you are on a dial-up connection, you should expect download to be slow.
Can I download the title multiple times?
For audio books, there is no limit to the number of times you can download the title. Throughout the 3-week check out period, you can download the parts at separate times.
I have downloaded part of my book. How do I download the other parts?
Follow these steps:
  • Open OverDrive Media Console.
  • Locate the desired title in your 'Media Library', and single-click it. This will select that title.
  • Click the 'Download' button at the top of the OverDrive Media Console. The 'Download Part(s)' dialog box is displayed, and lists all of the parts of the selected title.
  • If you are not already online, connect to the Internet.
  • Locate the part which you want to download, and place a checkmark in the checkbox to the left of the desired part.
  • Click the 'OK' button. The selected part will begin downloading, and the download status will be displayed in the lower-right hand corner of OverDrive Media Console.

Troubleshooting OverDrive Audio Books

See Troubleshooting OverDrive Audio Books if you have any problems downloading audio books.

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Playing Audio Books on Your Computer

You can listen to audio books on your computer by opening OverDrive Media Console. Any titles you have checked out will appear there. Double click on a title to listen.

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Transferring Audio Books to a Portable Device

You must download any audio book file to your computer first for them to work correctly. From there you can transfer the file to a portable device.

Which MP3 Player Can I Use?

That depends on which audio format you download. Overdrive offers audiobooks in MP3 and WMA format. MP3 files are compatible with most portable audio devices, including iPods. WMA files use Windows-based software to protect the copyright on the audiobooks. Unfortunately, these WMA files are not compatible with iPods.
Here is a web site that explains which mp3 players work with our digital books. Make sure your mp3 player can handle subscription downloads.

Transfer Instructions

You need to have Windows Media Player on your computer. You can use version 9, 10, or 11.

To transfer using OverDrive Media Console 2.1 or newer:
  • Plug in your portable device to the computer in the USB port.
  • From OverDrive Media Console, click the Transfer button.
  • A window appears asking you to plug in your device. Click Next.
  • Select which parts of the file you want to transfer to your device.
  • Click Next.
  • Files will sync to the portable device.

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Burning Audio Books to CD

You must download any audio book file to your computer first for them to work correctly. From there you can burn them to a CD. You must have a CD burner in order to burn audio books to CD.

Each 'part' of an OverDrive audio book will take up one entire CD.

Burn Instructions

You need to have Windows Media Player on your computer. You can use version 9 or higher.

To burn OverDrive titles to CD:

  • Open OverDrive Media Console, highlight your book and click the 'Burn' button.
  • The OverDrive Media Console Burn Wizard opens. Click 'Next.'
  • The Burn Wizard shows which parts of the file are available on your computer. Each part will fill one CD.
  • Click the boxes next to each part to select the parts you want to burn to CD.
  • Click 'Next.'
  • Insert a blank CDR in your CD-RW drive and click the 'Start Burn' button.

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Downloading Videos

Remember that you must install OverDrive Media Console before you download any digital books or videos.

You have to use the same computer to download and open audio books and ebooks.

Once you check out, you'll see your item on the screen with a download button. Click the download button on the screen. OverDrive Media Console will open and download the video.

When asked which folder you would like to save the file in, it is best to leave it in "My Documents\My Media" because this makes it easier to transfer your video to a portable device later.

Questions about Downloading Videos

Do I have to download the entire video at once?
You can download videos in parts. Select the parts you want to download and then click Ok.
How long will it take to download the video?
Download times will vary with the length of the video and the speed of your Internet connection. If you are on a dial-up connection, you should expect download to be slow.
Can I download the title multiple times?
Video titles can only be downloaded once. If the video has multiple parts, you can download different parts at separate times throughout the 3-week check out period.
How do I get back to the video to download other parts?
Follow these steps:
  • Open OverDrive Media Console.
  • Locate the desired title in your 'Media Library', and single-click it. This will select that title.
  • Click the 'Download parts' button. The 'Download Part(s)' dialog box is displayed, and lists all of the parts of the selected title.
  • If you are not already online, connect to the Internet.
  • Locate the part which you want to download, and place a checkmark in the checkbox to the left of the desired part.
  • Click the 'OK' button. The selected part will begin downloading, and the download status will be displayed in the lower-right hand corner of OverDrive Media Console.

Troubleshooting OverDrive Videos

See Troubleshooting OverDrive Download Problems if you have any problems downloading audio books or videos.

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Playing Videos on Your Computer

You watch videos on your computer by opening OverDrive Media Console. Any videos you have checked out will appear there. Double click on a video to play itn.

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Transferring Videos to a Portable Device

You must download the mobile version of the OverDrive video to your computer first. From there you can transport to a portable device.

Which Portable Devices Can I Use?

Can I Use My iPod? Unfortunately, no. Right now there are no digital book download systems available for libraries that work with iPods. Here is a web site that explains which media players players work with our digital videos.

Transfer Instructions

You need to have Windows Media Player on your computer. You can use version 9, 10, or 11.

To transfer using OverDrive Media Console 2.1 or higher:

  • Plug in your portable device to the computer in the USB port.
  • From OverDrive Media Console, click the Transfer button.
  • A window appears asking you to plug in your device. Click Next.
  • Select which parts of the file you want to transfer to your device.
  • Click Next.
  • Files will sync to the portable device.

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Downloading Ebooks

Remember to install Adobe Reader before you download ebooks.

If you check out an ebook, once you click the download button, Adobe Reader will open and begin the download.

Questions about Downloading Ebooks

Do I have to download the entire book at once?
Yes, ebooks must be downloaded all at once.
How long will it take to download the book?
Download times will vary with the length of the book and the speed of your Internet connection. If you are on a dial-up connection, you should expect download to be slow.
Can I download the title multiple times?
For ebooks, only one download is allowed for each file. If your download fails for some reason, please contact us.

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Reading Ebooks on Your Computer

After you download an ebook, to view it, you need to open Adobe Reader. Go to the File menu and select Digital Editions. Any titles you have downloaded will appear in this window. Double click to open.

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Returning Ebooks Early

You can return OverDrive Ebooks (not audio books) early if you wish. Here's how:

  • Open Adobe Reader
  • Go to File
  • Select Digital Editions
  • Click on My Digital Editions
  • Select the title you want to return
  • Hit the Actions button at the bottom of the screen
  • Click Return to Lender. A window will pop up with the loan due date.
  • Click Return to Lender

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