The Digital Library – Overdrive

I enjoy listening to audiobooks, but they are expensive to purchase.  I know if you listen to lots of them a paid lending service is a good option.  But it is hard to beat free!

The local library here in Mayfield, Kentucky has a pretty good selection, but typically these are older books.   I also like to read ebooks on either a Kindle reader, iPhone, or iPad.

If you have a similar interest you should know about the company – www.Overdrive.com.  I found out about this tool through our local library and my mother-in-law who uses the site.

Here is what you need to know if you want to check out audiobooks and ebooks.

1. Go to this link and see if your local library is participating.  It is in partnership with many school libraries.  (Be sure and search Libraries and not titles.)
2. Once you find your library you will likely have to register with your local library.  You must have a library account and password set up.  This will likely require a visit to your library.
3. Return to the Overdrive site and click on your library.  Enter your registration information and password.  You can now search titles and download eBooks and Audiobooks.
4. You will want to visit this link to learn more and download the apps.

Some Additional Information:

• There are a limited number of book copies so often you must put a hold on a book and wait on a waiting list. They will email you when it is ready to be checked out.
• You can determine how long you wish to check out a book.
• They have Apps available which require you to select your library and enter your card number and password.  Then you can select  books and download directly to your device and start reading from the phone or tablet.  Just search Overdrive in your App store for your device.  Here is a link as well.
• Not all of the various books work on every platform.  When you are searching and browsing titles it shows you their format.
• You will need to download the Overdrive Media Console.   This link will tell you how it works, there are videos and tutorials available, and the apps are available.
• One really nice feature with audiobooks is that many, if not all, are allowed to be downloaded to your device.  Some even allow burning a CD.  Personally, I download them and put them on an old mp3 player and then let the book return to Overdrive.  I then listen for as long as I need to and then delete when finished.  They just ask that you not share your downloaded copies and that you delete or destroy CDs when finished.
• Another good use is the ability to check out kids’ books.  Austin reads the Boxcar Children books.  There was one that the local library did not have available in print form.  So I just checked it out through Overdrive for him to read.

I hope you will investigate this free resource.  I certainly am not fully experienced and knowledgeable about Overdrive.  But I have used it enough to know it is a great resource to get great ebooks and audiobooks for free to read.

What has been your experience in using Overdrive if you have tried it?