Announcing Overdrive
Over the Holidays, the staff at headquarters were introduced to a new service that is live right now: Overdrive.
It's an online service that allows users with a valid library card in our district to download and listen to audiobooks. Its method of operation is similar to going to the library to check out an audiobook in person, only in this case you use free software loaded on a Mac or Windows PC to check out the item, download the parts to your PC, and then either listen to them on your PC, burn to a CD, or transfer to a supported music player.
http://fuelyourmind.lib.overdrive.com/
It would be pointless of me to write a how-to because I consider their own help guides to be very well-written and their software easy to use. Everything to help get you started is on the main page under “Getting Started.” Your login and pin for this service are your library card and pin numbers.
However, there are some important points that should be brought to your attention.
First, to download and play audiobooks checked out from this site, you must download and install OverDrive Media Console for Mac or Windows. This is a free-to-use download manager that keeps track of what items are checked out. This is important because when a copy of an audiobook is checked out, that copy is not available for checkout by anyone else until it is checked back in. The check-out time by default is two weeks, but Patrons have the option to change that length of time. There's no early check-in available and check-in is automatically done by the Media Console.
There is Digital Rights Management. However, I consider it to be more honor-based than strict. You are permitted to burn to a CD, or transfer files to a supported music player. However, at the end of the checkout period, it is your responsibility to destroy the CD or delete the files off your music player. If you only have the audiobook on your PC, then Media Console automatically disables playback on those files at the end of the checkout period. You can uninstall Media Console at any time, but you will lose the ability to download and play audiobooks on your PC.
If you need more assistance, please feel free to contact us at 989-362-2651 and ask for Diane, John or Stephanie or e-mail us at director@ioscoarenaclibrary.org.
It's an online service that allows users with a valid library card in our district to download and listen to audiobooks. Its method of operation is similar to going to the library to check out an audiobook in person, only in this case you use free software loaded on a Mac or Windows PC to check out the item, download the parts to your PC, and then either listen to them on your PC, burn to a CD, or transfer to a supported music player.
http://fuelyourmind.lib.overdrive.com/
It would be pointless of me to write a how-to because I consider their own help guides to be very well-written and their software easy to use. Everything to help get you started is on the main page under “Getting Started.” Your login and pin for this service are your library card and pin numbers.
However, there are some important points that should be brought to your attention.
First, to download and play audiobooks checked out from this site, you must download and install OverDrive Media Console for Mac or Windows. This is a free-to-use download manager that keeps track of what items are checked out. This is important because when a copy of an audiobook is checked out, that copy is not available for checkout by anyone else until it is checked back in. The check-out time by default is two weeks, but Patrons have the option to change that length of time. There's no early check-in available and check-in is automatically done by the Media Console.
There is Digital Rights Management. However, I consider it to be more honor-based than strict. You are permitted to burn to a CD, or transfer files to a supported music player. However, at the end of the checkout period, it is your responsibility to destroy the CD or delete the files off your music player. If you only have the audiobook on your PC, then Media Console automatically disables playback on those files at the end of the checkout period. You can uninstall Media Console at any time, but you will lose the ability to download and play audiobooks on your PC.
If you need more assistance, please feel free to contact us at 989-362-2651 and ask for Diane, John or Stephanie or e-mail us at director@ioscoarenaclibrary.org.
posted by Technology Coordinator at 8:48 AM
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