What is an eaudiobook?

An eaudiobook is a digital copy of an audio book optimized for download. Digitally-protected eaudiobooks can be played on any desktop or laptop device supporting Microsoft Windows Media Player. The library offers access to downloadable audiobooks from two providers – NetLibrary and Overdrive. These audiobook files can be transferred to a wide range of portable listening devices that play DRM-protected .wma files. OverDrive also provides some MP3 Audiobook titles that are compatible with many different devices including some cell phones, PDAs, and most portable music devices including the iPod and Zune.

You must have Windows Media Player (version 9 or higher) installed on your computer. To use Overdrive, you also must install the Overdrive Media Console. At the library, staff can assist you with the eaudiobook download station to download and transfer an eaudiobook to your portable listening device.

How long is the checkout period on the eaudiobook titles?

The NetLibrary eaudiobook titles are “checked out” for 21 days. The Overdrive titles are “checked out” for 14 days. After this time they cannot be played unless a new license is downloaded. You don’t have to return eaudiobooks, you may delete them from your computer or player once you are finished or after the license expires.

How can I find available eaudiobooks?

When you search the online TSCPL library catalog, you will find an eaudiobook icon for every title that has a corresponding eaudiobook from the NetLibrary or Overdrive services. These items are described as “electronic resources” in our catalog. You may also search for specific eaudiobook titles directly from the NetLibrary or Overdrive websites. Both NetLibrary and Overdrive also allow you to browse by genre or collection on their websites.

NetLibrary collection

NetLibrary features over 2000 audiobook titles for download. Content is provided through a partnership with Recorded Books, including recordings by many popular narrators like George Guidall, Barbara Rosenblat, and C.J. Critt.

NetLibrary offers many Fiction and Non-Fiction selections, including areas like Business, Christian Fiction, Classics, History, Language Studies, Mystery & Suspense, Romance, Self Help, and Westerns.

Using NetLibrary

Login at http://www.netlibrary.com/ with your username and password and choose the eAudiobook collection.  If you are a first time user, create a free NetLibrary account. If you are outside the library, click here to access the page using your library card.

You now have access to the eaudiobooks available to our customers from NetLibrary’s eAudiobook collection. Our library does not subscribe to the Children’s and Young Adult content from NetLibrary. To learn more about downloading eaudiobooks from NetLibrary use their Help topics or Frequently Asked Questions Read more about Compatible Portable Listening Devices if you want to transfer your eaudiobook to an mp3-type player. iPod and Zune are not supported.

To find newer titles, NetLibrary's eAudiobook Center search features an option to search or limit results by Year. Searching 2008 or 2007 will return recently published titles.

Watch a screencast demonstration of downloading an eaudiobook from Netlibrary and transferring to a portable media player
 










Watch the screencast

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watch the screencast

 
Overdrive collection

Overdrive features WMA Audiobooks, MP3 Audiobooks, Digital eBooks, Digital Music and Digital Video titles for download. The selection continues to increase, but in 2008 includes about 4000 WMA audiobook, 1000 MP3 audiobook, 600 music, 300 video and 200 eBook titles

WMA Audiobook content is provided through partnerships with publishers like BBC Audiobooks, Books on Tape, Brilliance Audio, Full Cast Audio, and Random House Audio. Overdrive offers many fiction and non-fiction audiobook selections, including areas like Historical Fiction, Humor, Juvenile Fiction, Literature, Mystery & Thriller, Radio Classics, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Western, Young Adult, Business & Careers, Current Events & Politics Foreign Language, Self-Improvement.

MP3 Audiobooks selections include about 1000 audiobook titles that will play on virtually any mp3 player available including the iPod and Zune.

Music selections include Ambient & Electronica, Ballet, Blues & Jazz, Chamber Music, Choral, Classical, Concertos, Film Music & Musicals, Instrumental, New Age, Opera & Operetta, Orchestral, Pop & Rock, Vocal, and World Music.

Movie selections include Classic Cartoons, Comedy, Documentary, Instructional, Religion & Spirituality, Travel and Westerns.

To find newer titles, Overdrive's Advanced Search allows you to search by the Date added to site and limit your results to titles added in the past 30, 90 or 180 days.

Using Overdrive

Login to the Overdrive collection at http://kansas.lib.overdrive.com/  using your TSCPL library card and PIN. Overdrive features some titles which are always available for download; however, many of the popular titles from Overdrive are checked out. You may add your name to the waiting list and you will be notified by email when that title is available for you to checkout and download. To learn more about downloading eaudiobooks, music and movies from Overdrive, use their Quick Start Guide or their extensive Help section.

Classical Music Library

Classical Music Library is the world's largest multi-label database of Classical music recordings for listening and learning in libraries. Listen to Chamber, Instrumental, Orchestral, Opera + Operetta, Sacred, Stage + Screen and Vocal + Choral music on your computer. Each week, this database also features one or more free classical music downloads in mp3 and WMA file formats.

For more personal assistance in learning how to download eAudiobooks or other digital media from NetLibrary or Overdrive:

·   Check the library’s calendar and register for the next : “Downloadable media at your library” class

·   Stop by the Reference Desk in the library to get assistance with downloading an eaudiobook and transferring it to your portable media device

·   Make an appointment with a librarian to receive additional assistance at the library.

	OverDrive	NetLibrary
	Browse Collection	Browse Collection
Need a valid TSCPL card?	Yes	Yes
Need additional account?	No	Yes, NetLibrary account
Checkout period	14 days	21 days
Checkout limit	10 items	10 items
What download software is needed? To download titles from both the OverDrive and the Recorded Books collections you will need Windows Media Player 9.0 or higher. You will also need the OverDrive Media Console to download OverDrive titles.	Windows Media Player and Overdrive Media Console	Windows Media Player
Compatible with Apple iPod and Microsoft Zune?	No, except for MP3 Audiobook collection	No
Burn to CD	Selected titles only	No
	FAQ's	FAQ's
	Quick Start Guide	eAudiobook Tips
	Compatible Devices	Compatible Devices