Note: View and download a printable pdf version of these instructions by clicking this link.How to download and use digital audiobooks from the OverDrive service offered by the State Library of Kansas

You will need:

•  A TSCPL library card or a Kansas State Library Card
•  A personal computer with an internet connection and speakers or headphones
• The OverDrive Media Console software (more on how to install this below)
• Windows Media Player version 9 or later installed on your computer
• Optional: A portable device, such as an MP3 player, smartphone, pocket PC, etc.  To see a list of compatible devices go here

2. FIRST TIME STEP: If this is your first time on your home computer, you will need to download and install the Overdrive Media Console software before you can use the service. Scroll down the page until you see the free software section on the left hand side. Click on the Overdrive Audio Book links to go to the page where you can download the software to listen to audiobooks and choose the appropriate version for your system (both Windows and Mac versions are available).

This page has the download instructions and system requirements for downloading the Overdrive Media Console software. Read the information, then click on the Overdrive Media Console icon and follow the instructions to begin downloading. Instructions for performing a Windows Media Player security upgrade are also included, as you may need to do this the first time you open the Overdrive Media Console.

3. Logging in: On a computer with the Overdrive Media Console software installed, you can log in and start checking out files. Go to the home page of the Kansas State Library Overdrive service and look for the sign in link on the right of the menu bar at the top of the page.

4. You can sign in with either your Kansas State Library card or your TSCPL library card barcode and PIN. To use your TSCPL card, select Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library from the drop down menu, in the next box type in your entire barcode number from the back of your card with no spaces, and in the next box type your 4 digit PIN number (which for most patrons is the last 4 digits of their phone number).

5. Once you have logged in, you are ready to start searching for materials to check out. Click on Audio Home from the menu bar at the top of the screen to get to the main search page. There are links on the left side of the page to browse in Fiction or Nonfiction categories, or you can use the search box to look for a specific title or author. There is also an advanced search feature for more specific searches, such as what MP3 titles are currently available or to just search for video files or ebooks.

6. When you see an item you like, click on the title or book cover icon to see its detailed record. Here you can read a more detailed description of the book, and also see if it is available for checkout and what you will be able to do with the file once you check it out. Helpful things to know:
• Some titles are "always available - an unlimited number of people can have them checked out and downloaded at once
• Some titles have limited copies available to checkout and download. These titles will say "Available copies" and indicate if there are any available copies to download. If there are zero available copies, there will be a link you can click on to place a hold on that item. If you place an item on hold, you will be notified by e-mail when it is available for you to download.
• Near the bottom of the detailed record there are some icons with useful information. These icons (and also the list at the very bottom of the record)  tell you what you will be able to do with the file once you download it to your computer. All files can be played on your computer or transferred to a portable listening device, but only some files are iPod compatible or have permission from the publisher for users to burn CDs from them. 

7. Checking out and downloading. After looking at the detailed record, if you wish to check out that item click on the "add to cart" link on the right side of the page. The OverDrive page will keep your items in the cart for up to 30 minutes, so if you want to continue browsing and add more items to you cart and then download them all at one time you can as long as you stay within that 30 minute time frame. You can have up to 10 items checked out at a time, and you can choose to check them out for 7, 14, or 21 days. You cannot renew items, but you can check them out again if they are available after your checkout period has expired.
Once you have all the items you want in your cart, you are ready to checkout (download) them. Click on the "my cart" link from the menu bar at the top of the page. You will see a list of the items in your cart. Click on "proceed to checkout", then click on "confirm checkout" at the next screen to get to the download page.

You will then see a download page. You can download your titles immediately, or come back at a later time (or even on a different computer) to download by logging in and going to "my account" and then "my bookshelf." To download a title, click on the download button. OverDrive Media Console should open and ask you where you want to save your file. We recommend saving to your desktop so that you can easily find your files later. Then a box will pop up and allow you to select which parts you want to download (OverDrive divides each audiobook file into multiple parts that are approximately the length of one CD). Select which parts you want to download and click OK. The files you selected will start downloading and a box will pop up where you can monitor the progress of the files as they are being transferred.

8. Transferring files: Once your audiobook file has completed downloading, you can play it using the Overdrive Media Console - just highlight the book you want to listen to and click on the "play" button. The Overdrive Media player will launch and start playing the file. To transfer the file to a portable media player, connect your player to the computer, highlight the file you want to transfer, and click on the transfer button. The transfer wizard will guide you through the process.

What does Overdrive offer for download?

• eBooks in the Adobe® Digital Editions EPUB format
• eBooks in the Adobe® Digital Editions PDF format
• eBooks in the Mobipocket Reader format

• Digital music in the OverDrive Media Console™ format
• Digital video in the OverDrive Media Console™ format

• Digital WMA Audiobooks in the OverDrive Media Console™ format
• Digital MP3 Audiobooks in the OverDrive Media Console™ format

 

Using Overdrive with iPods

• Search for the desired title on the Overdrive website, and click the title to bring up the page displaying details about the title. At this page, look for the heading 'Digital Rights Information'. The information listed here will clearly indicate whether or not the publisher has enabled transfer to Apple device functionality.
• In OverDrive Media Console v3.2 (or newer), check whether a title that you have already downloaded can be converted for and transferred to an Apple device as follows…

• To do this you must us Overdrive Media Console for Mac.
• OverDrive Media Console for Mac supports only OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks.

•  OverDrive Media Console for Mac supports transfer to Apple devices only.
   

	OverDrive	NetLibrary
	Browse Collection	Browse Collection
Need a valid TSCPL card?	Yes	Yes
Need additional account?	No	Yes, NetLibrary account
Checkout period	user can choose 7, 14 or 21 days	21 days
Checkout limit	10 items	10 items
What software do I need?	Windows Media Player and OverDrive Media Console	Windows Media Player and (optional) NetLibrary Media Center
Compatible with Apple iPod?	Most files are compatible, but must use OverDrive Media Console version 3.2	Yes, but only the .MP3 audiobook collection
Offer other downloadable media, like music and videos?	Yes	No
Burn to CD?	selected titles only	No