EBooks & Your EReader: A How-To

Using Library Books with an eReader

IF YOU ARE USING A KINDLE, PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS POST FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO DOWNLOAD EBOOKS TO YOUR EREADER.

Here are some great hints from LVCCLD: http://emediatips.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/how-to-get-started-with-library-ebooks/

Thinking about buying an eReader? Check out LVCCLD’s shopping tips. Please note that some eReaders/devices must be connected to the computer to transfer books from Overdrive. Be sure research your device.

One Time Setup

1) Download and install Adobe Digital Editions.

Note:  You can only have a total of 6 computers and devices attached to an Adobe  ID. You will use two of those six in this process, one is the computer you are going to be  using the other is your ereader.  You may use more than one computer to manage  library content for your ereader, but do keep in mind that you have a limit of 6 (six) computers and devices.

At this point, you’re done with the “One Time Setup” stuff. And are ready to move on to finding and checking out books.

Finding and Checking out Books

1. 1) Go to ebooks.lvccld.org
2. 2) There’s a menu on the left side of the page, click on Log In and you will be taken to a different page.
3. 3) In the middle of the screen, choose your Library from the drop down menu, type in your Library card number, and type in your Zip code. Then click on the grey button that says Sign In. (Note, if you live in Henderson you can not use our ebooks, you need to see the Henderson Library District.)
4. Now search for a book you want to read.  You need to look for Adobe PDF or Adobe epub files.  There are a couple of ways to do that.

a) In the menu on the left side of the page, under Browse Subjects, you can choose to browse either eBook Fiction or eBook Non-Fiction, choose a genre and then look for Adobe PDF or Adobe epub.

b) You can go to Advanced search.  You’ll need to use the drop down menu next to Format to select Adobe PDF eBook or Adobe EPUB ebook, and then search by some other criteria, Author or Title usually.  (I don’t recommend Keyword because it doesn’t work well.  Or at all.)  If you’re searching by Author you need to use FirstName LastName.  The traditional LastName, FirstName will get you nothing.

1. Once you’ve found a book you want to read, under Adobe PDF or EPUB, there is a listing for Available copies. If it’s 0, you can put yourself on hold for the book.  If this is 1 or higher, you can check it out.

a) If the book is not available, there is an option for Request title.  Click on it, and you will be taken to a page where you’ll need to enter your email address.  When the book is available,  you will get an email telling you that you have 3 days to check it out.

b) If the book is available, there is an option for add to eMedia Bag. On the eMedia Bag page you have options to remove the item, Continue Browsing or Proceed to Checkout.

1. At some point, you’ll be finished browsing and want to Proceed to Checkout.   On this page you’ll have an option to remove the book if you’ve changed your mind, or pick a due date if you haven’t.  The default is 21 day checkout, but you can choose a shorter check out period if you want.  7 and 14 days are also available.  Once you have selected your due date(s), and removed anything you don’t want, click on the grey Confirm check out button.
2. If your ereader is not already plugged in, plug it in and open Adobe Digital Editions.  Your ereader should show up on the left side of the window under Bookshelves.
3. After you have clicked on Confirm check out, you’ll go to the Download page.  The item(s) you’re checking out will be listed with a grey Download button under each one.  When you click on it, a window will pop up asking where you want to save the file.  The default is “Open with default application (ebook library), just leave it there and click on OK.
4. Adobe Digital Editions will tell you that it’s downloading/transferring and the book(s) will show up on the right side of the window.
5. Click and drag the book(s) onto your ereader on the left side of the screen.
6. When the files are done transferring, close Adobe Digital Editions and disconnect your ereader.
7. Find someplace comfy and enjoy!