Using Overdrive Library eBooks on your on your Smart Device with the App Tweet

Last modification by ash966 April 17, 2012, 7:23 am → version: 7 Language: English Rating: Viewed: 707 times

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You can use Overdrive Media Console (referred to here as the Overdrive app) to borrow and read EPUB library ebooks from Overdrive on your smart device. The screenshots used in this presentation are from an iPod Touch 3. The Overdrive app might look a little different on different devices, but the basic operation should be the same.

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You can find the free Overdrive app in a couple of places. At your app store or On the Overdrive website at http://www.overdrive.com/Software/omc/.

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Download the app.

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Open the app. You should see the same icon for the app regardless of your smart device.

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Publishers protect their investment and rights using copyright protection software called Digital Rights Management (DRM), which controls how an eBook can be used. For Overdrive, that comes in three parts: 1. Overdrive’s eBooks are wrapped in DRM software that 2. works with Adobe (a software company) and 3. the Overdrive app to ensure that Overdrive eBooks are used properly. You’ll need to create an Adobe ID (if you don’t already have one), and Authorize your copy of the Overdrive app to that account in order to use EPUB Overdrive library ebooks. If your app has not been authorized, when you open it, you’ll automatically go to Settings. Tap Authorize with Adobe ID and you’ll see the Adobe Authorization screen. Enter your Adobe ID Email Address and Password and tap Authorize if you have one. Otherwise, tap Get a Free Adobe ID at the bottom of the screen. If you are also using other EPUB devices to read books, you want your app to be authorized to the same Adobe ID as everything else. You can have up to 6 devices/computers/apps authorized with the same Adobe ID.

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Tap Create an Adobe Account.

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Complete the application. To remind yourself of what your Adobe ID is, go into Settings. Tap Get Books at the bottom to get out of Settings.

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The Overdrive app has two parts – Library (to organize and read books) and Get Books. Move between them using the button in the upper right corner. On other smart devices you might need to use a menu instead; get to know your menu button. Try long-tapping (holding your finger down on your screen until something happens) to see if any menus pop up. Tap Get Books.

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Here’s a list of libraries where you’ve checked out ebooks in the past. You can tap on their name to visit them again. To add a new library, tap Add a Library.

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Postal or Zip code is often the easiest way to search.

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Choose your local St. Paul Public Library branch.

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Tap the library system to get into their Digital Catalog, which will open in the Internet Browser app on your smart device, not in the Overdrive app. When using multiple apps, you may not be able to directly jump between them. You may need to go back to your smart device’s main menu and open up the other apps from there.

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Find a book. The is St. Paul Public’s Overdrive catalog. You can browse the books shown on the screen or through the Browse button or…

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Tap Search to search for a book. Use the Show only available titles option if you only want to see books that you can check out right away.

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Add to Bookcart = You can check the book out right away. The ebook stays in your bookcart for 30 minutes. Place a Request = No copies of the title are “on shelf;” place a hold. When your turn comes up, you’ll get an email and have 3 days to check the book out. (Each copy of can only be checked out by one person at a time.) Wishlist = a list of titles you’re interested in – for your reference only. You are not placing a hold here. Library Copies = what SPPL owns. Available Copies = what are currently “on shelf.”

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Tap Proceed to Checkout.

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Enter your library card number; you don’t need your PIN.

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Choose how long you want to borrow the book using the Lending Period menu. Tap Confirm Check Out to finish checking the book out.

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Tap Download.

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Your Overdrive app opens automatically and your book appears on the menu. On this device, you’d tap the arrow on the right to open the book. If you don’t see the arrow on your device try tapping or long-tapping the book cover or finding your menu button.

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Your book, ready to read.

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On this device, you’d swipe your finger across the screen to turn the page. On other devices you might tap on one side of the screen instead. The book controls at the top of the screen (including the left facing arrow to get out of the book) disappear after a while. Tapping the center of the screen might make them reappear. You might also try the menu button or long-tapping.

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Under the title there’s a little calendar showing when your book is due. To return your book early or delete it from your device, tap edit in the upper left. Otherwise, when the book’s time is up it gets returned automatically, but you have to delete the unusable file from your device manually. You can’t have overdue fees on a library ebook.

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Delete only just removes the book from your device. You still have it checked out and can download it as many times as you’d like. Return then Delete returns the book to Overdrive; you’d have to check it out again to download it again.

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The Overdrive App works for getting, storing, and reading any ePUB book, not just those from Overdrive. Get Books should also keep track of other book sources – Project Gutenberg, Baen.com, etc. To add sources other than libraries, go to the source in your browser app, and download a book. If it opens up automatically in Overdrive, the source will be added to your Get Books page. You cannot read Kindle books using the Overdrive app. You can only read Kindle books using the Kindle app.

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You can get a lot of free ebooks legally online. Many of them are in the public domain (not covered by copyright anymore), some of them are promotional, and some of them are not professionally published. You can find a list of sources at http://bit.ly/GC9yaY Just be sure that you get books that are in the following formats: EPUB PDF Text Only Kindle devices/apps can use the Kindle format.

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If you need additional help, on the library home page (http://www.sppl.org/), hover your mouse pointer over Books and click on eBooks. Click on eBooks from Overdrive. Check out the resources on the Overdrive page under Digital Help.

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If you can’t find your answer anywhere else, click Support to email the library.

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Enjoy your eBooks!