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Ebook Basics
Non Kindle and Overdrive App Users | Kindle and Kindle App Users
Must Haves:
- Durham County Library card and PIN number
- Email address
- Computer, smart phone or tablet with internet access
- Adobe Digital Editions (Non-Kindle Users)
- Adobe ID (Non-Kindle Users)
Nice to Haves:
- Ereader (Nook, Kindle, etc….)
- Smart phone (iPhone, android) with Overdrive and/or Kindle app
- iPad or other tablet computer with Overdrive and/or Kindle app
How To Do It - Non Kindle Users
- ALWAYS START ON YOUR COMPUTER
- Download and install Adobe Digital Editions *
- Sign up for an Adobe ID *
- Sign in to Adobe Digital Editions with your Adobe ID *
- Start searching for titles on our downloadable site (Overdrive)
- Make sure the format .epub format is available
- Add the title to MY CHECKOUT LIST
- Proceed to CHECKOUT
- SIGN IN with library card number and pin (no spaces or dashes)
- Select your lending period, 7 or 14 days
- Confirm CHECKOUT
- Download
- Open with Adobe Digital Editions
- Wait for download
- Start reading!
- Return Early!
* First time only
Transfer to a Device from Adobe Digital Editions
- Check out title from Overdrive into Adobe Digital Editions
- Turn on Your Device (ereader such as a Nook, SonyTouch, Koby)
- Plug Your Device into computer
- Authorize Your Device *
- Your Device should now appear on left side of screen
- Drag the title from the right side of the screen in Adobe Digital Editions to Your Device on the left side of the screen, drop the file into Your Device
- Wait for file copying
- Unplug Your Device
- Find the title on Your Device
- Start reading!
* First time only
Returning Early in Adobe Digital Editions
- Select down arrow in upper left-hand corner on downloaded ebook
- Select RETURN BORROWED ITEM
- Go back to Overdrive and search for more ebooks to checkout!
How To Do It - Using the Overdrive App
- Sign up for an Adobe ID
- Download and install the Overdrive App for your device
- Authorize Your Device with your Adobe ID*
- Click on GET BOOKS
- Click on Add a Library *
- Enter 27701 as the zip code to search *
- Select DURHAM COUNTY LIBRARY, Durham, North Carolina, United States *
- Click on the STAR next to DURHAM COUNTY LIBRARY *
- Go back to GET BOOKS
- Select Durham County Library (your browser will open to the DCL Overdrive site)
- Make sure the format .epub format is available
- Add the title to MY CHECKOUT LIST
- Proceed to CHECKOUT
- SIGN IN with library card number and pin (no spaces or dashes)
- Confirm CHECKOUT
- Download
- Wait for download
- Start reading!
- Return Early!
* First time only
How To Do It - Kindle Users
- ALWAYS START ON YOUR COMPUTER
- Sign up with amazon.com *
- Purchase a Kindle or download the Kindle App to a device *
- Start searching for titles on our downloadable site (Overdrive)
- Make sure the Kindle format is available
- Add the title to MY CHECKOUT LIST
- Proceed to CHECKOUT
- SIGN IN with library card number and pin (no spaces or dashes)
- Select your lending period, 7 or 14 days
- Confirm Check Out
- Download
- Amazon opens automatically (Log in if necessary)
- Click on GET LIBRARY BOOK
- Deliver to: YOUR DEVICE or APP
- Check your device or app - it will be there!
- Start reading!
- Return Early!
* First time only
Returning Early for Kindle Users
- Log in to amazon.com
- Go to YOUR ACCOUNT
- Go to MANAGE YOUR KINDLE (even if you are only using the app)
- Find the title you wish to return early
- Select RETURN THIS BOOK from the ACTIONS DROP DOWN MENU
- Confirm early return
- You will receive a confirmation email
- Go back to Overdrive and search for more ebooks to checkout!
NOTE FOR KINDLE READER DOWNLOADS: You may receive renewal or purchase messages from Amazon regarding your OverDrive download of library ebooks to Kindle readers. These messages are not from DCL, and do not affect the terms of your library download. DCL never solicits purchases or charges any fees for the use of digital library material.
If you prefer a digital version of these directions, please download the pdf files:
Limits & Parameters
- Length of Checkout: 7 or 14 days (patron’s choice)
- Maximum Number of Titles at a Time: 4*
- Maximum Holds: 5*
- Item Held for: 3 days once hold notice is emailed
- Maximum Number of Titles on Checkout List: 7*
- Renewals: Yes, if no one is waiting
- Early Return: Yes! (ebooks only)
*includes both ebooks and eaudiobooks
Background Information
Ebooks are chosen from those titles available from our vendor Overdrive. At the outset high demand titles such as those on the DCL Top Ten List and NYT Bestseller Lists will be purchased. The Friends of the Durham Library approved a proposal for $15,000 that made it possible to purchase our “opening day” collection.
