Audio Downloads and Digital eBooks
Content Body
Digital audiobooks and e-books are available to Mead Library customers through Eastern Shores Library System and the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium. To download, you must have the free software available from OverDrive. To see a list of audiobooks and e-books available for download by Mead Library customers, go to the Mead catalog, and do a general keyword search using the term "overdrive." Or, go to the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium digital book website and click on "View all audio Books" or "View all video" or "View all e-books" to see the titles. This page, Quick start guide from Wisconsin Public Library Consortium, is also a good starting point. WPLC reports that a frequently asked support question is whether books can be returned early.
NEW!! Mead librarians have created step-by-step "cheat sheets" for downloading OverDrive books to Kindles, iPads, and Nooks!
The OverDrive Digital Download Center is a one stop resource center for digital downloads of audiobooks, electronic books, video and music. The downloads work on a variety of formats including PCs or Macs, smart phones, iPods and MP3 players and some e-book readers including the Nook and now, also the Kindle.
Amazon Kindle® compatibility with Mead Public Library's eBook collection was launched Sept. 21.This allows most existing OverDrive eBooks to be read on all Kindle devices or by using free Kindle apps on iPhone®, iPad®, Android™, and other mobile devices. Here's information from Amazon about public library books on your Kindle.
OverDrive has produced a series of online video demonstrations called the "Digital Books Tour."
Here are some other resources to get you started:
PDF two-page "how to" guide
OverDrive glossary
OverDrive FAQWisconsin Digital Book Center FAQ
Overdrive Help from the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium
List of devices compatible with OverDrive
A dedicated download station at Mead Library may be used to download OverDrive audiobooks and music directly to your device. It's located on the second floor, near the elevators.
Mead Library Now offers audiobook downloads at no charge for children, teens, and adults through OneClickdigital. This service replaces the Ebscohost platform (which will not be available beginning Jan. 1, 2012). The same audiobook titles are offered by OneClickdigital, but you must create a new account.
If you are using a computer in the library or using the library's wifi, use the OneClickdigital registration page here.
In order to create a OneClickdigital account if you are not in Mead Library, use your library card number to access the registration page; click here.
After you have registered with OneClickdigital, your OneClickdigital account is separate from your library card number and account.
Tip for Mac users: If you are downloading to a Mac computer, have your preferences set to Unencrypted, iTunes and click "No" on the Media Manager. This will allow only mp3 titles to be displayed.
Learn to download Mead Public Library e-books using our free OverDrive software. A 30-minute presentation will show how the download process works and a library staff member will answer questions about downloading to your device (on a first-come basis). Bring along your e-reader, if you’d like! All sessions held in the library's Rocca Meeting Room.
Here's the schedule: Thursday, Jan. 12, 5:30-7:30 pm; Thursday, Jan. 19, 2-4 pm; Monday, Jan. 23, 10 am-noon; Friday, Jan. 27, 2-4 pm; Tuesday, Jan. 31, 5:30-7:30 pm; Wednesday, Feb. 8, 10 am-noon; Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2-4 pm; Thursday, Feb. 16, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Free E-books
eBooks are available through Eastern Shores Library System's Wisconsin Public Library Consortium. Register online using your library card number and PIN (usually the last four digits of your phone number registered at Mead). When you are registered to use eBooks, you will see the WPLC logo in the top right corner. Mead eBooks can be "checked out" from any Internet-equipped computer for 24 hours.
Interested in free e-books available on the Internet? Amazon has compiled a list of free e-book collections. Some are only available for the Kindle, but others can be downloaded to multiple devices.
Mead Public Library also offers the Gale Virtual Reference Library. These complete books, listed below, may be read online on your computer screen. Each book generally includes a table of contents, index, and list of illustrations.
Access the Gale Virtual Reference Library from a home, office, or school computer: (Please have your Mead Library card number and PIN available. Your PIN usually is the last four digits of your home phone number.)
History
American Decades Primary Sources 10v, 2004
Colonial America Reference Library 6v, 2000
Encyclopedia of Modern Asia 6v, 2002
Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages 5v, 2004
Industrial Revolution Reference Library 4v, 2003
U*X*L American Decades 11v, 2003
Vietnam War Reference Library 5v, 2001
War in the Persian Gulf Reference Library 4v, 2004
World War II Reference Library 5v, 2000
Law
Encyclopedia of the American Constitution 2nd ed., 6v, 2000
Nation and World
Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations 4th ed., 10v, 2004
Religion
Encyclopedia of Religion 2nd ed., 15v, 2005
New Catholic Encyclopedia 2nd ed., 15v, 2003
Science
Plant Sciences 4v, 2001