Research and Reference Resources

OverDrive Downloadable Audiobooks

Listen to audiobooks on your computer, using your digital audio device or by burning CDs.

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• What is OverDrive?
• How do I access OverDrive?
• How do I use OverDrive? How do I checkout audiobooks and videos? How do I download them to my computer?
• How do I download audiobooks or videos to CD or transfer them to my digital device?
• How do I delete titles from my device?
• Can I use a Mac or my iPod to access the audio books or video?
• I have an MP3 player that uses Rhapsody. I can't get my files to work, is there a "fix"?

Access the Overdrive FAQ from Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC)

 

What is OverDrive?

OverDrive is a subscription database of audiobook and video content. Madison Public Library, as part of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium, has access to this shared collection. It is a service meant to be used from home. Using your library card, you can browse for titles to download to your computer. You can then download them to your portable digital audio device, use on your PC or in some cases burn on to CDs.

 

How do I access OverDrive?

Anyone with a LINK library card and access to the internet can use OverDrive. Access the Database here or follow the link to the Online Databases page in LINKcat.

Use the menus on the left to browse titles, or the search box to find a specific title or author.

When you find a book or video to download, you will be prompted to enter your full library card number without the spaces.

 

How do I use OverDrive? How do I checkout videos and audiobooks? How do I download them to my computer?

To use the service, you’ll need to install the OverDrive Media Console. Follow the steps below when using the service for the first time.

Begin by clicking on 'Connect Now' at the top of this page, then click on ‘Download the OverDrive Media Console.’

Review the System Requirements. If your computer meets them, click on the light blue ‘OverDrive Media Console’ icon at the top of the screen, then click the same icon again on the next screen.

When the File Download window appears, click ‘Run.’

You may want to save the OverDrive Media Console installer to the desktop, as you may need it in the future.

Once it is saved, click run, then run again (if that prompt comes up.) It may take a few minutes to fully install.

A series of pop-up windows will come up. Click 'I agree' to the license agreement. Click 'Next' in each subsequent box. When it is finished, click 'Close.' The OverDrive Media Console will then be a program with a shortcut on your desktop. (You may want to go to your desktop to check.)

You'll likely still need to perform the Windows Media Player Security Upgrade before you can successfully download audiobooks from OverDrive. To do so now, go to the webpage that is likely still open (look at the task bar on the bottom of your screen) labelled OverDrive, Inc.

If you closed that window, just go to http://www.overdrive.com/MediaConsole/download.asp now.

You'll need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to use Overdrive. We recommend 10 for optimum performance. If you do have 9 or higher, click on the link at the bottom of the screen shown above, 'Instructions for performing the Windows Media Player Security Upgrade.'

The instructions for doing this upgrade are listed there. The steps below illustrate what to do. If you need to download a new version of Windows Media Player (if yours in 8 or lower), click on the link on this page labeled 'Download Windows Media Player', then do the security upgrade as shown above.

Go to the desktop and open OverDrive Media Console (double click to open it.)

If this is the first time you've used OverDrive, this box will come up. Click OK. If this box does not automatically come up, go to 'Tools' on the menu bar and click Windows Media Player security upgrade.

Click Next, then adjust the Privacy Options page as you care to, but be sure to keep the 'acquire licenses' box checked. Click 'Next.' Customize the Privacy Options window as you care to, then the 'Installation Options' window as you care to, then click 'Finish.'

Windows Media Player will automatically open with this text box. Click 'OK.' It will acquire the license it needs and when done will look like the screen below. Click 'Play.' A voice will tell you it is installed. Your installation is now done.

To look for videos and audiobooks to check-out, return to the database by clicking on the window labeled WPLC Digital on the task bar at the bottom of your screen. Then click on 'Home'.

Click on the 'Digital Media Guided Tour' at the top to get an overview on how to search for and checkout books, or just do some searching on your own. To check out a title you must first click on it and add it to your cart.

The item must also be available for checkout (it will say 'Add to my Cart' if there are available copies. If all the available copies are checked out it will say 'Place a Hold.') To see only items that are available right now for checkout, click on either the 'Currently Available Audiobooks' or 'Currently Available Video' links on the left of the screen.

Add the title to your cart and click 'Proceed to Checkout' (or continue browsing).

If you are a Madison area customer, choose 'South Central Library System' from the dropdown menu, then type in your full library card number and PIN, then click on the green 'confirm check out' box.

Then click the green ‘Confirm check out’ box.

Click the green ‘Download’ box.

A window will pop-up to confirm you’d like to download the book, and where you’d like to save it on your computer’s hard drive. Alter the location if you’d like, then click OK.

Each audiobook or video is divided into parts. You can download some of the parts at a time, or do it all at once. You’ll probably decide based on how much time you have (A two hour book took about 15 minutes to download to a brand-new laptop via a wireless connection). To download the entire thing now, be sure all the parts are checked and then click OK.

This screen will appear and stay there while the audiobook is being downloaded. You can see it’s progress on the lower left and lower right-hand side of the screen.

The length of time it takes to download to your computer varies (due to internet connection type, length of video or audiobook, age of computer, etc.) A two hour book took about 15 minutes to download to a brand-new laptop via a wireless connection. To burn CDs or to transfer it to a portable device takes additional time.

When it is done, the progress status on the bottom of the screen above disappears.

To listen to the audiobook on your computer, simply go to the desktop and double-click on the OverDrive Media Console. Highlight 'View All Media' on the left if necessary. Highlight the one you'd like to hear and click the green Play arrow on the upper left of the screen.

Remember that audiobooks you download are only checked out for 1 week. If you've had the title longer, it will still display on this screen but will not play. If you still want it, you'll need to check it out again (go to the original page where you browsed for audiobook titles and put it in a cart, then check it out.) If you no longer want the title, highlight it and click Delete.

To transfer the book or video to a portable device, click transfer on the OverDrive console.

Then click next. Then select or deselect the parts you want to transfer.

Then click next. The transfer bar will show your progress.

When you see this box,

you may disconnect your player and start listening.

 

How do I download audiobooks to CD or transfer them to my digital audio device?

• burn to a CD using Windows Media Player 9
• burn to a CD using Windows Media Player 10
• burn to a CD using Windows Media Player 11
• burn to a device using Windows Media Player 9, 10 or 11

 

How do I delete titles from my device?

You can either do this while using your device by using its buttons and screen, or by inserting it into the USB drive of your computer and following the steps below:

Go to ‘My Computer’ either via the Start Menu or by clicking on an icon on the screen.

Double click the icon associated with your MP3 player. If you aren’t sure which one it is, try them until you find the one that looks something like the screen below.

To Delete, click once on the Part or Parts you want to delete, then from the File menu at the top, choose ‘Delete.’

Click ‘Yes’ and the title will be removed from your player:

Longer books have many parts. To remove the entire book, you’ll need to highlight each part and delete them all.

 

Can I use a Mac or my iPod to access the audio books or video?

Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to provide access for iPod customers because of ongoing concerns with digital rights management.  Though the vast majority of MP3 players in use in the United States are iPods, no digital media service that offers iPod-playable files are available to public libraries because of concerns over how the materials can be "checked out" as they would in a traditional library.  Unfortunately, the only digital audiobook or video products on the library market work solely with Microsoft Windows.

There's a good, recent article explaining the issue at School Library Journal's web site. There are many groups working toward a change in the current digital rights management practices.

In the meantime, please try our Playaway Audiobooks - Check out an MP3 player pre-loaded with an audiobook.

 

I have an MP3 player that uses Rhapsody. I can't get my files to work, is there a "fix"?

There is a Rhapsody "fix" for Sansa mp3 players.  Most Sandisk Sansa MP3 players and many MP3 players purchased at Best Buy are coming with Rhapsody installed.

1. Power on the device and select 'Settings'.
2. Scroll to and select 'USB Mode' (or 'Mode').
3. Scroll to and select 'MTP' (or 'PlaysForSure Mode').
4. Connect the device to your computer.
5. Open 'My Computer > Sansa e2xx' (where e2xx is your model number).
6. Delete any WMA (Windows Media Audio) files you see that are of books you cannot play.
7. Open the OverDrive Media Console and attempt to transfer the audio book again.

 

Still need more help? Access the Overdrive FAQ from Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) or contact the library.

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