eMedia is our way of providing you 24/7 access to books --without leaving your home. Downloadable audiobooks and eBooks are quickly becoming a popular format for books. This page is your one-stop shop for information on our eMedia service. You’ll find video tutorials, links to free software & books, how-to’s, a list of compatible devices and many other resources.
To use our eMedia service you'll need:
- An active Metropolitan Library System library card in good standing
- A home computer with Internet Connection
- Or, a mobile device with a data package that is app-driven (ie: Android & Apple)
- Adobe Digital Editions to read and transfer eBooks
- OverDrive Media Console to manage audiobooks
News
New Features for the Mobile Experience
October 27, 2011 | Shannon Lichty, OverDrive
Downloading of eBooks and audiobooks from mobile devices increased exponentially from 2010 to 2011. In fact, the number of downloads in 2011, thus far, is 13X greater than that of all of 2010.
As mobile usage continues to soar, OverDrive is committed to maximizing the mobile user experience. Based on feedback from libraries, I am pleased to share that the following new features that are now available at your library’s website on a mobile device:
- Advanced search functionality gives customers the opportunity to search by criteria such as title, author, keyword, publisher, format, etc. for a more custom set of results.
- Enhanced searching allows customers to search within results to narrow down a list of titles, and additionally, limit the results to only show titles with copies available. This means no more scrolling through dozens of pages to find a title available for checkout.
- Page numbers in search results gives customers a clear view of how many titles were generated in their search or browse.
Basics
- Check out up to 5 digital titles (audiobook or eBooks) at once.
- Reserve up to 5 digital titles.
- Your eCart can contain up to 7 titles, so you can pick and choose which titles you really want to check out.
- Customize lending periods based on title or format. You can set a 7 or 14 day lending period on your preferences.
- Titles have built-in, star-rating based on our online community ratings.
- You have 2 days to download eReserved books.
- eMedia Assistance to help you with whatever questions you may have.
Benefits
- Available 24/7 with home Internet access, WiFi at participating locations, or over a mobile network
- Listen or read library books when and wherever you want
- Convenient
- Portable
- Easy to download and transfer to a device
- Instant access to new titles without having to visit a physical library location
- Titles automatically check in after their due date
- Environmentally friendly
Devices
- Curious about what devices are supported by our eMedia service? You're in luck! Our vendor, OverDrive has an online listing of the supported eReaders and MP3 players: View OverDrive Supported eReaders & MP3 Players
- Not sure which eReader to buy? We've compiled a list of the most common eReaders for your review. View our eReader Comparision Guide
Online Tutorials
- Kindle Compatible eBooks
- eMedia eBook How To
- eMedia Audiobook How To
- OverDrive Media Console Mobile App How To
- Public Domain eBook Collection Information & How To
Other eBook Resources
- Archive.org - Contains a wide range of fiction, popular books, children's books, historical texts and academic books.
- Baen Library - Hundreds of free Science Fiction and Fantasy eBooks.
- Barnes & Noble Free eBooks - Hundreds of free eBooks that can be used on your BN Nook, NookColor or on iPad, iPhone, Android, and PC.
- Free eBooks - Internet’s #1 online source for free eBook downloads, eBook resources and eBook authors.
- Free Kindle eBooks - Navigate to 'Special Features/Free E-Book collections' to download free classics and out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books, as well as limited-time free promotional e-books available for soley for the Kindle.
- Get Free eBooks - Free eBooks site where you can download free books totally free. They also have a large selection of free trade magazines.
- Google Books - Nearly 3 million free eBooks and hundreds of thousands of titles for purchase. Enjoy Google eBooks on the Web, with Android phones, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and supported eReaders.
- Kobo Books - 299 titles in multiple formats.
- Many Books - More than 29,000 eBooks available for free.
- Project Gutenberg - Download over 33,000 free eBooks to read on your PC, iPad, Kindle, Sony Reader, iPhone, Android or other portable device.
- SmashWords - eBooks from Indie authors and publishers
- University of Pennsylvania eBook Collection - Lists over 900,000 free books on the Web
eBook Lending Resources
- BookFriend.me - Website allows Nook owners to connect with each other and share books using the LendMe feature.
- BookLending - Website that matches lenders and borrowers of Kindle ebooks. Please note, each Kindle book you own can only be loaned once.
- eBookFling - Swap eBooks with thousands of readers nationwide.
- LendLink - A free service that allows you to connect with other book lovers, loan your lendable eBooks in seconds and find new books to borrow.