How to Check Out Audiobooks from the Library for Your PC or Mobile Device

Salem-South Lyon District Library has a growing collection of more than 5,000 audiobook titles that you can check out for use on a variety of portable devices, such as the iPod, iPad, Creative Zen, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone 7. Audiobook borrowing requires a library card and PIN [2].

These instructions will focus on our downloadable audiobooks, which are provided to the Library through a service called OverDrive. The process for checking out audiobooks will be different depending on whether you are using a MP3 player, tablet or smartphone.

Skip to instructions on how to get audiobooks for:

• MP3 Player (including iPod)
• Smartphone/Tablet
• CD Player
• Computer

Supported Portable Devices

Salem-South Lyon District Library’s OverDrive collection, which currently contains MP3 and WMA audiobooks, is supported by most MP3 players and mobile devices.

The following devices work with the Salem-South Lyon District Library’s audiobook collection:

• Android Devices
• Blackberry
• Coby MP3 Players
• Creative MP3 Players
• iPad, iPhone, iPod
• Kindle Fire
• nook Tablet
• Windows Phone 7 Devices

If you have a portal device that is not listed above, visit OverDrive’s list of all compatible devices [3] to find out whether your device will work with the Library’s downloadable audiobooks.

Checking Out Audiobooks for an MP3 Player & iPod

In order to listen to the Library's audiobooks on a MP3 player, you must download and install the third party software program Overdrive Media Console on the computer you will be using with your MP3 Player.

Instructions:

1. Download and install OverDrive Media Console [4] (OMC) on your computer.
2. Go to the Library’s Digital Media Catalog [5] and search or browse for an audiobook. (Tip: Use "Advanced Search" and search by audiobook format.)
3. Once you've found a book, click "Add to cart," then from your Cart, click "Proceed to Checkout."
4. Enter your Library card number and PIN [2]
5. Click “Confirm check out” and click the “Download” button under each audiobook.
6. OMC will open and the book will download to your computer.
7. After OMC launches, connect your MP3 player to your computer. In the OMC screen, click transfer.
8. Disconnect your MP3 player safely. The audiobook will return automatically after its lending period (7 or 14 days).

iPod users

You can just drag MP3 audiobooks to your iTunes and sync, but if you're transferring a WMA audiobook, open iTunes (v9.1 or newer), then use OverDrive Media Console to transfer (as above).

Mac users

Look for MP3 audiobooks; WMA (Windows Media Audio) audiobooks won't work on your computer.

Checking Out Audiobooks for an iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, NOOK Tablet Device or Kindle Fire Device

You can use the Library’s audiobooks on popular mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone and iPad, Android Phones/Tablets, Blackberry or Windows Phone 7.  Syncing to a PC is not required; audiobooks can be delivered directly to your device through the free Overdrive Media Console app.

As of October 2nd, 2012: Borrowing eBooks and audiobooks from the library just got a whole lot easier for users of the NOOK HD, NOOK HD+, NOOK Tablet™ and NOOK Color™ as Barnes & Noble added the OverDrive Media Console app to the NOOK Apps™ [6] storefront. This NOOK app enables users to wirelessly borrow eBooks and MP3 audiobooks from the library.

As of October 12th, 2012: Borrowing eBooks and audiobooks from the library just got a whole lot easier for users of the Kindle Fire as Amazon added the OverDrive Media Console app to the Amazon Apps [7] storefront. This Kindle app enables users to wirelessly borrow eBooks and MP3 audiobooks from the library.

Instructions:

1. Search your device's app store for the Overdrive Media Console app and install it on your phone. Alternatively, you may go here [4] from your device.
2. Tap "Get Books," then "Add a Website" and search for the South Lyon and select Salem-South Lyon District Library.
3. Search or browse the OverDrive catalog for an audiobook.
4. Tap "Add to cart" and "Proceed to checkout."
5. Tap "Confirm check out" and enter your Library card number and PIN [2].
6. Tap "Download" to get the audiobook.
7. Your audiobook will launch in the OverDrive app.

iPhone, iPad and iTouch users

The catalog of audiobooks you have access to is restricted to MP3 files.  If you would like to load a WMA (Windows Media Audio) file to your device.  Use the directions for Checking Out Audiobooks for an MP3 Player & iPod above.

Burning AudioBooks to CD

In order to listen to the Library's audiobooks on a CD, you must download and install the third party software program Overdrive Media Console on the computer you will be using with your MP3 Player.  You will, also, need to have Windows Media Player version 9 or higher.

Instructions:

1. Download and install OverDrive Media Console [4] (OMC) on your computer.
2. Go to the Library’s Digital Media Catalog [5] and search or browse for an audiobook. (Tip: Use "Advanced Search" and search by audiobook format.)
3. Once you've found a book that specifies that it "can be burned to CD," click "Add to cart," then from your Cart, click "Proceed to Checkout."
4. Enter your Library card number and PIN [2]
5. Click “Confirm check out” and click the “Download” button under each audiobook.
6. OMC will open and the book will download to your computer.
7. Highlight your book and click the 'Burn' button.
8. The OverDrive Media Console Burn Wizard opens. Click 'Next.'
9. The Burn Wizard shows which parts of the file are available on your computer. Each part will fill one CD.
10. Click the boxes next to each part to select the parts you want to burn to CD.
11. Click 'Next.'
12. Insert a blank CD-R in your CD-RW drive and click the 'Start Burn' button.

Playing AudioBooks on Your Computer

You can listen to audiobooks on your computer by opening OverDrive Media Console. Any titles you have checked out will appear there. Double click on a title to listen. 

 Questions about Downloading AudioBooks

Do I have to download the entire book at once?

No, you can download audiobooks in parts by selecting what to download before transferring.  This may be necessary if your MP3 player has limited storage.

How long will it take to download the book?

Download times will vary based on the length of the book and the speed of your Internet connection. If you are on a dial-up connection, you will experience much slower downloads.  The library currently offers a download station at the library for those with slower Internet connections wishing to download books faster.

Can I download the title multiple times?

For audiobooks, there is no limit to the number of times you can download the title. Throughout the 1 or 2 week check out period, you can download the parts at separate times.

How do I download the other parts?

1. Open OverDrive Media Console.
2. Locate the desired title in your 'Media Library', and single-click it to select.
3. Click the 'Download' button at the top of the OverDrive Media Console. The 'Download Part(s)' dialog box is displayed, and lists all of the parts of the selected title.
4. If you are not already online, connect to the Internet.
5. Locate the part which you want to download, and place a checkmark in the checkbox to the left of the desired part.
6. Click the 'OK' button. The selected part will begin downloading, and the download status will be displayed in the lower-right hand corner of OverDrive Media Console.