River Falls Public Library - eBooks, Kindles and Digital Downloads Information

ebooks, Kindles and Digital Downloads Information & Help

Jump to Step-by-Step Digital Downloads Instructions

Can I check out a Kindle? Does the library have ebooks to check-out? What ebook reader is best? Those are just a few of the many questions the library staff has been asked about Kindles and ebooks. While there is not an easy answer to these questions, hopefully the information below will give you general information about Kindles, ebooks, and what is available at the library.

Check out Kindles
The library does have Amazon Kindles that you can check out. Please see our Kindle Policy. The Kindles check out for two weeks. You will need a library card and a $50 deposit, cash or check, to check out a Kindle. Two of the Kindles can be reserved for specific dates and the others are first-come, first serve. The library selects and purchases titles for the Kindles. You will not be able to purchase or add titles to library Kindles. You will also not be able to transfer the library copy of a Kindle title to your personal Kindle.

Try Out ebook Devices
The library has an iPad, iPod Touch, Nook Touch, Color Nook, a Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Android tablet, and an Amazon Kindle Fire that you can use in the library. (Sorry, no check-outs.) Stop by the Reference Desk when Kim is at the desk to test drive one of the devices.

Free ebooks
There are thousands free of public domain ePub books available at websites such as epubBooks (http://www.epubbooks.com/) and Google Books (http://books.google.com). Search for books published before 1923.

Library ebooks to Check Out
Through the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) website (http://www.wplc.info/), there are thousands of ebooks available to check out.

Library ebooks to Check Out on the Kindle
Beginning on September 21, 2011, the WPLC is offering ebooks to check out for your personal Kindle. After you check out an ebook for your Kindle, it will be delivered to your Kindle via your Amazon account or you can download the ebook file and transfer the file your Kindle. All of the Kindle (Fire, Touch, keyboard, etc) models are supported. You will need your Amazon account user name, generally your personal email, and your Amazon password.
Click here for step-by-step instructions.

Library ebooks to Check Out on All Other Devices
Books in the ePub and PDF format which are compatible with many portable devices such the Sony eReaders, the Barnes & Noble Nook, the iPad, iPhone, the iPod Touch, and Android devices. Click here for a list of compatible devices.

To use ebooks through the WPLC, you will need to:
1) Create an Adobe Digital ID.
2) Either Download and install Adobe Digital Editions to your computer or install the OverDrive app on your device.
3) If you downloaded the ebook to your computer, you will have transfer it to your device.

Adobe Digital Editions is digital book software that manages the use of the ebooks with your computer and compatible ebook devices when you check out ebooks through the WPLC website. It will allow you to transfer ebooks from your computer to a device that does not have the OverDrive App.

After you install Adobe Digital Editions and create your ID, you can check-out ebooks to read on your computer or on your portable device such as a Sony eReader or the Barnes & Noble Nook. The books usually check-out for one or two weeks and then become unusable. Help on using ebooks through the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium can be found at http://overdrivefaq.pbworks.com/Using-ebooks.

The River Falls Public Library and all other MORE libraries are part of the Indianhead Federated Library System. When checking out digital materials through Overdrive or the WPLC, select the Indian Federated Library System for your library system. You will also need to enter your library card number. Your library account needs to be up-to-date and your fines must be below $10.00 to check out ebooks.

OverDrive App
If you have an Android phone or an Apple iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, an Overdrive app is available either through the Android Market or the Apple App Store. Help on using the Overdrive app can be found at: http://www.overdrive.com/software/omc/ or at the bottom of this page. The OverDrive app manages the use of ebooks and digital audio books on your device.

Digital Audio Books & Videos
There are thousands of digital audio books and hundreds of music and videos files available to check out through the WPLC. You will need to download and install OverDrive Media Console software to use these digital resources. A list of compatible portable devices is available at http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/.

Questions?
If you have questions about Kindles, ebooks, apps or other digital resources, please contact Kim at the library or call 715-425-0905 or by email at kimk@riverfallspubliclibrary.org.

Digital Downloads Instructions for ebooks & Digital Audiobooks
Below are instructions for using ebooks and digital audio books. As new and better instructions are found or created, updates will be posted. Links in Bold have step by step instruction created by the River Falls Public Library staff.

Place a Hold on a Library ebook or other Digital Downloads