Shift Your Reading into OverDrive at Your Library

For lovers of fiction and non-fiction alike, you have an amazing resource in the Fenton area that you can access 24/7 from your computer or your mobile device.

I'm talking about your local public library. That's right, the public library. You can borrow audiobooks, eBooks, and more from your library and download them to your computer or many mobile devices. You can find this digital library linked on the website for the Genesee District Library (www.thegdl.org) or you can go there directly at http://digital.thegdl.org and start browsing. This service is powered by a company called OverDrive and you can access it with your library card!

As an avid reader with a 40 minute commute to work, I rely on this service to access audiobooks to listen to in my car via. I can easily complete a book a week and it makes the drive a pleasure! I recently bought a Barnes & Noble Nook Color eReader and I've been downloading eBooks to it from the library. We are fortunate to have this service since it's not available at all libraries and it saves me TONS of money on those novels I only read once. Even when I'm not in my car, I download an audiobook to my phone and listen to it while doing chores around the house, biking, or walking around the neighborhood. 

So what do you need to access this service? It's pretty simple. You can access it on any Windows or Mac computer with an Internet connection, or you can use an iPhone, Android-powered phone, or a BlackBerry. I use the Android app (free from the Android marketplace) on my phone and it lets me download MP3 Audiobooks and eBooks directly to my phone over a wireless or cellular connection, so I can get this stuff while I'm out walking around! You will also need a valid library card form the Genesee District Library (restrictions apply; see the library staff for details) and you'll need to know your PIN on your library account. Full details can be found on the library's digital library website. 

Something to note: If you have an Amazon Kindle eReader device, you are out of luck when it comes to borrowing eBooks from the digital library. The Kindle does not support this functionality and Amazon doesn't seem very keen on opening up their device to allow it any time soon. You have to buy all of your books from Amazon or read free books that are out of copyright or freely shared. If you're going to buy an eReader, look in the specifications for something that says that the reader supports the EPUB format and you'll be all set to use this device with eBooks from your library! 

While this is generally a very easy service to use, I wonder if there is any interest in a demo or training session on how to make it all work. The digital library website also has a very easy to use "My Help!" section that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to setup and use the various devices supported by OverDrive.

You probably have a supported device laying around your house. Why not put it to good use and read or listen to some great books? 

Wishing you a lifetime of enjoyable reading,

Glenn Fischer