Online Books

eBook Help:  FAQ

eAudiobook Help

Questions:

1. What are eBooks?
2. What do I need in order to check out and download eBooks from the library?
3. Does my library card have to be from HPL to check out eBooks? What if my card is from a different library?
   
4. What types of eBooks does the library offer? Are they all old classics?
   
5. How do I find out if the specific title I want is available as an eBook?
   
6. Why isn't my favorite book available as an eBook? Can you order it?
7. How many eBooks can I check out at a time?
   
8. How long can I keep an eBook that I check out from the library?
9. What happens when the eBook is "due"? How do I "return" it to the library?
10. Can I return an eBook early if I'm finished with it?
    
11. Can I renew an eBook if I'm not done with it yet?
12. Why do I have to place a hold for an eBook? If these are electronic, why aren't there unlimited copies available?
13. How many eBooks can I place on hold at a time?
14. How will I know when my eBook hold is available for me?
15. I don't want to wait — how do I find eBooks that are available now, with no holds?
    
16. I don't see my eBook checkouts and holds when I log into my Lakeland account. Why aren't they listed?
    
17. Is there a way to keep track of which eBooks I've already read?
18. Can I download library eBooks to my Nook / iPad / other eReader device?
19. I heard that library books don't work on the Amazon Kindle. Is this true?
20. How do I download eBooks to my eReader?
    
21. Can I download eBooks at my local branch using the library computers?
    
22. What is the difference between EPUB eBooks and PDF eBooks?
    
23. I want to buy an eReader device. Which one do you recommend? 
24. I'm getting a strange error message. What do I do?

Answers

1. What are eBooks?  According to Wikipedia:  An electronic book (also e-book, ebook, digital book) is a text and image-based publication in digital form produced on, published by, and readable on computers or other digital devices.^[1] Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital. The Oxford Dictionary of English defines the e-book as "an electronic version of a printed book,"^[2] but e-books can and do exist without any printed equivalent. E-books are usually read on dedicated hardware devices known as e-Readers or e-book devices. Personal computers and some cell phones can also be used to read e-books.
2. What do I need in order to check out and download eBooks from the library?  You need a valid library card from Hackley Public Library, Muskegon Area District Library, or select Lakeland Library Cooperative libraries.  You will also need software or an app, depending on your device:  Adobe Digital Editions to read the book on your computer or to transfer it to an eReader, or Overdrive Media Console to transfer it to a mobile device.  Kindle users do not need the software, but do need an Amazon account.
3. Does my library card have to be from HPL to check out eBooks? What if my card is from a different library?   Your card has to be from one of the participating Lakeland Library Cooperative libraries, which includes HPL and MADL.  You can check HERE to see if your library is a participating library.  If it is not, contact your home library to see if they participate with Overdrive.
4. What types of eBooks does the library offer? Are they all old classics?  We offer new releases, children's book, romances, mysteries, all your favorite genres.  We also have classics.
5. How do I find out if the specific title I want is available as an eBook?  The best way is to go to lakeland.lib.overdrive.com.  You can search by  author, title, or genre.  You can also search our online catalog for all books.  Be sure to choose ebook as a format.
6. Why isn't my favorite book available as an eBook? Can you order it?   Not all books are published as eBooks, and not all eBooks are made available to libraries.  Let us know what you are looking for and we'll see if we can get it.
7. How many eBooks can I check out at a time?  You can check out  5 titles at one time, eBooks and eAudiobooks combined.
   
8. How long can I keep an eBook that I check out from the library?   You can keep books out for 7 or 14 days, your choice.  You can adjust your default checkout period for future checkouts by logging into My Digital Account and selecting the Lending Periods link.
9. What happens when the eBook is "due"? How do I "return" it to the library?  When your book is due it will "expire"-you won't be able to read it any longer.  You do not have to return it.  It will remain, unreadable, on your computer or device until you delete it.
   
10. Can I return an eBook early if I'm finished with it?   Adobe® eBooks can be returned using Adobe Digital Editions.  EPUB ebooks can be returned using OverDrive Media Console v2.3 (or newer) for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone/iPad.
11. Can I renew an eBook if I'm not done with it yet?    Unfortunately, no, there is no way to renew a book.  You can redownload it if no one is waiting for it, or put your name back on the waiting list.
12. Why do I have to place a hold for an eBook? If these are electronic, why aren't there unlimited copies available?  Good question.  Basically, publishers are afraid that if there is unlimited availability of eBooks through libraries then people won't buy them.  They limit them just as a physical book is limited--one book=one checkout at a time. 
13. How many eBooks can I place on hold at a time?  You can place 5 books on hold at one time.
14. How will I know when my eBook hold is available for me? When your eBook is ready you will get an email telling you that is is available and that you have 3 days in which to download it.  If you have not downloaded it within the 3 days, it will be cancelled and the book will go to the next person in line.
15. I don't want to wait — how do I find eBooks that are available now, with no holds?  When searching for a book at lakeland.lib.overdrive.com, look for the check box that says "Only show titles with available copies".
16. I don't see my eBook checkouts and holds when I log into my Lakeland account. Why aren't they listed?  Overdrive handles the checkouts and holds for the eBook collection.  At this time there is no way to integrate that information with Lakeland accounts.  To see your eBook checkouts and holds, go to lakeland.lib.overdrive.com, sign in, and click on My Digital Account.
17. Is there a way to keep track of which eBooks I've already read?
18. Can I download library eBooks to my Nook / iPad / other eReader device?
19. I heard that library books don't work on the Amazon Kindle. Is this true?
20. How do I download eBooks to my eReader?
    
21. Can I download eBooks at my local branch using the library computers?
    
22. What is the difference between EPUB eBooks and PDF eBooks?
    
23. I want to buy an eReader device. Which one do you recommend? 
24. I'm getting a strange error message. What do I do?