Published November 15, 2009  Submitted by: Tysha

Computer

Applies to: Windows or Mac computer

INITIAL SETUP

Download and install Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) on your computer. Please make sure you have the most recent version of Adobe Digital Editions installed before continuing with this walkthrough.

To read eBooks on your eReader (or home computer), you must install the free software program Adobe Digital Editions on a personal computer. This program manages the eBooks you borrow from the Library and lets you transfer them to an eReader. On the ADE website, click Download Now under Next Steps to begin the process.

Create an Adobe ID and authorize your computer.
If you do decide to transfer your downloaded eBooks to your eReader, you must create a free Adobe ID and use it to authorize your computer. This can be done at any time by clicking on the Help menu and selecting “Authorize Computer…” or you will be prompted to do so the first time you download a library eBook. If you have not created an Adobe ID, click on the “Get an Adobe ID” link. Once you have created an Adobe ID, return to ADE and enter your email address and password in the authorization window.

CHECKOUT & DOWNLOAD AN EBOOK

You can search for and download eBooks at our Overdrive catalog. Clicking on one of the collection links to the left (under eBook Fiction or eBook Nonfiction) will allow you to browse through different genres. You can also search by title or author (Creator) and then limit your search to a specific format (in this case, ePub or PDF eBooks). Checking the “Only Available Copies” box ensures all the search results are currently available. By clicking on “Advanced Search” you get additional search options, including the ability to limit by format, subject and only copies available. This is a handy feature if you are wanting to load up your device quickly with available mysteries, romances or etc.

EBooks that are available for checkout say “Add to cart.” EBooks that are unavailable say “Place a hold.”

• Once you have found an eBook to checkout, click the “Add to cart” link, then click “Proceed to Checkout.”
• Enter your library card number.
• Choose the length of the lending period (7 or 14 days) and click “Confirm Checkout.”
• Click the “Download” button under the eBook you would like to download.
• In the pop-up window that appears, select “Open with: Adobe Digital Editions” or click the “Open” button.
• Adobe Digital Editions will open on your computer and begin downloading the eBook.

RETURNING AN EBOOK

To return an item early you must use Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). Right-click or Ctrl-click on the book and select “Return Borrowed Item.” To delete the item from your eReader, click on its icon under the Devices heading in ADE and follow the same procedure.