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Introduction To eAudioBooks
Recorded Books LLC, one of the major publishers of audio books, now offers a library of downloadable eAudiobooks through their partnership with NetLibrary, provider of an easy-to-use information retrieval system for e-content. Downloadable eAudiobooks are digital versions of audiobooks available through the Internet. Eaudiobooks may be played on any desktop or portable device supporting Windows media Player (WMP) version 9 and above.
Favorite titles may also be transferred to a wide range of portable devices, (See suggested list of players), including portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs, and even select smartphone devices.
There are presently over 1400 titles including the Pimsleur Language Series and the Holy Bible. Additionally, self-help titles such as Stephen Covey are in a series called Coach in a Box. Titles are always available and you never have to wait for a Hold. Thirty or more new titles are added each month. There are basically five sections to quickly review, if you are a first time user.
1. Step One
2. Step Two: Download an eAudiobook
3. Step Three
4. Facts About eAudiobooks
5. FAQ
If you do not have a library card, click here. You will need a library card to access the Galileo password from home. Netlibrary is a database on the Galileo site.
Library cardholders may create their own accounts by accessing NetLibrary remotely, through the library website: http://www.afpls.org:
- click the 'Books & Materials' tab, 'A-Z Databases', scroll down to the NetLibrary database.
- remote users are prompted to enter their library card number and PIN
- on the following page, click on GALILEO and enter GALILEO password.
- If you do not know the GALILEO password: (Click on the "Books and Materials" tab from the Library website; Click "Catalog Search" from the dropdown menu; enter User ID/PIN; Click "Login to the e-Library OPAC"; Click the blue "My profile" tab and you will find the Galileo password.
- Access NetLibrary from the A-Z Database' list.
Please note: Downloading is not available on public computers. You will be downloading eAudiobooks from your personal home computers.
Click here
You are now ready to log in, search, and download an eAudiobook from anywhere!
a) Log in with your NetLibrary username and password by clicking on the red 'Log In' button.
b) Search eAudiobook by Title, Keyword, Author, Narrator, or Subject, etc. using the basic search field or advanced search field.
c) Use 'Show Details' and Listen to Preview to learn more about an eAudiobook.
d) Download your selections by clicking on "Download This Audiobook"
e) Select a download option: CD or Radio Quality (Download to CD Quality if you will transport to a portable device; download to Radio Quality for dial-up modems.) A Download window will pop up asking what you want to do with the file. Choose 'SAVE 'and save it to 'My Document', 'My Music', etc.
f) Acquire the License (Essential Step) Open Windows Media Player (from Programs or icon on your desktop) Double click on the highlighted title to acquire the license. You may be prompted to Log in, if you are not already logged in. The license then downloads, and you are prompted to play the audiobook. To stop the playback, click on the Stop button on the bottom of the Windows Media Player.
g) Download up to 10 books at one time.
Click here for Suggested Players
NetLibrary's eAudiobooks can be listened to on a wide range of portable devices, including portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs, and even select smartphone devices. In order to be considered a device that works with NetLibrary eAudiobooks, the only requirement is that the device must be able to support playback of secure or protected wma files.
NetLibrary eAudiobooks are provided in two sound qualities, CD (32 kbps) and Radio (4 kbps) quality. Most devices do not support the playback of files lower than 32 kbps. When selecting a device you should make certain the device supports playback of at least 32 kbps files. If you are going to transfer and listen to an eAudiobook on a device you should download the CD quality file.
To have an optimal experience when listening to a NetLibrary eAudiobook, it is recommended that you select devices that support features such as bookmarking and full time stamping. Also, devices that have a storage capacity of 256 MB at a minimum are recommended since the average CD quality eAudiobook file size is 140 MB.
Devices that support bookmarking allow you to designate a place within a file and return to that place. Some devices limit time tracking to a pre-defined period of time and often eAudiobooks files may be longer than the pre-defined period in the device. In this case, the complete length of the file will not be shown in the device. Devices that support full time stamping do not limit the time tracking of a file in any way and will allow the full length of an eAudiobook file to display.
1. Presently, iPods may not be used for eAudiobooks, however, this technology will be available in
2009.
2. eAudiobooks and e-Books are products of Recorded Books, LLC and Netlibrary.
3. Patrons will need a library card to remotely access Galileo, host system for eAudiobooks on
Netlibrary database.
4. Patrons will need a free NetLibrary account to start the process of downloading.
5. A Windows Media Player, version 9.0 or above is required to play eAudiobooks.
6. An additional device or adaptor is needed to listen to eAudiobooks on the car stereo.
7. When downloading, choose SAVE at the prompt to "save" or "open" the file.
8. The checkout period is 3 weeks with the option for one renewal.
9. Patron must manually remove the downloaded file from device once the circulation period has
expired.
10. There is a maximum checkout of 10 items at one time.
11. Items cannot be returned early.
12. eAudiobooks cannot be burned to a CD.
13. iPods may not be used for eAudiobooks.
14. eAudiobook files may not be downloaded to public access computers.
15. eAudiobooks may be downloaded to a wide range of portable devices, including portable music
players, Pocket PCs, portable media centers, some smartphone devices.
16. Download time is determined by the speed of the computer and size of book; may take 2
minutes on a cable modem to several hours on a dial-up connection.
17. eAudiobooks will be searchable in the AFPL catalog; each book will be directly linked to
Netlibrary.
18. Patrons will never have late fees or holds with eAudiobooks.
19. There are currently over 1400 titles searchable in the eAudiobook database.
Why can't I download on my iPod? (Available early 2009) Atlanta-Fulton Public Library would like nothing better than to be able to offer downloadable audio content to iPod users. Unfortunately, none of the providers of downloadable audio content to the library market support this platform. Below is the statement made by Netlibrary, a partner of the publisher, Recorded Books LLC, to clarify why the company chose not to use iPods:
"eAudiobooks does not support the use of the Apple iPod for playback. iPods use a file format (.aac) that does not support the Digital Rights Management protection required by NetLibrary eAudiobooks at this time. Digital Rights Management protection helps ensure that the content of our publishing partners is secure, especially when items are checked out from the library's collection and borrowed by a user rather than purchased. This Digital Rights Management technology allows checked out items to expire on the due date". http://www.oclc.org/audiobooks/techspecs/devices.htm
What is the procedure for checking out an eAudiobook? Click here for downloading an eAudiobook.
What equipment is needed to utilize this service? You may listen on your computer, portable music player, portable media center, pocket PC, etc. See suggested list of players.
How many eAudiobooks may I check out? You may check out 10 at a time. Audiobooks may not be returned early, therefore, if you check out 10, you must wait three weeks for additional titles.
Is there a cost involved in using this service? No, there is not a cost involved and late fees do not apply.
When does the checkout period expire? The checkout time expires after 3 weeks and books are automatically checked in after that period. Patrons will no longer have access to that audiobook. You may renew titles another three weeks and it will not have to be downloaded again, just 're-activated' in your computer. After a second renewal of the same title, that book cannot be re-activated and must be downloaded again.
May I download an eAudiobook on the library computer? No, you may not download on any public computer. However, if you have a mobile device, you may download directly to that device.
Are there lists of available books to select from: Yes, go to http://www.netlibrary.com/recordedbooks and select Audiobooks Center. You can search for a specific title, see some featured titles, or "List All Audiobooks".
May I burn the file to a CD? No, you may not, copyright protection is in place.
How long does it take to download a book? The time it takes to download is solely related to the speed of your computer and the length of the book. An average time with fast cable access is roughly 2-30 minutes. Dial up connections can take hours. Once you start to download, you will be told how long it is expected to take.
May I listen to an Audiobook in the car? You will need a radio transmitter or other device adapter that works with your portable listening device and car stereo. Contact the device manufacturer for specific details.
What happens if I cannot find the file after downloading? Make a habit of saving the file to either "My Documents" or "My Music" or create a folder for e-Audiobooks. It is easier to find a the file by saving to the desktop. On the File menu, click File Search. In the Search results, rest the mouse pointer over item's properties. The Windows Media file usually has the author and title of the eAudiobook. You may always go back to your account in Netlibrary to see what is 'checked out' and download again. Always make sure you acquire the license for the item.
Are audiobook files automatically removed from my computer when the checkout period expires? No. The eAudiobook file becomes unreadable, but will remain on your hard drive and in your portable player unless you delete it manually.
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