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FAQs About eBooks and eAudiobooks

FAQs about eBooks

Did you know that CRRL patrons have free access to more than 46,000 + eBook titles available online through netLibrary.com? Our eBook titles appear in the CRRL catalog with the phrase "[electronic resource]" and a link to that title on netLibrary's Web site. (For example, see our eBook Herbs in Bloom.)
If you want to search specifically for eBooks, do a general keyword search for "netlibrary."

FAQs about eAudiobooks

If you love listening to books on CD but hate to wait for bestsellers on the hold list, you'll love CRRL's eAudiobooks! Now patrons can download audiobooks right to their computers or portable audio devices through NetLibrary. You can download up to ten titles at a time and have them checked out for three weeks.

What are eAudiobooks?

eAudiobooks from NetLibrary and Recorded Books are digital versions of audiobooks that are available through the Internet. eAudiobooks can be played on any desktop or laptop device supporting Windows Media Player (version 10). You can also transfer your favorite titles to a wide range of portable audio devices (PADs).

How many eAudiobooks are available?

There are over 800 audiobooks available now and NetLibrary and Recorded Books plan to add about 30 titles a month.

How long does it take to download an eAudiobook?

It depends on the size of the audiobook. An eight-hour book takes fifteen minutes to download via broadband. As with all data transfers, dial-up users will wait longer than cable modem or T1 users. For each book there is an approximate download time for both broadband and dial-up, so you will know how long it will take.

How does it work inside the library?

While you can set up an account and browse the collection in the library, the actual downloading of an audiobook is only available on your personal computer.

So, I can do this from home?

Yes, you can click on Articles & Databases, click on "Netlibrary" and use your CRRL library card to access the site and set up your NetLibrary account. A NetLibrary account can be established on the NetLibrary site by clicking "Create A Free Account" in the upper-right of the screen. Follow the instructions in Step 1 above. If you don't have a CRRL library card, apply for one online.

If 15 people want to download an eAudiobook the day it comes out, can we all do it?

Yes - an unlimited number of people can download an audiobook at once.

How many eAudiobooks can you download?

NetLibrary limits the download to 10 audiobooks on one account at a time. Audiobooks are checked out for three weeks and then will stop working. You cannot check an audiobook back in. When the three weeks is up, you will need to remove the file from your PAD by using the directions above, or you can renew it through NetLibrary and re-synchronize it to activate the new license that is attached to the file.

What else do you need?

In order to listen to the audiobook or to transfer it to a PAD, your computer needs to have Windows Media Player (WMP) Version 10 on it. If you open WMP and don't see the tabs that say "Library, Rip, Burn, Sync" at the top, you do not have Version 10. Go to the "help" menu and click "Check for Player Updates." Follow the instructions for download and update your WMP before you begin. RealPlayer will not work.

On WMP, what do "Rip and Burn" mean?

  1. Rip: allows you to take specific songs from audio CDs you have and put them on your computer. They can then be transferred to your PAD.
  2. Burn: Once you have "ripped" your chosen songs and/or downloaded music from the Internet legally, you can burn those songs onto a CD.

Is there anything else?

  1. Yes! While iPods are currently the most popular form of Portable Audio Devices (PAD's), iPods are NOT compatible with this service from NetLibrary, since they can not run Windows Media Audio (WMA) files. To see a list of compatible devices: http://netlibrary.com/RecordedBooks/Help/SupportedDevices.aspx
  2. The download of the book takes longer than the transfer of the audiobook to the PAD.
  3. The file that downloads to your computer is called a WMA, or Windows Media Audio. The program that runs this file is Windows Media Player (WMP).

Acronyms to remember:

  • PAD: Personal Audio Device
  • WMA: Windows Media Audio
  • WMP: Windows Media Player