How 2 ... Get MP3 books from the library

Etan Horowitz | Sentinel Staff Writer

August 31, 2008

The Orange County Library System just introduced a service that lets you download and listen to audiobooks on your iPod, iPhone, Microsoft Zune, cell phone or other MP3 player.

For now, the free software you need to download the MP3 audiobooks only works on Windows PCs, but a Mac version will be released later this year. Downloadable MP3 audiobooks are also available from more than 50 libraries nationwide.

1. Go to www.ocls.info, click on "Virtual Library," then "eBooks and eAudio," then on the "OverDrive" logo. Click the link of the left side of the page to download the OverDrive media software and then click the logo next to "MP3 Audiobooks." Read through the system requirements and then download the software.

2. Continue following the steps to download and install the software. If you plan on playing the audiobook on an iPod or iPhone, make sure your version of iTunes is up to date. With iTunes open, connect your iPod or iPhone to your computer, click on your device on the left side of iTunes and when the "Summary" page appears, make sure "Manually manage music" is checked.

3. Once your software has been downloaded and installed, return to the Web page to browse through audiobooks. Make sure the book you want to select is an "MP3 Audiobook." Click to download the MP3 audiobook and follow the steps.

4. Once your audiobook had been downloaded, connect your portable player to your computer and hit the "Transfer" button at the top of the OverDrive interface. Use the wizard that pops up to transfer the audiobook files. If your computer has a CD burner, you can click the "Burn" button to burn the audiobook to CD. You can't use the transfer wizard if you have an iPod Shuffle or a Microsoft Zune, but you can transfer the MP3 files yourself.

5. You do not have to "return" MP3 audiobooks. The audiobook will remain on your burned CD, iPod or MP3 player, but the library's terms of service instruct users to delete all copies of an audiobook once the checkout period has ended.

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