Downloadable Audiobooks @ Jacobs Library
Updated 2/2/2007

Jacobs Library has a subscription for Downloadable Audiobooks through NetLibrary.

 ·       You have access to 1,501 audiobooks with more books being added each month. 

·       All of the audiobooks are unabridged versions.

·       The collection contains nonfiction and fiction, classics and contemporary titles

·       The collection contains the popular Pimsleur foreign language series for 25 languages.  It also contains the “Ingles/English for Spanish speakers” and other foreign speakers.

·       A few examples of what’s included:

o        1776 / David McCullough

o        Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln / Jan Kearns

o        Hamlet / Shakespeare

o        They Marched Into Sunlight: War and Peace, Vietnam and America / Maraniss

o        Family First / Dr. Phil McGraw

o        At Home in Mitford / Karon

o        Garden of Beasts / Jeffery Deaver

o        Angels and Demons / Dan Brown

·       Each title can be downloaded for a 3 week period to your computer / MP3 player. (See below for details.)

·       Books can be renewed for an additional 3 week period.

·       You may check out (download) 6 books at a time.
 

Audiobooks need to be downloaded to a computer.  You can listen over the computer or, after opening the audiobook on your computer at least once, they can be transferred to a portable device such as an MP3 player.  (IPODs do not work with these audiobooks.)  If purchasing an MP3 player, select one that has "bookmarking" and "full time stamping" functionality.  An MP3 player with a flash memory drive is less expensive, but usually only allows for pause and play.  A player with a hard drive will cost more, but will have the ability to bookmark.

• What bookmarking does:
  • Allows you to designate a place within a file and return to that place.
• What full time stamping does:
  • Some devices limit time tracking to a predefined period of time and often Audiobooks files may be longer than the predefined 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 Audiobook file to display.

Also watch the size of the hard drive in your MP3 player.  Most downloadable audiobooks in CD quality are between 100MB and 140MB.  The ideal MP3 player would have a hard drive large enough to hold several books at one time.

To access the Downloadable Audiobooks you need to create a free account in NetLibrary.

From the library web page at www.ivcc.edu/library  click on the link for “Books” and then “NetLibrary”.

When NetLibrary website opens you will find a link in the upper right corner of the screen “Create a Free Account”.  Click this link and complete the form.  The Username and Password you choose can be anything you like and is not tied to your ID number.  The most frequent problem at this point is the Username or Password you choose being used by another patron, in which case you will be prompted for a different Username or Password.  After you create your account you will be able to access NetLibrary’s Downloadable Audiobooks from any computer with internet access.

Download the brochure "A Quick-start Guide for Library Users" for information about the
downloadable audiobook collection available to IVCC patrons.

List of over 1000 audiobooks available for download through NetLibrary.

Portable devices supported by NetLibrary Audiobooks. (Updated list 1/30/2007)
This web site lists the MP3 players that were tested and worked with downloadable audiobooks as of 1/27/2007.  It also lists approximate costs, device feature requirements, and the standard test that NetLibrary puts the MP3 players through to determine how they will work with downloadable audiobooks.

Going Portable with eAudiobooks brochure

Tutorial on downloading an eAudiobook and transferring it to an MP3 player.
Click on "Listen to eAudiobooks" from the menu in the upper right on the screen.

Have questions or need help?
    Call Jacobs Library   1-815-224-0306
    Call OCLC (netLibrary) support  1-800-848-5800
    Email OCLC (netLibrary)    support@oclc.org

Frequently Asked Questions at IVCC

Q.  After I download the audiobook to my computer, can I burn it to a CD?
A.  Unfortunately, no you cannot burn it to a CD.  Technically, you can burn it but it is encrypted and you will not be able to listen to it.

Q.  How can I tell if the MP3 player has a flash drive or hard drive?
A.  The documentation for the MP3 should tell you this information.  Generally, the MP3 players with a memory flash drive are cheaper and smaller.  The MP3 players with a hard drive cost more and are larger.

	Sample of a MP3 player with a  flash drive.
	Sample of a MP3 player with a hard drive. MP3s with a hard drive are generally larger, but with the constant change you may find a larger MP3 with a flash drive.  Check carefully.