Downloadable Audiobooks

What are they?

The Carrollton Public Library is pleased to offer its cardholders access to a new collection of downloadable audiobooks. "Downloadable Audiobooks from NetLibrary and Recorded Books are digital versions of the latest best sellers, book club favorites, award winning authors and more that you can download and listen to on your computer or portable listening device."

Downloadable audiobooks:

• CANNOT be loaded on the public computers or personal laptops while at the library.
• will NOT work on iPods (iPods don't support WMA format) or Zunes
• will NOT work on Macs (until Microsoft releases a Windows Media Player for the Mac that uses Windows Media Rights Manager version 2.x)
• are in WMA format
• can be listened  to on your PC using Windows Media Player v. 9 and above, Musicmatch Jukebox v8.2 and above, or Nullsoft Winamp v5 and above.
• require a NetLibrary account to download

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Software Requirements

Browser

(click the browser's name to go to the site for downloading)

• Firefox 1.0 and above
• Mozilla 1.1 and above
• Netscape 6.2 and above
• Opera 7.0 and above
• Internet Explorer 5.5 and above

Media Player

(click the player's name to go to the site for downloading)

• Windows Media Player 9.0 and above
• Musicmatch Jukebox v8.2 and above
• Nullsoft Winamp v5 and above

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Portable Listening Devices

Recommended portable listening device features:

• will NOT work on iPods (don't support WMA format) or Zunes
• playback of at least 32 kbps files
• minimum storage capacity of 256 MB (average CD quality file size for a downloadable audiobook is 140 MB)
• support for bookmarking (lets you bookmark when you stop listening, then pick up where you left off - you can use a player that doesn't support bookmarking but may have a harder time finding where you left off)
• full time stamping (will allow the full length of a downloadable audiobook file to display - you can use a player without full time stamping but the time displayed will be limited to the maximum allowed)

Resources for checking or choosing a player:

Will your player work? Want to find a player to buy? Check the Plays for Sure site

See a list of tested devices known to be compatible with DABs (PDF requires Adobe Reader).

Read NetLibrary's information on Supported Portable Listening Devices

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Finding Them

NetLibrary eAudiobook Center Searching outside the library requires a NetLibrary account.

Browse the library's downloadable audiobook collection

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Getting Them

1. Click link reading "A downloadable audio book accessible through the World Wide Web; click for information" in the catalog record for the title OR search only for downloadable audiobooks using the NetLibrary eAudiobook Center until you find a title you want to download.
2. Click "Log In" at the top of the screen above the NetLibrary logo and enter your NetLibrary username and password when prompted.
3. Click "Download this Audiobook" in the NetLibrary record for the title.
4. Select a quality and click the link to download. Radio quality is a faster download if you will only be listening on your computer. Choose CD quality if you plan to listen on a portable listening device.
5. From the download dialog box choosing "Open" will download the file and launch your media player to stream the book as it downloads. If you choose "Save" you can pick where you want the file to download. Read why "Save" is the better option and is recommended by the library.
6. After the download is complete, open the downloadable audiobook in your media player while you are still connected to the Internet to acquire a license
7. Transfer to your MP3 player or other portable listening device in the same way you always do (If using Windows Media Player v. 9 or 10 use the steps listed in NetLibrary's Audiobook FAQs)

Downloadable audiobook facts:

• check out a maximum of 10 at a time
• check out is for 3 weeks (the license automatically expires preventing access)
• license lets you copy the Audiobook to two additional portable listening devices.
• can be renewed
• cannot be returned early
• unlimited users per title, so items cannot be placed on hold
• stay on your hard drive after the license expires taking up space - you must manually delete them

Downloading:

Estimated download times based on quality selected and connection speed:

Duration	Quality	File Size	Download Times (hours : minutes : seconds)
			Dial-up Modem 56 Kbps	DSL 256 Kbps	Cable Modem 1.5 Mbps
15 Hours	CD (34 Kbps)	217.8 MB	08:51:01	01:56:09	00:19:21
	Radio (4 Kbps)*	41.1 MB	01:40:12	00:21:55	00:03:39
10 Hours	CD	145.2 MB	05:54:00	01:17:26	00:12:54
	Radio*	27.4 MB	01:06:48	00:14:36	00:02:26
8 Hours	CD	116.16 MB	04:43:12	01:01:57	00:10:19
	Radio*	21.92 MB	00:53:26	00:11:41	00:01:56
5 Hours	CD	72.6 MB	02:57:00	00:38:43	00:06:27
	Radio*	13.7 MB	00:33:24	00:07:18	00:01:13
*Radio quality downloads can play ONLY on your PC. Portable listening devices like MP3 players require CD quality download.

Source: NetLibrary
<http://0-www.netlibrary.com.innovative.cityofcarrollton.com/Help/DisplayTopic.aspx?Name=Listening/EaudiobookEstimatedDownloadTimes>

Why "Save" is the better option when downloading:

• streaming the audiobook while it downloads significantly increases the download time
• the audiobook file does NOT delete itself when the license expires so it must be deleted manually (a 10 hour book=145 MB on your hard drive, a 15 hour book=218 MB) Choosing "Save" lets you select a folder you have created to keep track of these downloads as the destination rather than your default download folder, so you can find the expired downloads to delete them easily.

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Renewing

1. Log in to your NetLibrary account
2. Click on My Checked Out Items. You will see a list of the items you have checked out.
3. Click Download this Audiobook for the item you would like to renew. You will see a screen that is similar to the page you first used to download the audiobook.
4. Click on Renew your checkout for 21 Days (No Download. Only license to play file). Your audiobook is now renewed!

Having Problems?

The Carrollton Public Library does NOT provide technical support for personal computers, Palm OS handheld devices, software media players, or portable listening devices. If you have any problems with your personal computer, software media players, or portable listening devices, you need to contact the appropriate manufacturer.

Common problems

• If Windows Media Player shows "acquiring license," but eventually you get a message that you don't have a license to play the audiobook, then check version of your Windows Media Player. (Press the F1 key anywhere on the Windows Media Player window. The version displays. Press the Alt key anywhere on the Windows Media Player window. The standard menu bar displays. Then click on Help and About Windows Media Player.) It must be version 9 or higher. Download latest Windows Media Player
• The message "You need a license" may mean you have downloaded a new version of Windows Media Player and need to resynch with the portable listening devices. Contact your computer or portable listening device manufacturer for specific information.
• If an audiobook played fine on your portable listening device yesterday but won't play today, then the checkout period for the audiobook may have expired. Login to the NetLibrary web site, and click on the My Checked Out items link in the upper right-hand navigation, to see if the Audiobook checkout period has expired.

Try NetLibrary's Audiobook FAQs for an answer to your question

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NetLibrary Account Setup

From home:

• Go to NetLibrary signup from home. Have your library card handy. You need to enter your library card number before you can go to the NetLibrary account.
• Complete the form (* means you must enter information into that field) and click "submit" when finished. You must have a valid e-mail address to set up a NetLibrary account.
• NetLibrary sends e-mail verification of your successful account setup with your user name. Save this e-mail in case you forget your user name.

At the Library:

• Go to either Carrollton Public Library. map
• Use a catalog PC or log in with your library card number to a computer.
• Go to NetLibrary signup
• Complete the form (* means you must enter information into that field) and click "submit" when finished. You must have a valid e-mail address to set up a NetLibrary account.
• NetLibrary sends e-mail verification of your successful account setup with your user name. Save this e-mail in case you forget your user name.

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