FAQ

FAQ-Downloadable Audiobooks

What are Downloadable Audiobooks?
How can I access the Audiobooks?
How do I create a new account?
How do I search for an audiobook to download?
How do I actually download the audiobook?
How do I renew a downloaded audiobook?
How many times can they be renewed?
How many can I have checked out?
Can I check in an audiobook?
How many times can I transfer the audiobook to my portable media player?
Why can't I burn the audiobook to a CD?
Can I download and play an eAudiobook on an iPod?
Recommended Mp3 Players -- (Recently Tested Players)
What if my question is not listed here?

What are Downloadable Audiobooks?

Downloadable Audiobooks are digital versions of printed books that can be downloaded to a computer and/or portable audio player that supports Windows Media Player (version 9 or higher).

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How can I access the Audiobooks?

Visit the NetLibrary website (http://www.netlibrary.com) Then click "Log In" and Enter your Username and Password. For information on how to set-up a free account, see below.

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How do I create an Audiobook account?

To create your free account, you will need to use the link to NetLibrary via the Research Resources page on the Northwest Regional Library System website. Due to security and licensing requirements set by NetLibrary, you will need your borrower id # on your library card if you access the website outside of the library. Once you are on the NetLibrary website, click “Create a Free Account” and fill in the required information. We suggest using your library card number as your NetLibrary username and your telephone number as your password. After your account has been created, you should be able to use the account from any computer that has an Internet connection.

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How do I search for an audiobook to download?

By searching NetLibrary at http://www.netlibrary.com

You can search by keyword, author or title.

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How do I actually download the audiobook?

Search for the audiobook title you want to download.
Click on Download this Audiobook.
Select the quality of the audiobook you want to download. You are prompted to login if you have not logged in already.
- CD quality offers high-fidelity playback for patrons with high-speed Internet access. Note: Most portable listening devices do not support the playback of files lower than 32 kpbs, so you must download the CD quality file if you are going to transfer and listen to the audiobook on a portable listening device.
- Radio quality provides faster download speeds and is ideal for patrons with dial-up connections.
NOTE: Depending on how you play other media files, the window's media bar might open and begin playing the audiobook file. We highly recommend that you do not play the file while it is downloading. The download will take longer and may not download correctly.
Specify how you want to download the file:
- Save the audiobook file on your personal computer in a directory of your choice.
  Note: NetLibrary highly recommends this option.
- Open the audiobook file on your personal computer in a Temporary directory. It can be difficult to find Audiobook files using this method.
Locate and open the audiobook file the same way you would any other file. Note: You MUST open the audiobook file before disconnecting your Internet connection or you will be prompted to log in the first time you attempt to open the Audiobook file.

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How do I renew a downloaded audiobook?

First, log in to your account. Then click on My Checked Out Items link (in the top right hand corner). When you try to renew the expired license, a pop-up window will appear. Log in to renew your checkout.

Note: Do not renew the item until close to or after the expiration date. When you renew the item, you will have another 21 days. However, any days you have remaining on the old license will be lost.

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How many times can they be renewed?

Downloadable audiobooks may be renewed once for 21 additional days. After the second renewal expires, you will have to download the audiobook again to continue listening to it.

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How many can I have checked out?

You may have up to 10 audiobooks checked out at one time.

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I've listened to all six of the audiobooks I downloaded, can I check them in and check out more?

No, downloaded audiobooks cannot be checked in. If you have reached the maximum number of checked-out items, you must wait until one of them expires before you can check out another title.

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How many times can I transfer the audiobook to my portable media player?

Each downloaded audiobook permits 2 transfers to portable media players.

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Why can't I burn the audiobook to a CD?

For copyright purpose, audiobook files are encrypted to prevent them from being burned to a CD.

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Can I download and play an eAudiobook on an iPod?

You can download and play an eAudiobook on an iPod, depending on the format of the audio file. Each eAudiobook is available in one of the two formats: MP3 format or protected WMA format. See: Format and Plays On.
MP3 format. Media Center allows MP3 files to be downloaded directly to your iPod and played with a single click. The manual alternative is to use the NetLibrary website to download the eAudiobook and relocate the file to the iPod yourself. To do this, perform the following steps:
1. Download the MP3 file to a PC using the NetLibrary website.
2. Manually move the MP3 file from the PC to the iPod.
3. Locate the file on your iPod and play it.
Protected WMA format. You cannot play an eAudiobook in protected WMA format on an iPod because iPods use the .aac file format and the .aac file format does not support the Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection required by eAudiobooks in protected WMA format.

How do I find eAudiobooks that will play on my iPod?
When you search for eAudiobooks, you can limit your search to eAudiobooks in MP3 format. See Search for eAudiobooks in Media Center or Search for eAudiobooks (website). Only eAudiobooks that are in MP3 format can be listened to on your iPod or Mac. Media Center allows MP3 files to be downloaded directly to your iPod and played with a single click. The manual alternative is to use the NetLibrary website to download the eAudiobook and relocate the file to the iPod yourself.

Recommended MP3 players include Creative Labs, Sansa, and Toshiba models -- See Plays for Sure (www.playsforsure.com) website for detailed listing of compatible portable media devices. Netlibrary continues to test mp3 players for use with audiobooks, click here to see the latest list of tested players.

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What if my question is not listed here?

If your question or problem is not addressed here, please go to the NetLibrary Help page, at http://www.netlibrary.com/Help/

If you are having software or hardware issues related to Downloadable Audiobooks, please contact NetLibrary directly by filling out the form at http://www.netlibrary.com/Help/ContactUs.aspx

Someone from NetLibrary will contact you.

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