Calgary Public Library - NetLibrary Downloadable Audiobooks

NetLibrary is a division of Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC). Founded in 1967, OCLC is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to giving the public access to the world's information. More than 53,548 libraries in 96 countries and territories around the world use OCLC services.

With your Calgary Public Library card you have access to an ever-growing collection of NetLibrary eAudiobooks that you can borrow, just like regular books from your home computer.

What is an eAudiobook?

An eAudiobook is a digital version of a recorded book. You'll be able to hear actors read your favorite books! eAudiobooks can be played on almost any home computer or portable device. Portable devices include portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs, or select smartphone devices. Sorry, currently NetLibrary eAudiobooks will not play on MacIntosh computers or iPods.

The Calgary Public Library has selected thousands of titles from the NetLibrary collection that can be borrowed for the same length of time as you would a regular book.

Why borrow eAudiobooks?

When you borrow a NetLibrary eAudiobook:

There are no overdue fines!
There are no holds -- the item is always available!
You can check the item out from home!
You can fit ten items in your pocket!

Once you've downloaded your eAudiobook to a portable device you can learn a new language or listen to great literature, a mystery, romance, biography, western or children's story anywhere...

On long highway road trips
Walking the dog
On commuter drives or bus rides to work
Late at night, when you can't sleep
While doing gardening or yard work
While shoveling your neighbours' snow

During layovers at airports or bus depots
Jogging or power walking
While getting dental work
Just kicking back
Doing dishes or housework
At work
On early morning hockey practice drives
On vacation at the lake

How do I know if eAudiobooks will work on my system?

eAudiobook requirements:

Computers or portable devices must be able to playback secure or protected Windows Media Audio (WMA or .wma) files using Windows Media Player version 9.0 or higher. Most Microsoft Windows operating systems come with Windows Media Player already installed.
Currently NetLibrary's eAudiobooks will not play on MacIntosh computers or iPod portable devices.
Portable listening devices should have a memory of at least 256 MB. Some eAudiobooks can be quite long. Have a look at the Microsoft Windows "Plays For Sure" page for more information on compatible devices.
To see if your system is compatible, visit OCLC's "Supported media software and operating systems" page.

How do I get started?

New Users - Create a free account

Start from the Calgary Public Library E-Library page.
Scroll down to E-BOOKS - AUDIO and click on the "NetLibrary Downloadable Audiobooks" link. This will open a second window where the first thing you'll probably see is the search field where you can search the NetLibrary catalogue.
Click on the "Create a Free Account" link in the upper right-hand corner.
Fill in the Username and Password fields with a login name and password of your choice. Passwords must be at least six (6) characters long and cannot match your username.
Next select a "Security Question" from a dropdown menu that only you can answer, and then type the answer in the "Answer" field.
In the "Personal Information" area fill in your name and e-mail address in the appropriate fields, then click on the "Create Account" button. Once you have created an account you will automatically be logged in and ready to search for and download books.

A welcome e-mail will be sent to you from Title Select with the subject "NetLibrary Title Select Account Creation". Keep this e-mail message handy as it also has important links to login information, accessing help, and what to do if you forget your password.

I created an account a while ago, now how do I log in?

Click on the "Login" link in the upper left-hand corner of the NetLibrary page.
Enter your login and your password, and then click on the "Log in" button.

What if I forget my login information?

If you should forget your login or password you will be asked for your e-mail address and the answer to your security question. Answer the question correctly and your will see the following message with your login username: "For security purposes we have emailed your password to the email address on file for username..."

Next, go check your e-mail where you'll find your password in a message from password@netlibrary.com. The e-mail subject will be "User Information".

How do I search NetLibrary?

Basic Search

Select one choice of search from the drop down menu: Full-Text, Keyword, Title, Author, or Subject.
Type your search term, and then click on the "Search" button.
On the "Search Results" page you'll see a list of items that match your query. Here you can:

a. Download the item by clicking on the item image or the "Download this eAudiobook" link.

b. Click on "Show Details" to get publisher's reviews, listen to previews, e-mail item information, or find similar items.

c. If you want to download later, you can add your choices to a list for future consideration by clicking on the "Add to Favorites" link.

Browse Search

Can't think of what to search for? You can also browse NetLibrary by subject. Click on the "Site Map" link at the bottom of the page.

On the "Site Map" page click on:

List all resources

To see all the items that are in the Calgary Public Library eAudiobook collection.

eAudiobook Center

To see how many eAudiobooks the Calgary Public Library has in various subject areas.

Advanced Search

Want to do a more specific search? Use the "Advanced Search" link. Here you can search using several criteria at once, including language (if you want to learn a new language).

How do I download from NetLibrary?

Okay, you've found your eAudiobook. Now you want to put it on your computer or portable device, right? Here's how:

Click on the "Download this eAudiobook" link or the picture of the eAudiobook cover.
At the "Download this eAudiobook" page select a download choice:

Check Out & Download CD Quality

Select this choice if you wish to copy your eAudiobook to a portable device.

CD quality files are high-fidelity eAudiobooks. This is great for users with high-speed Internet access or for transferring files to portable listening devices.

Check Out & Download Radio Quality

This is ideal for users with dial-up connections. Radio quality files cannot be transferred to portable devices, though.

Radio quality eAudiobook files have a sound quality that allows for faster download speeds.

Check Out (No Download. Only license to play file)

This is great for if you want to download the item at a later time. When you're ready, just log into NetLibrary, click on "Checked Out Items" to retrieve the item, and then choose one of the first two Check Out choices to download the file to your computer.

Once you've selected your download choice a window will pop up asking whether you want to:

"Open with" - The default player choice will be Windows Media Player. Opening the file will play an eAudiobook. It will not save it to your computer.
"Save to disk" - This choice will save the eAudiobook to your computer. [If your computer doesn't automatically save to your Desktop make a note of which directory it is being saved to so you can find it later.]

When the download is complete you must next acquire the license to play the eAudiobook. Do this while you are still connected to the Internet and NetLibrary.

How long will it take to download?

When you select a download choice an Estimated Download Time chart (complete with eAudiobook size) will appear indicating how long the download will take depending on what type of Internet connection you are using. You can also have a look at the NetLibrary Estimated download time web page, before you start your search.

How do I transfer my eAudiobook from my computer to a portable device?

First ensure that the downloaded eAudiobook is saved onto a computer and has a license.
Open Windows Media Player and use it to copy the eAudiobook file from your computer to the portable device. Follow the process involved with your version of Windows Media Player. (Windows Media Player version 9 or higher is required.)

How to I get a license?

When you open an eAudiobook file for the first time you will need to get a license that allows you to listen.

YOU MUST BE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET and LOGGED ON TO

NETLIBRARY or the following procedures will not work.

When you open a downloaded eAudiobook and play it for the first time a License Acquisition window will appear with three questions:

Do you have a NetLibrary username and password? Log in

Do you have a ticket code? Enter your ticket code

Do you usually authenticate via your library's web page? Check for your library

Select the first option ("Do you have a NetLibrary username and password?") by clicking on Log in.
Next, enter your NetLibrary username and password.
Then click on the "Log in" link. You should get the following message: "A license to play this eAudiobook has been issued to this computer. Time remaining on checkout: 20 Days 23 Hours 51 Minutes.
Now click on the "Play" button. It's that easy. If you have downloaded an eAudiobook file and have decided to wait to listen to it you will be asked to login and obtain a license the first time you do try to open the file.

How do I play an eAudiobook?

Once you have downloaded your eAudiobook and have acquired a license to listen to it, simply

Go to your computer's media player software,
Select the eAudiobook you wish to listen to,
And click the play button.

You can open and listen to the eAudiobook file as often as you like, without connecting to the Internet, until the date it is "due".

How many eAudiobooks can I borrow?

You may check out up to 10 eAudiobooks. When you have reached your limit you will receive the message: "We are unable to check out this eContent to your account because you have reached your library's checkout limit."

What happens when my eAudiobook is due?

Downloaded eAudiobooks automatically return on the date they are due, meaning you will no longer be able to listen to the item after the due date. However, the eAudiobook icon will remain on your computer or portable listening device until you manually delete it. Delete the eAudiobook the same way you would delete any other file from your computer or device.

Can I renew? How many times can I renew?

You can renew an eAudiobook for an extra three weeks once. There's no need to download the file again, you simply renew your license to listen before the due date.

If you try to renew more than once a message will appear telling you that NetLibrary is unable to renew because you have already checked out or renewed the item as many times as you are allowed.

To renew:

Log in to NetLibrary.
Click on the "Checked Out Items" link.
In the "Select Option" table click on the link that says, "Renew your checkout for 21 Days (No Download. Only license to play file)".

Where does the eAudiobook go if I don't renew?

The eAudiobook icon will remain on your computer or portable listening device until you manually delete it. Delete the eAudiobook the same way you would delete any other file from your computer or device.

What if I've deleted an eAudiobook file from my computer before listening to it?

No problem. If you already have a license simply:

Log in to NetLibrary.
Click on "Checked out Items".
Save the file to your computer.
Play.

NetLibrary already knows you have a license to listen. The due date will remain the same unless you choose to renew the item.

What is NetLibrary?