Downloading an Overdrive Audiobook to a PC
Overview
You can check out and download the following types of digital materials through Overdrive.
- WMA audiobooks
- Mp3 audiobooks
To download, you will need:
- A Whitman County Library Card
- An Internet Connection
- Your computer (in this example we are using a PC)
Step 1 - Download and install Overdrive Media Console
Go to: Overdrive Media Console
To download the OverDrive Media Console onto your computer (Mac or Windows).
Select download now
Overdrive Media Console short cut will show up on your desktop.
Step 2 – Login and search for audiobook titles
1. Washington Anytime Library
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Click “Login”
When searching for audiobooks (make sure you are not checking out an ebook!). Click to access title and
notice there different formats. To verify that your device will work, go to OverDrive compatible devices.
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Select Whitman County Library from the drop down menu (very bottom).
On the next page, click on Whitman County Library Users
- Then, enter your library card number.
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Then enter your library card number and click “Submit Query.”
Step 4 – check out
Here we see that “The girl who kicked the hornet’s nest” is current available. Verify that the title plays on your
computer and device. This title plays on an iPod, PC or regular MP3 player (example Sony Walkman).
If it is an audiobook, is available and plays on your device then “Add to Cart”.
Some items may be checked out, in which case you can “Request this item”. If this happens you will be
prompted for your email address and be notified by email when it becomes available. You will have 3 days to
check out the item before it goes back in the queue for the next person. In this example the ebook or Kindle
edition is not available.
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After you “add to cart” you will be asked to confirm format.
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Then you will be asked to “proceed to checkout”.
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Click “proceed to checkout.”
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On the next page, you will be asked to “Confirm Checkout”.
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Click “confirm checkout.”
Step 5 - Download
Select Download. The Overdrive Media Console (OMC) you previously downloaded will open.
The Get Media box will ask you where you would like to save the audiobook to on your computer. It will usually
place it in My Documents or a similar folder. Select “OK”. Select the part(s) you want to download (audiobooks
are divided up into parts to make them easier to download). Then select “OK”. The part(s) will start to
download. From here, you can listen to the audiobook on your computer.
Step 6 - Transfer the Audiobooks to a Portable Device
Notes for iPod/iPhone users: Make sure you have the newest version of iTunes installed. Also, make
sure the IPod is set to “Manually Manage Music and Videos” (on Summary Page of your iPod in iTunes)
Also, for faster download time for audiobooks, you may have to adjust the preferences in iTunes. In iTunes, go
to Edit, then Preferences. Select “Import Settings” in the General tab, and change “Setting” to Spoken Podcast.
Notes for MP3 player users: If you use a Windows based (ex. Sony Walkman) player you need to go
to “tools” on the Overdrive Media Console and select from the drop down menu “Windows Media Player
Security Upgrade”. Run this program before attempting to transfer to a player.
More Help from OverDrive:
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Read OverDrive's Quick Start Guide.
Guided Tour Demo of OverDrive. (Flash player required for demos.)
Tutorial Video: How to download ebooks to your Kindle (3:53 min.)
See OverDrive’s "My Help! beta" found in lower left column of Overdrive pages, to read more
about equipment /device requirements, and formats.