Chappaqua Library acquiring more ebooks for our new reading devices

On the library’s “Digital Media Catalog” page, you can click for HELP!
December 23, 2011
by Christine Yeres

While the popularity of ebooks is steadily mounting, says Chappaqua Library Director Pam Thornton, because of the economy, demand for library copies of traditional books is up as well.  “People are buying fewer books in bookstores,” she explained, “so they want more ebooks and book-books.”

Chappaqua Library staff are still getting the lay of the land in the world of ebooks, Thornton said.  “Not every publisher allows ebooks, and some of the best sellers won’t ever be in ebook form.”  It’s worth browsing the library’s collection of hundreds of e-titles.  And now, Kindle-compatible titles are also available through the library’s website. 

“We’re constantly updating our online collection,” says Martha Alcott, head reference librarian.  She has some advice for ebook searchers.  “People need to sign into their library account to see what ebook titles are available to them, because the Chappaqua Library has an ‘advantage’ account—titles we purchase for our patrons only. By signing in you have access to them.”

If you don’t have an online library account, your library card bar code is all you need to create one.  Once you have it, see what ebooks the library holds:

1. Start on the Chappaqua Library homepage.

2. Scroll down below the parading band of books (by the way—a click on any one of them reveals a list of other fiction, non-fiction, etc. books) to a column on the right-hand side of the home page.  Under the heading “TAKE A LOOK!” you’ll see two options (“Quick Research” and “Ebooks/Audiobooks”).  Click on “Ebooks/Audiobooks,” which causes the “Digital Media Catalog” page to appear.  Click on “OverDrive,” the name of the service the library uses.

3. Now, on the Digital Media Catalog page, RIGHT AWAY sign in with your library card and PIN number BEFORE you start your search, otherwise you won’t see all the Library’s offerings.

5. Now that you’re logged in, you might need help with the mechanics of signing up to get e-material—or to bring it to your device. The best thing to do is to click on the My Help! button on the upper left.  You’ll be taken through all the necessary steps you need to access the materials in the form you want (iPad, Nook, etc.) in order to:

• Listen to audiobooks

• Read eBooks

• Watch videos

• Listen to music

Once you’ve got that settled—whether iPad, Nook, etc., you can graze randomly by scrolling down to an avocado green block of search options on the left—each of which contains many useful categories:

• Audiobooks

• eBooks

• Teen Reads

• Video

• Music

• Browse Collections

• Digital Software

In a hurry?

Jump right to the upper right-hand corner of the Digital Media Catalog page you can check the box “Only show available titles,” which will spare you some frustration. 

Know exactly what you want?

Rather than browse, you can again make a bee-line to the upper right-hand corner of the Digital Media Catalog page and us the “Title, Author, Subject…” box—or click “Advanced search…” and get very specific.

Another tip: The borrowing period is set automatically at 7 days’ time.  But once you’ve signed up for an account, click on “My Lending Periods” and change the default 7-day borrowing period to a 14-day borrowing period.  Ebooks disappear on their own at the end of the borrowing term—so no overdue fines possible!