Downloadable Audiobooks - A new and easy way to listen to books!


Know where to go?

Click here for books from ListenNJ!
Click here for books from netLibrary!

General Information

Digital audiobooks are downloadable versions of audiobooks, similar to ones you might find in cassette or CD format. These digital books can be downloaded to your computer and used offline. Some can be transferred to portable audio devices, or even burned to CD. Best of all, digital books are automatically returned, so there are never late fees or trips to the library.

Digital audiobooks can be used on a variety of machines, depending on the type of device and operating system. The Summit Library offers digital audiobooks from ListenNJ and netLibrary. Each service works a little differently.

ListenNJ

Summit partners with a consortium of libraries in Central New Jersey to bring you digital audiobooks from ListenNJ. With a valid Summit library card, books can be borrowed from the ListenNJ site without ever calling or coming into the library. Just follow these three easy steps:

1) Download and install Digital Book Software

As a first step, you will need to install free software on the computer on which you want to use the digital books. The free software is available from the ListenNJ website.

2) Activate your free software

Next, you'll need to activate your free software. You only need to do this once, and no personal information is required.

3) Check out and enjoy digital audiobooks

Add a title to your Digital Cart and check it out. After check out, you're ready to download the parts of the digital audiobook. After you've downloaded the parts you want, you can close your Internet connection and enjoy your digital book offline.

At the end of the loan period, the title will expire and be automatically "returned" to the library. At this time, you can delete the expired file from your computer.

Want to know more? For a complete FAQ, click on the Help button on the ListenNJ site.


netLibrary

How it works:

Register: Call or come to the Reference Desk (273-0350) to create a free NetLibrary user account. This is a one time registration. After you have registered, you can access the collection from home.

Connect: Go to NetLibrary/Recorded Books site directly to access the downloadable audio eBook catalog (www.netlibrary.org). You will be asked to log into your NetLibrary account. (If you do not have a NetLibrary account, please come to the Reference Desk to register for a free account.)

Search: Use NetLibrary's basic or advanced search tools to find the audio eBook you want to download.

Download: Once you have decided on a book to download to your personal PC or laptop, choose CD or radio quality.

CD quality offers high-fidelity playback for patrons with high-speed Internet access. You must download CD quality if you plan to transfer the file to a portable media player.
Radio quality provides smaller files with shorter download times, but cannot be transferred to a portable media player.

You will be prompted to open it or save it to your desktop. Save it to your desktop.

Acquire a license: When you play the file for the first time, you will be re-connected to NetLibrary to acquire a license. Login with your NetLibrary account information. The license will be downloaded automatically and playback will begin. Each downloaded audio eBook will require its own license.

Listen: Once you've acquired a license for your audio book, you can transfer it to a portable device or play it from your PC . You will have it on your desktop for 21 days. You will not be able to burn a disc from the download or transfer the download to the Internet.

Things to know :
You may check out up to six audio eBooks at one time.
The file is active for three weeks.
After the check out period, the license will automatically expire. The license can be renewed once during the three weeks without downloading.
Library computers cannot be used to download and transfer audio eBooks. We do not accommodate the transfer of digital audio files to personal digital media players due to the wide variety of software required.
Personal wireless laptops may be used to download and transfer files in the library.
Downloadable audio eBooks are WMA files and are only compatible with Windows Media Player 9 and above. This service is not compatible with Apple products, including the iPod.
Technical questions concerning this service should be directed to NetLibrary (1-800-848-5800).