The Hidden Resource:
You may be familiar with many of the materials that you have access to at our library, such as books, CD's, audio-books, magazines, and DVDs. But are you familiar with the array of resources that are available electronically? Do you know what an electronic resource is? For those of you who are willing to take the journey into the vast world of electronic resources, this blog series is for you.
Libby for Overdrive
Probably our most commonly used e-resource is Libby for Overdrive. With the Libby app, you can use Overdrive to check out e-books and e-audio-books from our library! This app is one of my favorite to use, and I use it a lot.
Electronic Audio-books
I love audio-books, and I listen to them almost non-stop - especially once I am hooked on a good story! Audio-books are great for commuting, listening to during boring chores, or even as extra motivation to get going in the morning! One of my recent faves was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which I even listened to at the park when I was walking my dog. I just loved being caught up in that magical world again!
Downloading an e-audio-book makes it really easy to take your favorite stories on the road, or out and about with you. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and mp3 players allow you to stream or download audio-books, and your reference librarians at Caldwell Public Library can help you install the app, guide you through the features, and help you place holds and check books in and out.
Electronic Books
Libby is used for e-books as well! If you have a tablet, phone, or laptop, it's a breeze to read an e-book. The files are very easy to download, and you can adjust the font and bookmark your page so you can pick up where you left off. Many library users love Libby for Overdrive!
A hint for those of you who are looking for popular topics: most times, the wait lines for e-books are not as long as the wait lines for regular print books. This is because not everyone is brave enough to learn a new process, so the customer base is smaller. If you are looking for books on the latest health fad, popular topic, or a new release/popular book, I highly recommend learning how to use e-books!
Devices, Helpful Hints, and Tutoring
The Libby app is available for many devices, and you can sync your devices so that you are never without your favorite reads. The Overdrive website has a lot of helpful guides available so you can troubleshoot on your own, and the Libby app even has a section where you can get helpful hints as you learn how to navigate this cool new platform. If you get stuck along the way, or if the whole concept overwhelms you, don’t worry - you can always book an appointment with a tutor, drop in and see us, or give us a call, and we will do our best to guide you through the process!
Note: Kindle users need to use the OverDrive website instead of the Libby app to access ebooks and audiobooks.
Up next:
Stay tuned for the next Easing into E-Resources blog, where we will highlight all the things that one of our most popular e-resource apps can do for you. Next up is RBDigital, another great app where you can grab e-audio-books, e-books and e-magazines! Don’t forget, it’s never too late to participate in lifelong learning opportunities, and if you need an extra hand, the library is available to help. Until next time, happy reading!