Yes, Your Local Library Has eBooks

We've all said it. Things aren't the way they used to be. When it comes to public libraries, it's especially true. In these postings here in Fort Hunt Patch, we'll be talking about the Sherwood Regional branch of the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL).  If you haven't stepped into the building in a while, you would be surprised at our computers. Best of all, you don't even need to come to the library to be amazed. There are lots of ways to use the resources of FCPL without leaving the comfort of home. 

The library offers three types of downloadable materials: eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eVideos.  All you need to access them is a Fairfax County Public Library card! For this first post we'll concentrate on eBooks.

Many of us have Kindles, Sony Readers, Nooks, iPads, and other devices for reading on the go. Here's how you can use your library card to get downloadable books, for FREE!  These are some general points, with further details available on our website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/dbsremote/resource/ebook.htm. 

With your  library card in hand, visit the OverDrive section of the library's website: http://fairfax.lib.overdrive.com. OverDrive is the provider of many of the library's eBooks. You'll need to download the free Adobe Digital Editions software to your computer. Once you've done that you can search for, check out, and download the more than 3,000 eBooks available through OverDrive.

Here are some important things to keep in mind:

1) Just as with traditional print materials, library eBooks are checked out to your account for a fixed period of time (up to 21 days). The good news is that you don't have to worry about library fines for overdue eBooks as they are automatically returned when the loan period is up.

2) Again, as with print materials, if the eBook you are looking for is not available for you to read at the time you search for it, you can place a hold. You'll be notified by email when the title is ready for you to download. To find eBooks that are always available, check out our collection of free public domain titles. 

3) At this time, customers can download the library's eBooks to many eReaders, but not yet the Amazon Kindle. This will change in the coming months and Kindle owners will be able to download library eBooks. A complete and up-to-date list of compatible eReaders is on the OverDrive website: http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/

4) If you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Blackberry, or Android phone you can download the OverDrive Media Console app and add library eBooks directly to your device. The free app is available from your device's app store.

Please call Sherwood's information desk at 703-765-3645 for further assistance. AND, check out one of our free eBook classes on June 8 and June 22. You can register online beginning two weeks before the date of the class.

While we would love to see you at the branch, if you just want to download books at home in your pajamas, that's okay too. Stay tuned for the next installment of ... As the Library Evolves!