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Help - Basics - General

What kinds of materials can I check out from this website?

We are pleased to offer the following types of materials for checkout and download from this website:

  • eBooks in the Adobe® Digital Editions/Adobe® Reader®PDF format (eBooks optimized for on-screen reading)
  • eBooks in the Mobipocket Reader format (eBooks optimized for on-screen reading & transfer to an array of portable devices)
  • Digital audio books in the OverDrive Media Console™ format
  • Digital video in the OverDrive Media Console™ format

To download free software for your preferred format, and to review system requirements and instructions for download, click below:

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What is an 'eBook'?

'eBook' is short for 'electronic book', a digital version of a print book that has been optimized for on-screen reading. eBooks are available in a variety of different formats:

To read more about free eBook software, click below:

To review system requirements and instructions for download, click below:

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What is an OverDrive Audio Book?

An OverDrive Audio Book is a digital version of an audio book that is DRM-protected and optimized for download.

To read more about free digital audio book software, click on the link below:

To review system requirements and instructions for download, click on the link below:

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What is an OverDrive Video title?

OverDrive Video titles are digitally-protected video files that have been optimized for download. OverDrive Video titles are built using the Microsoft® Windows Media Video format, which enhances the quality for desktop viewing and portable device use. Note that OverDrive Video is a high speed Internet-only product.

To read more about free video software, click on the link below:

To review system requirements and instructions for download, click on the link below:

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What software do I need?

In order to borrow and use a specific format of digital media, you must download and install the proper software.

For Adobe PDF eBooks, Adobe Digital Editions and Adobe Reader 6 and 7 are available for desktop and laptop computers. Adobe Reader 3.0 is available for PDAs with Palm OS and Adobe Reader 2.0 is available for the Pocket PC. For more information on this software, click here.

Mobipocket Reader is available for desktop and laptop computers with Microsoft Windows® operating systems, Smartphones, Pocket PCs, and Palm OS PDAs. Click here for more information on this software.

OverDrive Media Console (for audio books) is available for desktop and laptop computers with Microsoft Windows operating systems. Click here for more information on this software.

OverDrive Media Console (for video) is available for desktop and laptop computers with Microsoft Windows operating systems. Click here for more information on this software. Note that OverDrive Video is a high speed Internet-only product.

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How do I get to my titles after I've downloaded them?

Access downloaded titles as follows:

Adobe Digital Editions and Adobe Reader 6 and 7 automatically save a copy of the downloaded eBook to your computer. The method you use to access your eBooks depends on which software you have.

If you have Adobe Digital Editions…

  1. Open Adobe Digital Editions.
  2. Select the 'Library View' icon (in the upper left corner).
    The Adobe Digital Editions library is displayed.
  3. Under the 'Bookshelves' heading, select 'Purchased'.
  4. Click the desired eBook.
  5. Click the 'Item Options' arrow (in the upper left corner of the selected eBook).
  6. Select 'Open Item' to open your eBook.

If you have Adobe Reader 7…

  1. Open Adobe Reader.
  2. Select File > Digital Editions > My Digital Editions.
    The Adobe Reader Digital Editions screen displays your eBooks.
  3. Double-click the desired eBook to open it.

If you have Adobe Reader 6…

  1. Open Adobe Reader.
  2. Select File > My Bookshelf.
    The Adobe Reader Bookshelf displays your eBooks.
  3. Double-click the desired eBook to open it.

(Please note that Adobe eBooks can be downloaded only one time. If you should need to download an Adobe eBook a second time, please contact support to reactivate your download link. In your email, please provide your library card number as well as the title of the book you wish to download again.)

Mobipocket Reader requires you to save the eBook to your computer. There are several ways to open Mobipocket eBooks:

If you have Mobipocket Reader 4...

  1. Open Mobipocket Reader.
  2. Go to File > My Library.
    Your Mobipocket Reader Library displays the list of eBooks available in your Mobipocket library.
  3. Click on the desired eBook to open it.

Alternatively, open Mobipocket Reader and go to File > Open. Browse to the desired Mobipocket file and double-click it to open it in Mobipocket Reader.

If you have Mobipocket Reader 5 or 6...

  1. Open Mobipocket Reader.
  2. Select 'eBooks' on the left hand navigation pane.
    Mobipocket Reader displays the list of eBooks available in your Mobipocket library.
  3. Click on the desired eBook to open it.

Alternatively, use Windows Explorer to browse to the desired Mobipocket eBook file on your machine (on Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows XP, your eBooks are stored in My Documents > My eBooks by default. On Windows Vista, your eBooks are stored in Documents > My eBooks by default), and right-click the file. Choose option 'Open With' and select Mobipocket Reader.

OverDrive Media Console automatically saves a copy of the audio book to your computer.  To play an audio book, open OverDrive Media Console and select the desired title from the 'Media Library'.

OverDrive Media Console automatically saves a copy of the video file(s) to your computer. To play a video, open OverDrive Media Console and select the desired title from the 'Media Library'.

Note that if you've misplaced your copy of a downloaded title, C/W MARS maintains a history of borrowed digital materials called 'My Bookshelf'. During the lending period, most digital materials can be re-downloaded from the My Bookshelf feature by clicking on the 'My Bookshelf' link in the My Account section.

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I cannot find the title I downloaded. Can I download it again?

If you've misplaced your copy of a downloaded title, C/W MARS maintains a history of borrowed digital materials called 'My Bookshelf'. During the lending period, you can re-download from the My Bookshelf feature by clicking on the 'My Bookshelf' link in the My Account section. To reach the My Account section, click the 'My Account' link and enter the required login information.

(Please note that Adobe eBooks can be downloaded only one time. If you should need to download an Adobe eBook a second time, please contact support to reactivate your download link. In your email, please provide your library card number as well as the title of the book you wish to download again.)

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What happens to the title I downloaded once I've finished with it?

Downloaded files remain on your computer (even after they have expired) until you manually delete them. Please review these instructions for deleting expired files:

To delete an expired Adobe eBook using Adobe Digital Editions…

  1. Open Adobe Digital Editions.
  2. Select the 'Library View' icon (in the upper left corner).
    The Adobe Digital Editions Library is displayed.
  3. Under the 'Bookshelves' heading, select 'Borrowed'.
  4. Click the desired eBook.
  5. Click the 'Item Options' arrow (in the upper left corner of the selected eBook).
  6. Select 'Delete Item'.

To delete an expired Adobe eBook using Adobe Reader 7…

  1. To delete an expired Adobe eBook file, open Adobe Reader 7 and go to File > Digital Editions > My Digital Editions.
  2. Locate the cover image of the eBook you wish to delete. Click on the clock in the upper-right corner of the cover image.
    A box will pop up with the expiration date.
  3. Click the 'Delete' button.

To delete an expired Adobe eBook using Adobe Reader 6…

  1. To delete an expired Adobe eBook file, open Adobe Reader 6 and go to File > My Bookshelf.
  2. Locate the cover image of the eBook you wish to delete. Click on the clock in the upper-right corner of the cover image.
    A box will pop up with the expiration date.
  3. Click the 'Delete' button.

To delete an expired Mobipocket eBook file using Mobipocket 4 or 5...

  1. Open Mobipocket Reader and go to File > My Library.
  2. Locate the eBook you wish to delete. Click the 'Properties' link below the eBook.  A pop-up box will display information about the eBook.  Click the 'Delete' button.

To delete an expired Mobipocket eBook file using Mobipocket 6...

  1. Open Mobipocket Reader and select the 'eBooks' screen.
  2. Right-click on the eBook you wish to delete and select 'Delete'.

To delete an expired audio book file...

  1. Open OverDrive Media Console.
  2. Locate the audio book you wish to delete in the 'Media Library'. Single-click on the title to select it, then click the 'Delete' button.

To delete an expired video file...

  1. Open OverDrive Media Console.
  2. Locate the video you wish to delete in the 'Media Library'. Single-click on the title to select it, then click the 'Delete' button.

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Can I use the materials I check out from this site on multiple machines?

If you are using Adobe eBooks…

Adobe eBooks can be used on multiple machines if you are using Adobe Reader 6 or 7.

To use Adobe eBooks on multiple machines, each machine must first be activated to the same account using Adobe's 'Named Activation' option. Please note that transferring Adobe Reader eBooks from one computer to another will work only if the destination computer is running Adobe Reader 6. To activate Adobe Reader 6 or 7 using the Named Activation option, click here.

Adobe Digital Editions/Adobe Reader 8 do not support the transfer of Adobe eBooks to portable devices or other computers. Note that Adobe Reader 6 or 7 may check for updates and download Adobe Reader 8 automatically depending on your current settings. Click here for information on turning off automatic updates in Adobe Reader 6 and 7.

If you are using Mobipocket eBooks…

You can read Mobipocket eBooks on 3 machines. You need to install Mobipocket Reader on any machine on which you intend to read a Mobipocket eBook. You must then register a Mobipocket PID at this site for each machine on which you intend to read a Mobipocket eBook.

If you are using OverDrive Media...

OverDrive Audio Books can be downloaded to multiple computers, transferred to supported portable devices, and burned to CD (when allowed by the publisher).

OverDrive Video may be downloaded to multiple computers and transferred to supported portable devices (when allowed by the publisher).

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What is an enhanced title?

Enhanced titles are accompanied by supplemental material provided by the publisher. Once you have checked out an enhanced title, you will be able to download the title as well as the supplemental material. Note that an enhanced title only counts as a single checkout.

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How do I know if a title is enhanced?

Enhanced titles will be clearly labeled with the designation '[ENHANCED]'.

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I'm interested in an enhanced title but I really only want one of the files. Do I have to download both?

No. You need only download the file in which you are interested.

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I'm thinking about checking out an enhanced title. Will it count as one or two checkouts?

An enhanced title counts as a single checkout.

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How am I to know the format of the supplemental file that comes with my enhanced title? How will I know what software I need to use it?

The file format of the supplemental file is indicated at the title details page (click the link '[ENHANCED]'). Additionally, the file format is recapped on the My Bookshelf page. At the My Bookshelf page, you'll also find a link to the download instructions for the software required to use the supplemental file.

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 © 2008 C/W MARS, Inc. Powered by OverDrive® Digital Library Reserve™ Privacy Policy | Support | Help 
 IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS
Additional funds to purchase titles for this project were provided by the
Central MA Regional Library System and the Western MA Regional Library System.