Help - Quick Start Guide

• Overview
• Step 1: Download & Install Free Software
• Step 2: Register Your Free Software
• Step 3: Check Out, Download, and Enjoy

Overview

The following types of materials can be checked out and downloaded from this website:

• eBooks in the AdobeŽ ReaderŽ/AdobeŽ Digital Editions 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)
• Audio books in the OverDrive Media Console™ format

To access digital materials at Palmetto Library Consortium, you will need:

• A valid library card
• Access to the Internet
• Free software for the computer and/or device on which you wish to use the material you download from this site

Please note that digital downloads can be enjoyed at home, at work, or when you travel, but are generally not for use on the computers in your library.

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Step 1: Download & Install Free Software

As a first step, you will need to install free software. To read more about the free software for your preferred format, click below:

• Adobe Reader 6, 7, or 8 with Adobe Digital Editions -- Required for reading Adobe eBooks. Please note that Adobe Reader is not the same software as Adobe Acrobat.
• Mobipocket Reader -- Required for reading Mobipocket eBooks.
• OverDrive Media Console version 1.0 (or later) -- Required for listening to OverDrive Audio Books.

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

• Adobe Reader 6, 7, or 8 with Adobe Digital Editions -- Required for reading Adobe eBooks. Please note that Adobe Reader is not the same software as Adobe Acrobat.
• Mobipocket Reader -- Required for reading Mobipocket eBooks.
• OverDrive Media Console version 1.0 (or later) -- Required for listening to OverDrive Audio Books.

Note that upgrading or uninstalling OverDrive Media Console will not affect any content that you have previously downloaded; all items in your 'Media Library' will be maintained through either process.

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Step 2: Register Your Free Software

Before you use a title checked out from this website, you'll need to activate the software that you downloaded. You only need to activate the software once for each machine on which you'll use the material. See below for more on activation.

Adobe Reader 6, 7, or 8 with Adobe Digital Editions:

Adobe Reader 6, 7, or 8 with Adobe Digital Editions can be activated using 'Easy Activation'. 'Easy Activation' will automatically occur the first time you download and open an Adobe eBook. Once 'Easy Activation' is complete, you'll notice an Adobe confirmation screen; you can simply close this screen.

If you are using Adobe Reader 6 or 7, you can choose 'Named Activation'. 'Named Activation' allows you to read an Adobe eBook on multiple computers/devices. 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 complete Named Activation, do one of the following:

Note that Named Activation is not currently supported in Adobe Reader 8 with Adobe Digital Editions. Additionally, 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.

For more information on activating Adobe Reader, click here.

Mobipocket Reader:

All copies of Mobipocket Reader have a unique registration code called a 'PID' (Personal Identifier). To register Mobipocket Reader, you need to sign in to this site using your library card number, and update your account information with your Mobipocket Reader PID(s). You can register up to three PIDs, enabling you to read eBooks on up to three devices.

For more information on registering your Mobipocket Reader PID, click here.

OverDrive Media Console:

OverDrive Media Console utilizes Windows Media PlayerŽ 9 Series or newer to play files. The first time that Windows Media Player attempts to open a DRM-protected file, it will alert you that a Security Update must be performed before the file may be opened. The update takes just a few moments, and must be performed before Microsoft Windows Media Player will allow any DRM-protected files to be played.

For more information on audio books, OverDrive Media Console, and Windows Media Player, click here.

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Step 3: Check Out, Download, and Enjoy

You can browse or search this site for downloadable materials. When you locate a title of interest, simply add it to your Cart and check out the title. For more information on the checkout process, click here.

If a desired title is not available, you may place a hold on the title. For more information on placing a title on hold, click here.

Once you have checked out a title, a download page will be displayed. Click the 'Download' link to start the download. Once the download is complete, you can close your Internet connection and enjoy the materials offline.

You will never accrue late fees with titles you download from this website. At the end of the loan period, titles will expire and be automatically 'returned' to the library. At this time, you can delete the expired file(s) from your machine.

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