Downloading an e-book

How to Check Out E-books from the Library for Your E-reader or Mobile Device

Salem-South Lyon District Library has a growing collection of more than 4,000 e-books titles that you can check out for use on a variety of reading devices, such as the Kindle, Nook, and iPad. E-book borrowing requires a library card and PIN.

These instructions will focus on our downloadable e-books, which are provided to the Library through a service called OverDrive. The process for checking out e-books will be different depending on whether you are using a Kindle e-reader, a Nook or other supported e-reader, or a smart phone or tablet.

Skip to instructions on how to get e-books for:

Lending & Availability

E-books checked out from the Library are readable for 7 or 14 days (depending on what you select at check-out). You can check-out up to 10 e-books (or digital audio books) at a time. When an item expires, it will be automatically returned and will no longer be viewable on your computer or e-reader. (You may need to manually delete the e-book from your computer or device after it has expired.)

As is the case with physical books, libraries own a limited number of copies of any given e-book. If all copies of the e-book you’re searching for have been checked out, the record will still display, and you can place a hold on it.

Where can I download e-books?

E-books can be downloaded using your home computer or portable, wi-fi-enabled device anywhere inside or outside the Library.

Supported E-readers

Salem-South Lyon District Library’s OverDrive collection, which currently contains Adobe PDF, Adobe EPUB, and Kindle e-books, is supported by most e-readers and devices.

The following devices work with the Salem-South Lyon District Library’s e-book collection:

  • Amazon Kindle
  • Barnes & Noble Nook
  • Kobo
  • Sony Reader
  • iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch (with installation of app)
  • Pandigital Novel
  • Literati Reader

If you have an e-reader or device not listed above, visit OverDrive’s list of all compatible devices to find out whether your device will work with the Library’s e-books.

Checking Out E-books for the Kindle or Kindle App

As of September 2011, the Salem-South Lyon District Library offers Kindle versions of many of its e-books. These e-books work on both the Kindle e-reader and on any mobile device or computer through a Kindle app such as the Kindle Cloud Reader.

Instructions:

  1. Visit our Digital Media Catalog.
  2. Browse or search for an e-book.
  3. Once you've found a book, click "Add to cart," then from your Cart, click "Proceed to Checkout."
  4. Enter your Library card number and PIN
  5. Click the “Get for Kindle” button. This opens the Amazon.com website. You may be required to sign in with your Amazon.com account if you are not already logged on. (Sign up for a free account.)
  6. Select the Kindle device or Kindle reading app you'd like to send the book to.
  7. Click the “Get library book” button and sync your device or app to download the book*, or choose to send it directly to your Kindle via USB**.

* You device must be connected to a Wi-Fi network to download.  Kindle Touch 3G and Kindle Keyboard 3G cannot use 3G connection to download library books (Wi-Fi only).

** As of February 10th, 2011, some e-book titles require that you transfer via USB.  Please refer to Amazon’s guide on Transferring Content to Your Kindle via USB.

Video Tutorials:

Checking Out E-books for a Nook, Kobo or Other Non-Amazon E-reader

In order to read the Library's e-books on a Nook, Kobo, or other e-reader, you must download and install the third party software program Adobe Digital Editions on the computer you will be using with your e-reader.

Instructions:

  1. Download and install the free Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) software on your computer.
  2. Create a free Adobe ID and authorize your computer. When the Setup Assistant appears, click "get an Adobe ID online" if you don't already have one.
  3. Go to the Library’s Digital Media Catalog and search or browse for an e-book. (Tip: Use "Advanced Search" and search by e-book format.)
  4. Once you've found a book, click "Add to cart," then from your Cart, click "Proceed to Checkout."
  5. Enter your Library card number and PIN
  6. Click “Confirm check out” and click the “Download” button under each e-book.
  7. In the pop-up window that appears, select “Open with: Adobe Digital Editions.”
  8. After ADE launches, connect your e-reader to your computer. In the ADE screen, drag the e-book icon to your e-reader.
  9. Disconnect your e-reader safely. The e-book will return automatically after its lending peroid (7 or 14 days).
  10. You can return it early by using the drop-down menu on the book cover icon in ADE.

Video Tutorials:

Checking Out E-books for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Other Mobile Devices

You can use the Library’s e-books on popular mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone and iPad, Android Phones/Tablets, Blackberry or Windows Phone 7. Computer syncing is not required; e-books can be delivered directly to your device through the free Overdrive Media Console app.

Instructions:

  1. Search your device's app store for the Overdrive Media Console app and install it on your phone.
  2. Authorize the app with your Adobe ID (Register for an Adobe ID if you don't have one).
  3. Tap "Get Books," then "Add a Website" and search for the South Lyon and select Salem-South Lyon District Library.
  4. Search or browse the OverDrive catalog for an e-book.
  5. Tap "Add to cart" and "Proceed to checkout."
  6. Tap "Confirm check out" and enter your Library card number and PIN.
  7. Tap "Download" to get the e-book.
  8. Your e-book launches in the OverDrive app. Swipe pages to read, and tap the center of any page for menus.