Accessing eBooks from
Washington County Public Library
First Step: Where are the eBooks?
The first step to accessing eBooks through Washington County Public Library is to visit our website, http://www.wcplfl.com/ . Looking down at the lower right corner of the webpage, you will see a blue box that says “Now Available: eBooks, digital audiobooks, and more”. Clicking on this box will take you to the NEFLIN Overdrive website. This is where you can check out eBooks.
Second Step: What Software do I need?
The type of software you need depends entirely on what type of eReader you have.
Nook, Sony, Kobo, Pandigital or other devices: Downloading Adobe Digital Editions is essential to checking out eBooks on these devices. Adobe Digital Editions is a free software download that requires creation of a user name and password. This means that you MUST download the software to your personal computer. The software will recognize your computer and authorize according to your account. Once the software is downloaded, eBooks can be checked out and downloaded to your computer and then downloaded to your eReader. A link to the free software download is located on the NEFLIN Overdrive website on the left side of the page under the Getting Started box.
Kindle: Amazon Kindle works different from other devices. It does not require Adobe Digital Editions. Instead you access the NEFLIN Overdrive website, sign in and check out books for Kindle. After confirming checkout, you will click on the link Get for Kindle. This will reroute you to the Amazon.com website. On the right side of the page, there will be a small box that says Get Library Book. Click on this link and you will be asked to sign in with your Amazon username and password. The eBook is then downloaded to Amazon’s Cloud Drive. In order to get the book on your Kindle, simply turn on your device, hit the menu button, and select Sync and Check for Items. The book will download automatically. You MUST be using wireless internet or 3G to sync your items to the Kindle.
Third Step: How do I sign in to Overdrive to get eBooks?
After you have determined your software needs for eBooks, the next step is to sign in using your Washington County Public Library card. On the NEFLIN Overdrive website, there is a link in the red toolbar marked Sign In. Click on this link and it will take you to a page with a drop down menu that has four libraries. Select Washington County Public Library. (Don’t worry about the other libraries. They are participants because the eBooks are grant funded. You only need to be concerned with our library.) You will then be prompted to enter your Washington County Public Library card number. It will begin with a 1WCCO or 1WCC0. You MUST have a library card number that begins with these letters and numbers in order to sign in. Sign in is CASE SENSITIVE. All letters must be capitalized. There is no need to insert spaces between numbers though. Once you are signed in, you may browse for books. REMEMBER your access to Overdrive is tied to your library account. If you have physical overdue books or materials, you will be BLOCKED from checking out eBooks.
Fourth Step: What can I read?
Once you are signed in to Overdrive, you can browse for any number of eBooks. You can use the search box and look by author, title, or subject. You can narrow your search to only available copies as well. EBooks are exactly like physical books in one respect. If you check out a book at the library, someone else has to wait to check it out until it is returned. This applies to eBooks as well. We may have only one DIGITAL COPY of a particular eBook. This means that you must wait for someone to return the book before you check it out. When looking at a book, it will tell you if there are available copies of the book and how many copies the library owns. You may place a hold on a book if it is not available and you will be notified by email when it is turned back in. Another important thing to be looking for is format type. If you have a Kindle, you want to check out the Kindle book. If you have another device like a Nook, you want to check out the Adobe EPUB eBook. If you want to read the book on your computer, the Adobe PDF eBook is your best bet.
Fifth Step: I am about to drive over my eReader, I am so frustrated! Where can I get help?
The NEFLIN Overdrive website provides a variety of help options located on the left side of the main page. This includes the My Help application, the Guided Tour, Help/FAQs, and Compatible Devices. For more personal help, feel free to stop in at the Chipley library to talk to someone. Each member of the staff has an eReader and we are learning just like you. We may be able to explain something that is confusing you. Remember we are here to help you!
