Miami-Dade Public Library System

To transfer an eBook from your desktop computer to your device:

1. Connect your eReader device to your computer.
   
2. Select and download an eBook to Adobe Digital Editions.
   
3. Open Adobe Digital Editions. A link for your device should appear under the section "Bookshelves." Select the title you would like to transfer.
   
4. Drag and drop the Adobe eBook to the link for your device under "Bookshelves."
   
5. A dialog box should open up and the title will be transferred.
   
6. Once the transfer is complete, the dialog box will close and the title will be on your eReader. Disconnect your eReader and you are ready to go!
   

To transfer an eBook to your Smartphone:

1. You will need to download the free OverDrive Media Console app to your Smartphone.
2. Once the app is installed, you’re ready to begin.
3. In the app, click "Get Books" and select “Add a Library”
4. Enter your zip code, click Search and select your library.
5. You will then want to select the Library System which will take you to the mobile-friendly OverDrive webpage.
6. Browse or search for titles. You will be presented with formats that are compatible with your device.
7. Add an available title to your cart, proceed to checkout, login, confirm the checkout and select Download.
8. You will be taken back to the OverDrive Media Console app where the title will download and you can begin reading.

What is an eBook?
An eBook is the digital form of a print book. eBooks are available for you to download in two formats: Kindle, Adobe EPUB and Adobe PDF. Once an eBook is downloaded to your computer it can be transferred to a portable device for you to read wherever you go. You can find eBooks 24 hours a day / 7 days a week through our website.

Why are there different formats?
Adobe EPUB eBooks have reflowable text, which means that you can change the font, resize the text, or alter the size of your display and the text of the Adobe EPUB eBook 'reflows' to fill the screen. This makes Adobe EPUB eBooks the optimal choice for reading eBooks on small screens. While some PDFs are reflowable on some devices, one of the main strengths of the PDF format is its ability to preserve the layout of complex documents. Kindle eBooks are formatted specifically for Kindle eReaders and for devices that have a Kindle app installed.

What device should I get?
Sony Reader, Nook, Kindle….there are many eReaders out there and more are introduced all the time! To decide what device works best for your personal reading style, visit OverDrive's Device Resource Centerfor a complete list of compatible devices and their features. You can also research different devices in industry publications, such as Consumer Reports available through the library.

Will eBooks work with my Kindle?
The Amazon Kindle is now compatible with our OverDrive eBooks! For each eBook, you will see a Kindle format – that is the eBook type that is compatible with your Kindle eReader or device with a Kindle app.

How long can eBooks be kept?
You can check out up to 10 eBooks at a time for 21 days.

What are the late fees?
eBooks you check out will never become late! Once the lending period is over, the title is automatically returned to the library.

Can they be returned early?
Using Adobe Digital Editions for PDF and EPUB eBooks, you can return an eBook before it expires. Just go to your Borrowed Items area, select the title you wish to return, and select "Return Borrowed Item" under the Item Options arrow on the corner of the book.

What do I do when my eBook license expires?
Once your eBook expires, you will not be able to read it, but it will stay on your computer or device. To delete the title from your Adobe Digital Editions, simply click on the Item Options arrow over the title and then click Delete Item. To delete titles from your eReader, follow instructions that are specific to your particular device.

What do I need to get started?
A valid Miami-Dade Public Library System library card, Internet access, and a computer or device that meets the system requirements for the types of materials you wish to download. You will also need to download the free software Adobe Digital Editions or the OverDrive Media Console app if you'd like to download to an Android, Blackberry, iPhone or iPad. All of this software is available for free on the OverDrive website under Software Downloads. You will need to activate your Adobe Digital Editions by receiving a free Adobe.com username and password and using it to activate your computer and your device.

Where can I find ebooks on the library's website?
There are two ways to find eBooks on the library's website. You can search our Library Catalog like you do for all library materials and eBooks will be listed there with a link to our OverDrive page where you will be able to checkout and download the title.

Or, you can simply type in ebooks.mdpls.org in your browser's address bar to be taken directly to the eBooks page. You can also get to the eBooks from the library's homepage at www.mdpls.org by clicking on eBooks & More on the left-hand side of the screen, and then clicking on the OverDrive link which appears in the right column.

How do I find and check out an eBook?
Browse or search this site for downloadable materials. When you find a title you're interested in, add it to the Cart and check it out. Once you have checked out a title, a download page is displayed. Click the 'Download' link to start the download. When the download is complete, you can either open it on your computer or transfer it to a device.

Why do I have to wait to check some ebooks out?
As per a licensing agreement between eBook publishers and OverDrive, only one copy of an eBook can be checked out to one patron at a time, much like a print book. If a patron has already checked out an eBook, you can place a hold on it and you will be notified when it becomes available. There are some titles in which the library has purchased additional "copies" allowing multiple patrons to download them.

What happens when I place a hold for an item?
When the title becomes available, we will email you instructions on checking the item out. You will have 3 days after we email you to go to your Digital Account and check the item out. You can place holds on up to 10 items at a time.

What if I need more help?
If you need assistance, OverDrive has detailed Help screens you can access by clicking on the MyHelp! Box on the left-hand side of the screen. OverDrive also has a "Quick Start Guide" and excellent video tutorials under "Digital Media Guided Tour" which are extremely useful when getting started. If you need further assistance, you can contact your local Miami-Dade Public Library System branch or contact us via email.

Help! OverDrive is not allowing me to check out a title.

OverDrive checks your library card account every time you want to check out an eMedia title. If you have reached your maximum number of checkouts at the library, you are restricted from checking out titles from OverDrive until you return some of your other checked out library materials. Also, if you have fines/fees over $30 or your library account needs renewal, OverDrive will not allow you to check out titles. Please call or visit your branch to inquire about your account.

My eBook didn't completely download to my computer.

You will need to download the title again. Go to your Digital Account and click on My Titles. The titles you currently have checked out are displayed. Click the title's 'Download' link and the title should download again.

Adobe Digital Editions keeps prompting me to "authorize my computer." What do I do?

Whenever you use a new computer or device for eBooks from an OverDrive-powered site, you will be prompted to authorize it. Open Adobe Digital Editions. The Setup Assistant dialog box should be displayed. Enter the email address and password for your Adobe ID. (If you do not have an Adobe ID, click on "get an Adobe ID online" and follow instructions to sign up for an Adobe ID.) Click "Activate." Your computer is now authorized with your Adobe ID. Click Finish to close the Setup Assistant dialog box.

Important: If you would like to transfer an eBook from Adobe Digital Editions to an eBook reader, be sure to authorize your eBook reader using the same Adobe ID.

I downloaded an eBook to my computer, but Adobe Digital Editions won't open the file.

Your computer may be trying to open the eBook with the program Adobe Reader, instead of Adobe Digital Editions. You may need to manually set Adobe Digital Editions as the default program to open .acsm files (the format eBooks are downloaded in). Depending on whether you have Mac or a PC and what version of Windows you are using, you will need to follow the instructions found here to set Adobe Digital Editions as your default program.

My Nook does not show up in my Adobe Digital Editions program.

Your computer may not be recognizing the Nook connection. First connect your Nook to your computer and click on the Nook drive. Look for the .adobe-digital-editions file on your Nook drive and delete it. If you can't find it, it may be because your computer is hiding setup files. Once you've deleted the file from your Nook, restart Adobe Digital Editions and your Nook should become visible. Make sure to click "Authorize Device" once the Nook has shown up again.

Adobe Digital Editions: A free software program that allows you to download ebooks and transfer them from your computer to a portable device, such as an eReader. To download Adobe Digital Editions, click here.

App: Abbreviation of "application." These are software programs you can use on your mobile device, such as an iPad or Blackberry. For the OverDrive Media Console app, click here.

DRM (Digital Rights Management): DRM regulates access to eBooks and upholds any restrictions put on the eBooks by the publisher or copyright holder.

eInk: Abbreviaton of "electronic ink." Special technology that makes it possible for the eBook pages on a computer screen or eReader to look like the pages of a printed book.

eReader: A portable device to which you can transfer eBooks to for reading on the go!

PDF (Portable Document Format): A free software format used to store, open and print documents. Documents in PDF format can maintain the look of a book page with pictures, charts and text.

PID (Personal Identifier): A unique identifier for your copy of Mobipocket Reader. Registration of your PID is required so that your copy of Mobipocket is registered to your device, enabling your device to open and use eBooks that have been DRM-protected.