By The Bel: In Overdrive

Bel happily discovers the free e-books and audio books available from Brisbane Council Libraries.

I am a massive fan of audio books and I have a feeling Brisbane City Council Libraries need to promote something I am learning to use as I type this blog. Over Drive electronic books. Which show up as a DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO FILE, or DOWNLOADABLE ELECTRONIC FILE when you do an online catalog search.

So far all I’ve done is download the Open Drive program for windows 7, logged into the log in page, via the elib catalog, using my library card details and pin, and downloaded the book I wish to listen to.

According to the borrowing page I can choose what format I want the audio file to be in when I download. I have 7 days to listen to the book/s I chose, though I can also alter how long I want to borrow the book for. I have a capacity of 10 audio books to borrow at a time and, oh my gosh, the sound quality is equal to an audio book you’d buy from a book shop or borrow in disc form from the library.

They look like they have the option of putting the ‘app’ on mobile devices like nooks, androids and iproducts.

You can borrow e-books, so you’re not just restricted to audio books, and the variety of e-books is actually a little more substantial than the audio formats.

So far I’ve started a list of books I’d like to borrow, and I’m still searching through the catalog to see what else I might like to experience.

Go ahead and give Over Drive a chance if you’re a member of Brisbane City Council Libraries. Ask your caregiver before downloading the program, you know the drill. E-books and audio books for free… yes please!

Let me know if you’ve given this program a go and what you thought of it.