#25 - Something To Do With That MP3 Player
To my surprise, we're almost done - today's lesson marks the end of our next-to-last week of Learning 2.0. This also means it's time to go mp3 player shopping. Thanks again to the KCLS foundation for funding this program completion reward.
But with mp3 players on the brain, mine at least, today's lesson offers a perfect excuse to focus on our most popular free Audio eBook service, the OverDrive Audio Book collection.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Overdrive Download Collection
There's a wonderfully wide range of audio books in the Overdrive Download Collection. Popular fiction, history, young adult, you name it.
Overdrive, though, isn't just audio ebooks. Keep an eye out for different formats (text ebooks, video, classical music) in your search results - some of your favorite titles will not be available as audio downloads.
You should also know that most downloads (all but the text ebooks) ask you to install the Overdrive Media Console. This is free software, worry not, but you're not going to be able to install it on a KCLS staff computer.
How, then, do you download audio books?
If you've got a computer and high speed internet at home, it's easy - install the Overdrive software and have at it.
And if you don't have a computer and high speed internet at home? You'll be able to use one of the new public PCs (the thin client replacements) in our branches. Talk to your LTA to find out if your branch has added one or more of these new computers.
Explore the collection
Okay, so where do you find Overdrive downloadable audio books?
First off, there's an Overdrive catalog on our website - ebooks.kcls.org will take you straight in. You can also get there via the ebooks-Audio link found on our main website menu.
Overdrive titles are also in our OPAC and in Catalog Explorer. It's especially easy to limit your search results in Catalog Explorer - choose 'e-book - audio' from the format refinement option on the right side of the screen.
Today we'd like you to focus on the Overdrive catalog - get a feel for the collection and get ready to download ebooks on your new mp3 player in just a few weeks' time.
So, straight off, to our low-key Discovery Excercise
- Head over to our Overdrive Catalog
- Explore - search for your favorite authors
- Explore some more - browse a few subjects that interest you
- Make a mental list of the titles you'd like to listen to once you get your mp3 player
- That's all.
Or, unless you need a visual kick-start - should you be having trouble making sense of our ebook site, feel free to take a look at this hastily-produced 3 and a half minute demonstration
Next up - the wrap up...
9 comments:
Will a week 11 be added to the progress log soon?
The latest log is now up on our intranet.
What happened to the link where you could see what mp3 devices work with the OverDrive books?
I installed OverDrive Media Console on my home computer, then I went to try and upgrade our Windows Media Player but it would not open and I got the message "The parameter is incorrect." What is wrong and how do I fix it?
I have installed Overdrive on my home computer. I tried to download a book and music, but i get the message, "a security upgrade is required to perform the operation on this media file." HUH?
Just wanted to let you know that I am following up with Overdrive on the error messages reported above. I'll post a 'post-script' to this lesson once I hear back...
In reference to evabeansgrandma's question, a solution is on our eBook Help pages: http://ebooks.kcls.org/EEB134FC-EB03-4553-8306-D815D87A8A99/10/205/en/Help-FAQ-Format25.htm#question-44.
In response to prince geek's question, there's a link on the eBooks help page for compatible devices: To which devices can I transfer OverDrive Audio Book titles?
If you receive a 'the parameter is incorrect' error message, here's what you have to do. It is, I fear, somewhat complicated...
The "Parameter is Incorrect" error message means there is a problem with the DRM (Digital Rights Management) component of Windows Media Player. You'll need to re-set the DRM:
1. Rename the DRM folder to DRM.old. Depending on your OS, it can be found in different locations:
- Windows 2000 and XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM
- Windows 98: C:\Windows\All Users\DRM
- Windows Millennium Edition: C:\Windows\DRM
If you cannot find the file, this may be because it is a hidden, system file. Please use the following steps to view the DRM folder.
- In Windows Explorer go to Tools > Folder Options > View
- Under 'Hidden files and folders' heading, make the following two changes:
* Select 'Show Hidden Files and Folders'
Please Note: The next change will give you a warning message. Please make sure you click "Yes".
* Un-check 'Hide Protected Operating System Files'
- Click the button 'Apply to All Folders'. This will ensure the changes affect all folders on the system.
2. Re-run the Windows Media Player Security Upgrade from the OverDrive Media Console under the 'Tools' menu.
3. Attempt to download an OverDrive Audio Book.
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