Take advantage of the wide selection of digital media provided by your library!
To get started, the first thing you’ll need is a library card from the Alachua County Library District. If you have one, great! If not, and you are a Florida resident, you can get one by visiting any library branch location or bookmobile stop with ID and proof of address.
You have your library card and your new device, now what do you do?
The Library District's main provider of eBooks and digital audiobooks is called OverDrive. This service is free to library card holders. To see if your device will work with OverDrive, check out OverDrive’s list of supported devices. Some devices require the use of a computer to deliver the eBooks or audiobooks, while others can download the items directly.
Your device is supported? Great… skip the next section and read on. Or, if you're feeling confident and just want to get started without instructions, go directly to our Overdrive digital collection.
Your device isn't supported? Don’t have a device yet? Check out these blogs for eReader recommendations:
- Tablets vs eReaders.
- Best tablet computers.
- Choosing the best eReader.
- Which devices require a computer?
To get started with OverDrive:
- For eBooks, download Adobe Digital Editions.
- For audio and video, download the OverDrive Media console.
- For Kindle books, no additional software is required, but you will need your Amazon.com account.
More eReader help:
- Downloading OverDrive eBooks - step-by-step slides to guide you through your first eBook download
- The My Help! from OverDrive offers information for getting started and assistance for your specific computer/device.
If you have an eReader, check out these step-by-step instructions for downloading and returning digital items:
- Downloading eBooks on your iPad.
- Downloading eBooks on your Kindle.
- Downloading eBooks on your mobile device, such as Android, Blackberry, iPhone/iPod Touch and Windows phones.
- Downloading eBooks on your Nook.
- Downloading eBooks on your supported eReader, for eReaders other than the Kindle and Nook.
- Setting preferred OverDrive lending limits (YouTube video).
Uh-oh. You’ve started to download from OverDrive, but something has gone wrong.
Not to worry, we have a number of possible solutions for you.
- Visit OverDrive Help to watch videos or search questions, and direct online help if you have technical issues such as an odd error message or if things just won't work as they should.
- Nook users, sounds like you Need Nook Knowledge Now.
- Kindle users can get additional help from Amazon.
Downloading not a problem, but there’s nothing available?
Check out the Public Domain Collection from Overdrive, with over 34,000 titles and no wait list or expiration date.
Nothing worked? Feel free to call (352) 334-3939 or email us with your specific question, and we’ll be happy to help! Please include your library card number and a detailed description of the problem you are experiencing when you contact us.
*Photo courtesy of The Daring Librarian.
System status
A new library system and online catalog will debut on May 30. Here's the current status of:
- Checkouts: Continue as usual, but May 24-29 you must have your physical library card in hand to check out materials.
- Due dates: All checkouts will have a due date of June 22, except DVDs and GRU watt meters, which still have 7-day limit.
- Holds and requests: New holds and purchase requests cannot be placed until May 30, but those placed previously will continue to be processed and will carry over to the new system.
- Returns: Please "Babysit Our Books" — keep them until the new system is running smoothly (mid-June).
- Registration: Continues as usual today, but cannot be done May 24-29, as our entire system will be down.
- Interlibrary loan: No new ILL requests can be placed May 24-29.
- Digital checkouts: OverDrive checkouts and holds will work normally throughout the transition.
- My Discoveries: Will be retired with the AquaBrowser catalog on May 24. Please retrieve any saved book lists before then.
- Website: The Library District website (www.aclib.us) will be up as normal throughout the transition.
- My Account: Account info will be available through May 24. Your account will appear on the new system on May 30.
- Bill payment: All payments including PayPal are working today. No payments can be accepted May 24-29
- New catalog: Watch for its debut on May 30, with new features.
More about the transition.
More about the new online catalog.
Have any questions? Please Ask Us!
