What are Downloadable eAudiobooks?
Downloadable eAudiobooks from NetLibrary and Recorded Books are digital versions of audiobooks that are available through the Internet. eAudiobooks can be played on any desktop or portable device supporting Windows Media Player version 9.0 and above. You can also transfer your favorite titles to a wide range of portable devices, including portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs, and even select smartphone devices.  

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Searching for an Audiobook
Basic Search
on the NetLibrary home page lets you quickly perform a search by entering terms and selecting a single search field. You may choose to search for your terms in the Keyword, Title, or Author fields. Basic search is prominently featured on the home page and is also available on the right side of every page with the exception of the advanced search page.

1. Enter search term in the Basic Search field.

2. Select keyword, title, or author.

3. Click search.  

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Checking out an Audiobook
The default checkout period for a Downloadable eAudiobook is three weeks. You may check out a maximum of six audiobook titles at one time. Please do not download audiobooks to public computers in your library.

1. From search results, click on the Download this eAudiobook link to Open or Save the eaudiobook file.

2. Select a download option: CD quality, or radio quality. Radio quality provides faster download speed and is ideal for users with dial-up connections; CD quality offers highfidelity playback for patrons with high-speed Internet access.

3. If you select Open, NetLibrary will download the title and launch your media player.

Click the play button to listen to the eAudiobook. The Save option allows you to download the file to a directory of your choosing. Once the download is complete, you can open the eaudiobook directly from your media player, or by using Windows Explorer.   

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Creating an Account
You can search and browse for eaudiobooks and listen to previews in your home. However, to download and listen to eaudiobooks, you must first create a free NetLibrary account. (You’ll be prompted to do so, when you try to check out an eaudiobook.)

1. Go to www.shelbycounty-al.org to access the Web page with the account creation function.

2. Enter your identifying information (user name, password, email address).

3. Select the submit button.  

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Logging in
Once you have created an account, you can log in to your library’s collection from any computer
with Internet access.

1. Go to www.shelbycounty-al.org and enter your user name and password in the log in box. (You can also go through your library’s Web catalog if you prefer.)

2. Click the red log in button.

3. You now have access to all audiobooks available in your library’s collection.  

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Renewing an Audiobook
Once an audiobook has been downloaded, it can be renewed at any time.

1. Go to www.netlibrary.org and enter your user name and password in the log in box.

2. Click on the My checked out Items link.

3. Click on Renew this Audiobook

If you are attempting to access an audiobook with an expired license from your media player, NetLibrary will launch a pop-up browser that will prompt you to log in to renew your checkout.

1. Enter your user name and password.

2. Click the log in button.

3. Your license will automatically be renewed.

4. Click play to listen to the audiobook.  

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Transferring an Audiobook to a Portable Device
You can use your media player to transfer a downloaded audiobook to portable devices supporting secure WMA format. NetLibrary automatically transfers a license to your portable device that will allow you to access the audiobook for up to three weeks from the date of original checkout. Please refer to your media player’s help section for additional information.  

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Finding help
Detailed information on using NetLibrary is available by clicking on the Help tab in the top navigation bar. Context-sensitive help is also available by clicking on the tips links located on NetLibrary search, details and download pages. For additional assistance, contact your librarian.

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