What kinds of materials can I check out from this website?
We are pleased to offer the following types of materials for checkout and download from this website:
- eBooks in the Adobe® Reader®/Adobe® Digital Editions format (eBooks optimized for on-screen reading)
- eBooks in the Mobipocket Reader format (eBooks optimized for on-screen reading & transfer to an array of portable devices)
- Digital audio books in the OverDrive Media Console™ format
To download free software for your preferred format, and to review system requirements and instructions for download, click below:
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What is an 'eBook'?
'eBook' is short for 'electronic book', a digital version of a print book that has been optimized for on-screen reading. eBooks are available in a variety of different formats:
To read more about free eBook software, click below:
To review system requirements and instructions for download, click below:
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What is a 'digital audio book'?
A 'digital audio book' is a digital version of an audio book that is rights-protected and optimized for download.
To read more about free digital audio book software, click on the link below:
To review system requirements and instructions for download, click on the link below:
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What software do I need?
In order to borrow and use a specific format of digital book, you must download and install the proper software.
Adobe Reader 6, 7, and 8 with Adobe Digital Editions are available for desktop and laptop computers. Adobe Reader 3.0 is available for PDAs with Palm OS and Adobe Reader 2.0 is available for the Pocket PC. For more information on this software, click here.
Mobipocket Reader is available for desktop and laptop computers with Microsoft Windows® operating systems, Smartphones, Pocket PCs, and Palm OS PDAs. For more information on this software, click here.
OverDrive Media Console (for audio books) is available for desktop and laptop computers with Microsoft Windows operating systems. For more information on this software, click here.
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How do I get to my titles after I've downloaded them?
Access downloaded titles as follows:
Adobe Reader (6 and 7) and Adobe Digital Editions automatically save a copy of the downloaded eBook to your computer. There are several ways to open Adobe eBooks:
If you have Adobe Reader 6…
- Open Adobe Reader.
- Select File > My Bookshelf.
The Adobe Reader Bookshelf displays your eBooks.
- Double-click the desired eBook to open it.
If you have Adobe Reader 7…
- Open Adobe Reader.
- Select File > Digital Editions > My Digital Editions.
The Adobe Reader Digital Editions screen displays your eBooks.
- Double-click the desired eBook to open it.
If you have Adobe Reader 8 with Adobe Digital Editions…
- Open Adobe Digital Editions.
- Select the 'Library View' icon (in the upper left corner).
The Adobe Digital Editions library is displayed.
- Under the 'Bookshelves' heading, select 'Borrowed'.
- Click the desired eBook.
- Click the 'Item Options' arrow (in the upper left corner of the selected eBook).
- Select 'Open Item' to open your eBook.
(Please note that Adobe eBooks can be downloaded only one time. If you should need to download an Adobe eBook a second time, please contact support to reactivate your download link. In your email, please provide your library card number as well as the title of the book you wish to download again.)
Mobipocket Reader requires you to save the eBook to your
computer. There are several ways to open Mobipocket eBooks:
If you have Mobipocket Reader 4...
- Open Mobipocket Reader.
- Go to File > My Library.
Your Mobipocket Reader Library displays the list of eBooks available in your Mobipocket library.
- Click on the desired eBook to open it.
Alternatively, open Mobipocket Reader and go to File > Open. Browse to the desired Mobipocket file and double-click it to open it in Mobipocket Reader.
If you have Mobipocket Reader 5 or 6...
- Open Mobipocket Reader.
- Select 'eBooks' on the left hand navigation pane.
Mobipocket Reader displays the list of eBooks available in your Mobipocket library.
- Click on the desired eBook to open it.
Alternatively, use Windows Explorer to browse to the desired Mobipocket eBook file on your machine (on Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows XP, your eBooks are stored in My Documents > My eBooks by default. On Windows Vista, your eBooks are stored in Documents > My eBooks by default), and right-click the file. Choose option 'Open With' and select Mobipocket Reader.
OverDrive Media Console automatically saves a copy of the audio book to your computer. To open an OverDrive audio book, open OverDrive Media Console and select the desired title from the 'Media Library'.
Note that if you've misplaced your copy of a downloaded title, the eLibraries Manitoba (eLM) maintains a history of borrowed digital books called 'eItems Checked Out'. During the lending period, most digital materials can be re-downloaded from the eItems Checked Out feature by clicking on the 'eItems Checked Out' link in the My eAccount section.
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I cannot find the title I downloaded. Can I download it again?
If you've misplaced your copy of a downloaded title, eLibraries Manitoba (eLM) maintains a history of borrowed digital materials called 'eItems Checked Out'. During the lending period, you can re-download from the eItems Checked Out feature by clicking on the 'eItems Checked Out' link in the My eAccount section. To reach the My eAccount section, click the 'My eAccount' link and enter the required login information.
(Please note that Adobe eBooks can be downloaded only one time. If you should need to download an Adobe eBook a second time, please contact support to reactivate your download link. In your email, please provide your library card number as well as the title of the book you wish to download again.)
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What happens to the title I downloaded once I've finished with it?
Downloaded files remain on your computer (even after they have expired) until you manually delete them. Please review these instructions for deleting expired files:
To delete an expired Adobe eBook file using Adobe Reader 6…
- Open Adobe Reader.
- Go to File > My Bookshelf.
- Locate the cover image of the eBook you wish to delete. Click on the clock in the upper-right corner of the cover image.
A dialog box is displayed that shows the eBook expiration date.
- Click the 'Delete' button.
To delete an expired Adobe eBook file using Adobe Reader 7…
- Open Adobe Reader.
- Go to File > Digital Editions > My Digital Editions.
- Locate the cover image of the eBook you wish to delete. Click on the clock in the upper-right corner of the cover image.
A dialog box is displayed that shows the eBook expiration date.
- Click the 'Delete' button.
To delete an expired Adobe eBook file using Adobe Reader 8 with Adobe Digital Editions…
- Open Adobe Digital Editions.
- Select the 'Library View' icon (in the upper left corner).
The Adobe Digital Editions library is displayed.
- Under the 'Bookshelves' heading, select 'Borrowed'.
- Click the desired eBook.
- Click the 'Item Options' arrow (in the upper left corner of the selected eBook).
- Select 'Delete Item'.
To delete an expired Mobipocket eBook file using Mobipocket 4 or 5...
- Open Mobipocket Reader and go to File > My Library.
- Locate the eBook you wish to delete. Click the 'Properties' link below the eBook. A pop-up box will display information about the eBook. Click the 'Delete' button.
To delete an expired Mobipocket eBook file using Mobipocket 6...
- Open Mobipocket Reader and select the 'eBooks' screen.
- Right-click on the eBook you wish to delete and select 'Delete'.
To delete an expired audio book file...
- Open OverDrive Media Console.
- Locate the audio book you wish to delete in the 'Media Library'. Single-click on the title to select it, then click the 'Delete' button.
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Can I use the materials I check out from this site on multiple machines?
Yes.
If you are using Adobe eBooks…
Adobe eBooks can be used on multiple machines if you are using Adobe Reader 6 or 7.
To use Adobe eBooks on multiple machines, each machine must first be activated to the same account using Adobe's 'Named Activation' option. Please note that transferring Adobe Reader eBooks from one computer to another will work only if the destination computer is running Adobe Reader 6. To activate Adobe Reader 6 or 7 using the Named Activation option, click here.
Named Activation is not currently supported in Adobe Reader 8 with Adobe Digital Editions. Note that Adobe Reader 6 or 7 may check for updates and download Adobe Reader 8 automatically depending on your current settings. Click here for information on turning off automatic updates in Adobe Reader 6 and 7.
If you are using Mobipocket eBooks…
You can read Mobipocket eBooks on 3 machines. You need to install Mobipocket Reader on any machine on which you intend to read a Mobipocket eBook. You must then register a Mobipocket PID at this site for each machine on which you intend to read a Mobipocket eBook.
OverDrive Audio Books can be downloaded to multiple computers, transferred to supported portable devices, and burned to CD (when allowed by the publisher).
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