PDF of entire package of materials used in the class. This class was sponsored by Meridian Library System and Republican Valley Library System. Presentation was at Lexington Public Library on December 15, 2011.

1. What You Need to Know About
Today’s eBook Technology
eBooks, eReaders and OverDrive
2011-12-14 Page: 1

2. What is an eBook?
• Merriam‐Webster.com definition: a book composed in or converted to
digital format for display on a computer screen or handheld device [First
used in 1988]. [Source: http://www.merriam‐webster.com/dictionary/ebook]
• Wikipedia.org definition: An electronic book (variously, e‐book, ebook,
digital book) is a book‐length publication in digital form, consisting of text,
images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on
computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a
conventional printed book, e‐books can also be born digital. The Oxford
Dictionary of English defines the e‐book as “an electronic version of a
printed book,“ but e‐books can and do exist without any printed
equivalent. E‐books are usually read on dedicated e‐book readers.
Personal computers and some mobile phones can also be used to read e‐
books. [First use 1971: US Declaration of Independence typed into a
computer, eventually leading to launch of Project Gutenberg. ][Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E‐book]
2011-12-14 Page: 2

3. What is an eReader?
• An e‐book reader, also called an e‐book device or
e‐reader, is a mobile electronic device that is
designed primarily for the purpose of reading
digital e‐books and periodicals. [Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ereaders]
Not all eBooks can be read on all eReaders.
Not all eReaders are created equal.
2011-12-14 Page: 3

4. Common eBook Formats
• Kindle (*.azw) – Proprietary to Amazon and Kindle eReaders
• DjVu (*.djvu) – Specialized storing of scanned documents (NDOR Maps)
• EPUB (*.epub) – Open Standard created by International Digital Publishing Forum
• Hypertext (*.htm, *.html) – HyperText Markup Language (Web browser)
• MobiPocket (*.mobi, *.prc) – based on the old Open eBook Standard (*.opf) using
XHTML and Java, support native SQL queries for database access
• Open eBook (*.opf) – XML based standard that has been superseded by EPUB
• Portable Document Format (*.pdf) – Created by Adobe, intended to convert text
exactly to a specific print format, meaning it doesn’t usually zoom well. Most scholarly
journals will be in this format because it takes away the issues of rescaling tables and
graphs, often used in scientific articles.
• Plain Text (*.txt) – First eBook format. Size = number of characters in bytes. Based on
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) standards.
• PostScript (*.ps) – Page description language often used in desktop publishing. It is
based in code that tells the printer how to assemble the resulting image for best
printing.
2011-12-14 Page: 4

5. Digital Rights Management (DRM)
Digital rights management (DRM) is a class of access control technologies that are
used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with
the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any
technology that inhibits uses of digital content that are not desired or intended by the
content provider. DRM also includes specific instances of digital works or devicesIn
1998 the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was passed in the United States to
impose criminal penalties on those who make available technologies whose primary
purpose and function is to circumvent content protection technologies. [Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management]
Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org) simply defines it as “DRM
technologies attempt to control what you can and can't do with the media and
hardware you've purchased. “
2011-12-14 Page: 5

6. Digital Rights Management (DRM)
The official Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998 is available at
http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a necessary evil.
Necessary because it is much easier and quicker to copy a digital file than a physical
book.
Evil because in many cases it means if I purchase a title on one device through a
vendor, I have to re‐purchase the title to use it on another device or through another
vendor.
OverDrive uses Adobe’s Content Server platform to provide DRM through the free
end‐user application Adobe Digital Editions. The exception is Amazon Kindle formatted
eBooks which uses Amazon’s proprietary DRM.
2011-12-14 Page: 6

7. What is OverDrive?
OverDrive is a global distributor of digital eBooks, audiobooks, music and video for
libraries, schools, and retail. [Source: http://www.overdrive.com]
Search OverDrive for Title, Library or Bookstore availability at
http://search.overdrive.com
OverDrive Device Resource Center (DRC) is maintained by OverDrive at
http://overdrive.com/resources/drc/
Nebraska OverDrive Collection at
http://nebraska.lib.overdrive.com
Nebraska OverDrive Information at
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/overdrive/overdriveinfo.aspx
2011-12-14 Page: 7

8. What do you really need to know to help a patron?
1.You need to know exactly what they are
having problems with…reference interview.
2.You need to know what device they have,
even down to the model sometimes.
3.Where to get support…is it an OverDrive
problem or is it a Device problem or is it a
User problem or is it some COMBINATION.
4.Where to find a users manual or users guide if
you need help figuring out the device.
2011-12-14 Page: 8

9. Where to Go for Help
• OverDrive : http://tinyurl.com/NEOverDriveHelp
– Email: support@overdrive.com (not for patrons, for us)
– List: NEBRASKAOVERDRIVE@nlc.state.ne.us (each other)
• Kindle : http://tinyurl.com/7g5ly6o
– Kindle Forum: http://tinyurl.com/6pmku36
• Nook : http://tinyurl.com/cr7ylsg
– Unbound Blog: http://tinyurl.com/nook‐unbound
• Sony : http://tinyurl.com/sony‐help
2011-12-14 Page: 9

10. Where to Go for Help
• Pandigital: http://pandigital.net/?pageid=124
• Coby: http://cobyusa.com/?p=doc
• Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/help
• BeBook: http://mybebook.com/support/
• iPad: http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/
• Motorola: http://tinyurl.com/xoom‐help
• Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/us/support/
2011-12-14 Page: 10

11. Demo – the Magic 7 Steps
1. Find an ebook on OverDrive
2. Checkout the ebook on OverDrive
3. Transfer the ebook to Amazon or Adobe Digital
Editions (ADE) to satisfy DRM requirements
4. Transfer the ebook to your device
5. Early Check In
6. Delete from your DRM library (Amazon or ADE)
7. Delete from your device
2011-12-14 Page: 11

12. Sara Aden, MLS
Assistant Library Director / Computer Systems Manager
North Platte Public Library
adensj@ci.north‐platte.ne.us
Republican Valley Library System – Denise Harders, Director
http://libraries.ne.gov/rvls
Meridian Library System – Sharon Osenga, Director
http://libraries.ne.gov/mls
2011-12-14 Page: 12

13. Helping Patrons Make Decisions about Technology
Play Games and
I want an eReader to... Tablet
Store Data
eInk or anti-glare
Read Books In the Sun
Technology
In Bed without a Light Backlit
Read Magazines Color Display
Borrow Books from the Just about anything
Library will work but check:
http://www.overdrive.com/
resources/drc/
Default.aspx?type=ebook
2011-12-14 Page: 13

14. An Incomplete List of eReaders by Technology
Tablets (closer to PC than eReader ability to download apps)
Acer Iconia
Amazon Fire
Apple iPad & iPad 2
Asus Memo Pad
Augen Gentouch
Barnes & Noble Color & Table
Blackberry Playbook
HP TouchPad
Kobo Vox
Motorola Xoom
Pandigital Novel Color Multimedia
Samsung Galaxy
Sony Tablet
Viewsonic Viewpad
eInk eReader (monochrome good for reading in the sun, requires light to read in dark)
Amazon Kindle Keyboard/Touch
Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch
Kobo Touch/Wi-Fi
Pandigital Novel Personal eReader
Sony Reader
Color Displays are usually tablets allowing more functionality
** See the Incomplete Tablet List above **
Works with Overdrive
Check: http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/Default.aspx?type=ebook
Most tablets and eReader devices can work with Overdrive, but it requires either an Amazon
account (if Kindle), or Acrobat Digital Editions compatibility with PC connection
Adobe’s Acrobat Digital Editions compatible device list at
http://blogs.adobe.com/digitalpublishing/supported-devices
Device Notes
This technology is an infant and will continuously change for a while.
The biggest revolution to affect our library is the availability of Amazon formatted ebooks on
Overdrive.
Soon some technologies will fall away from the edevice scene, most notably non-touch
devices and non-color devices.
2011-12-14 Page: 14

15. Keeping Up with the e-Revolution
Tools
Open eLibrary at http://openelibrary.org/
Do you have hundreds of documents and ebooks on your computer? Tired of searching your folders for that specific manual? Want to
catalog your entire home library?
eLibrary is the perfect solution for your, and it’s open source and free.
It automatically scans your document folders and downloads the book’s cover image and info from the web, and displays them in a friendly
user interface.
The book’s info is downloaded using the ISBN, which you can enter manually, or let the application guess it. Guessing is done by either
searching the book on google, amazon or scanning the text for the ISBN (scan is currently only for PDF), thus allowing you to quickly load
books into the app.
Besides digital books, eLibrary has organizing and tagging features which are useful for managing your work & research documents,
manuals and your real home library.
News & How To
The eBook Reader Blog at http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/
The Digital Reader at http://www.the-digital-reader.com/
Internet Public Library (IPL) eBook Resources at http://www.ipl.org/div/ereader/
Librarian in Black at http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/ !!Explicit!!
Video Tutorials search “ereader” or your specific device at http://youtube.com
Device & Software Support
Barnes & Noble NOOK Support at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/NOOK-Support/379003184
Amazon Kindle Support at http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/?nodeId=200127470
Pandigital Support requires device registration but specs can be found through http://pandigital.net/?PageID=373
Sony Digital eReader Support at http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/select-system.pl?PRODTYPE=74
Sony Tablet Support at http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/select-system.pl?PRODTYPE=110
OverDrive Adobe Digital Edition support at http://tinyurl.com/NEOverDriveADEHelp
OverDrive eReader Device List at http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/Default.aspx?type=ebook
Adobe Digital Editions FAQs at http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/faq/
Adobe Digital Editions Help at http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/help/
Adobe Digital Editions Support Center at http://www.adobe.com/support/digitaleditions/
Adobe Digital Editions eReader Device List at http://blogs.adobe.com/digitalpublishing/supported-devices
Free & Nearly Free eBooks
Nook Daily Find at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/ebook-nook-daily-find-bargain-deal/379003102/
Nook Free Fridays via The Nook Blog at http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/The-NOOK-Blog/bg-p/Unbound
Amazon offers Kindle Daily Deals at http://tinyurl.com/kindledailydeal
Amazon Listmania! Totally Free Kindle Books at http://www.amazon.com/Totally-Free-kindle-Books/lm/R27UG52OAM3TFX
Amazon’s Limited Time Offers at http://www.amazon.com/s/?node=2279458011
Nebraska Libraries and OverDrive Information
NLC’s OverDrive information page at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/overdrive/overdriveinfo.aspx
Subscribe to NLC’s Nebraska OverDrive List [NEBRASKAOVERDRIVE@nlc.state.ne.us]
2011-12-14 Page: 15

16. Using Nebraska OverDrive with an Amazon Kindle Device
1. Go to Nebraska OverDrive at http://nebraska.lib.overdrive.com
2. Use Advanced Search to find Kindle eBooks that are available.
2011-12-14 Page: 16

17. 3. Add an available title you want to your cart. Be sure to get the
Kindle formatted version.
4. Proceed to Checkout and Select your
library.
2011-12-14 Page: 17

18. 5. Sign in with your Library Information. Library barcode 14 digits, no
spaces from the back of your card and your Library PIN. If you don’t
know your Library PIN, it could be your 4 digit year of birth. If you
have additional trouble signing in, please contact the Library at
library@ci.north-platte.ne.us or 308-535-8036 for help.
12345678901234
6. Choose your loan period and Confirm Check Out.
2011-12-14 Page: 18

19. 7. Choose Get for Kindle.
8. You are redirected to an Amazon page showing the title you are
checking. Click Get Library Book.
9. Sign in with your Amazon
Account Information.
email@somewhere.com
2011-12-14 Page: 19

20. 10. Choose where you want the item delivered and continue
11. Turn Wi-Fi on for your device and receive the item during synch or
download the item to a computer, connect your device to the computer
with a USB cable and download the item to your computer then
transfer it to the device.
You can now enjoy the title on your device for
the remaining loan period.
2011-12-14 Page: 20

21. Amazon Kindle Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Checking in items early. How?
1. Log on to your Amazon account in a browser
2. Choose Manage Your Kindle
3. In Your Kindle Library, find the title you wish to return
4. Under Actions, choose Return This Book
5. Under Actions, choose Delete from Library if you no longer want
it in Your Kindle Library.
6. On your Kindle keyboard, when you synch up, you will receive
notification of titles expired and you can delete those notifications
by using the multi-directional button  and selecting Remove
from Device. On the Kindle Fire, synching just removes the title
from your device automatically.
2011-12-14 Page: 21

22. Amazon Kindle Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I put a gift card in my Kindle account and I can’t seem to
download anything, even free things. Why? I don’t have a
credit card / don't want Amazon to have my credit card
information.
A: Amazon requires a valid payment method and 1-Click ordering for all, even
free or $0.00, Kindle transactions. Gift cards are not considered valid
payment methods. Purchase a pre-paid Visa card from a store. To verify
valid payment method:
1. Login to Amazon with your account information
2. Under Account, select Manage Payment Options verify there is a payment
method there.
3. Under Manage Your Kindle, Kindle Payment Settings, verify there is a valid
billing method in place there.
9999
12/2011
Jane Doe
Jane Doe
123 Somewhere ST
North Platte NE 69101
United States
Phone: 308-123-4567
9999
2011-12-14 Page: 22

23. Using OverDrive with Nook or other non-Kindle eReader
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998 has required
most ebooks to be protected by technology measures collectively
known as Digital Rights Management (DRM). DRM tells you want you
can and cannot do with a file based on copyright holder’s direction.
OverDrive uses Adobe Content Management Server to preserve DRM
on items purchased for use by library patrons. Because of this feature,
Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) is required for any title downloaded
through OverDrive. ADE is free software provided by Adobe, but it
must be installed on a computer.
1. Go to Nebraska OverDrive at http://nebraska.lib.overdrive.com
2. Use Advanced Search to find eBooks that are available.
2011-12-14 Page: 23

24. 3. Add an available title you want to your cart. IMPORTANT: You do
NOT want the Kindle format.




4. Proceed to Checkout and
Select your library.
2011-12-14 Page: 24

25. 5. Sign in with your Library Information. Library barcode (14 digits, no
spaces) from the back of your card and your Library PIN. If you don’t
know your Library PIN, it could be your 4 digit year of birth. If you
have additional trouble signing in, please contact the Library at
library@ci.north-platte.ne.us or 308-535-8036 for help.
12345678901234
6. Choose your loan period and Confirm Check Out
2011-12-14 Page: 25

26. 7. If you have already downloaded and installed ADE on your computer
proceed here, otherwise see the ADE install tips page at the end of this
document. You only install ADE once. Choose Download.
8. ADE starts up and the ebook is downloaded to ADE and opened for
reading within ADE.
LEFT: Firefox asks to
open in ADE
BELOW: IE allows you
to save or open, choose
Open
2011-12-14 Page: 26

27. 9. The book downloads and opens in ADE. You can read your book on
your computer.
10. To transfer the book to your eReader device, connect your device
to the computer via the included USB cable. Wait for your computer to
load the device.
2011-12-14 Page: 27

28. 11. When your device drivers load, you will see your eReader in ADE.
12. Click the book cover in the library and drag it on top of your device.
2011-12-14 Page: 28

29. 13. Properly remove your device from your system.
You can now enjoy the title on your device for
the remaining loan period.
2011-12-14 Page: 29

30. Nook and non-Kindle Device FAQs
Q: Checking in items early. How?
1. Open ADE on the same computer where you downloaded the title
2. In the library, on the title there is a small arrow in the upper left
corner of the book cover. Click the book cover arrow.
3. Choose Return Borrowed Item from the drop menu
4. If the item is expired this is also the way to delete the item from
ADE only choose Delete Item from the cover arrow menu.
5. You can use ADE to delete the title from your device by clicking
the device and then finding the title you wish to delete and then
using the cover arrow menu to delete the item.
2011-12-14 Page: 30

31. Nook and non-Kindle Device FAQs
Q: How do I install ADE?
1. Go to http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/#fp
2. Launch the installer. Requires Administrator or program installation
credentials to install software onto the computer.
3. ADE opens and your are shown a Setup Assistant screen.
2011-12-14 Page: 31

32. Nook and non-Kindle Device FAQs
Q: How do I install ADE? (continued)
4. ADE wants to Authorize the Computer which requires an Adobe ID.
If you already have one you can enter it here, otherwise get an
Adobe ID Online.
5. If you mess up or for some reason want to do this again, SHIFT +
CTRL + D will de-authorize the computer.
email@somewhere.com
2011-12-14 Page: 32

33. Nook and non-Kindle Device FAQs
Q: I think I got the title downloaded but I can’t find it on my
device. Where did it go?
1. This is dependent on how your device works with ADE. On a Nook
device the titles are not under Books but are under My Files or My
Documents.
2011-12-14 Page: 33

34. Nook and non-Kindle Device FAQs
Q: How do I get everything off my device that’s expired?
1. Delete it from your device by finding it and going to item options
and choosing delete.
2. Delete it from your device by opening ADE, connecting your device
to your computer, clicking on your device and using the cover
arrow menu to delete the item from your device.
3. Delete it from your device by connecting your device to your
computer and then using My Computer to find the device drive and
the file and choosing delete. [Also known as using Windows or
Mac Explorer for file management.]
4. Choose 1, 2, or 3 above and answer appropriately to any prompts
you may receive.
2011-12-14 Page: 34