1. Borrowing eBooks @
Halifax Public Libraries:
Using your Computer, Tablet, or Smartphone
Keriann Dowling
November 2013

2. Learn how to:
borrow and read eBooks online
place a hold on eBooks
download eBooks to read offline

3. Borrowing eBooks with
OverDrive
cyberscooty.(2012). Stylized book [Clipart].
http://openclipart.org/

4. www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/
Click the
eBooks button
on HPL’s
homepage

5. The HPL
homepage
may look
different if
you’re using
your phone or
tablet

6. Sign in with
the number on
your library
card

7. Choose to Browse from HPL’s
various collections...
 Fiction
Now you’re
ready to
browse and
borrow eBooks
 Nonfiction
 Biography & Autobiography
 Business & Careers
 Cooking & Food
 Foreign Language Study
 Health & Fitness
 And many, many more…
OR
Search for a specific title
or author…

8. The icons on
the covers can
help you
identify
different kinds
of books
eBooks:
Available
On Loan
Audiobooks:
Available
On Loan

9. You can also click here
to only see titles that
are available to be
borrowed
Click on the
book’s cover to
see more details
about it

10. Read a sample of
the book before
you borrow it
“OverDrive READ”
means this book can
be read on any
device with a
internet browser
“Adobe EPUB eBook”
means this book can also
be downloaded and read
on a computer or
transferred eReader
that uses EPUB files
Click to read a
longer summary of
the book
Add this book to a list
so you can find it at a
later time
How many copies
are available to
borrow
How many copies of the
eBook the library owns in
total

11. All the copies of this
eBook are checked out.
Click here to place a hold.
This book has a wait list.
One person would be
ahead of you in line.

12. Let’s borrow “Speaking
From Among the Bones”
Peileppe. (2008). Crow flying down. [Clipart]. http://openclipart.org/
ribbla. (2013). Female bike [Clipart]. http://openclipart.org/

13. Clicking “Borrow” takes you to your bookshelf.
Click here to read this book
online.
Clicking here will show
you your “Wish List”
from earlier

14. My Bookshelf

15. Placing a Hold on
eBooks with OverDrive
cyberscooty.(2012). Stylized book [Clipart].
http://openclipart.org/

16. Let’s place a hold on
“The Sweetness at the
Bottom of the Pie”
Jimyeh. (2011). Maple Stamp [Clipart]. http://openclipart.org/
redccshirt. (2010). Black bird [Clipart]. http://openclipart.org/

17. Click “Place a Hold”
AND
Placing a Hold
Enter the email address for
HPL to send you a message
when it’s your turn to borrow
the book

18.  When the title becomes available, you will
receive an email from
donotreply@overdrive.com
 You will have 3 days to borrow the title before
your hold expires
 You can view or cancel your holds by clicking
the “Holds” button on your Bookshelf page.
 You can visit your Bookshelf page at any time
by clicking the “Account” button once you’ve
logged in to the HPL eBooks page

19. Downloading eBooks
for Offline Reading
Using OverDrive READ
cyberscooty.(2012). Stylized book [Clipart].
http://openclipart.org/

20. • Click the cloud
icon on the side
bar
• You can also
scroll to the
bottom of the
page for the
same result

21. Tap the “Download” button
Wait until the eBook has
completely downloaded
before navigating away!
The text will change
from “downloading” to
“Downloaded” when the
download is complete

22. The last and most important step is
Bookmark the Page!
This bookmark will let you navigate back to your eBook whenever you want to read it
offline
Image From Microsoft Clip Art
Here are some instructions on creating bookmarks in
popular browsers:
• Internet Explorer and Firefox
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000858.htm
• Chrome
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95739?hl=en
• Safari
http://www.wikihow.com/Add-a-Bookmark-in-Safari

23. Downloading eBooks
for Offline Reading on a
Mobile Device
shokunin. (2008). Modern touch phone
mobile [Clipart]. http://openclipart.org/

24. Choose the menu button
Tap the center
of the screen.
Click or tap the cloud icon

25. Tap the “Download” button
Wait until the eBook has
completely downloaded
before navigating away!
The text will change from
“Downloading” to “Downloaded”
when the download is complete

26. Now bookmark the page
in your device’s browser!
This bookmark will let you navigate back to your eBook whenever
you want to read it offline
• This step varies from device to device.
• Some devices will even let you make a bookmark on your
home screen that will make your bookmark almost look like
an App
Image From Microsoft Clip Art
• You may have to google your device’s name and “create a
bookmark” to find specific instructions.

27.  When you’re finished reading your eBook (or if you want to free up
memory on your device/computer) you can delete the downloaded
eBook.
 Just repeat the same steps for downloading and click the “X” next to
“Downloaded”
Deleting your
downloaded
eBook
Browser
Mobile

28. Returning eBooks
You don’t need to worry about returning your eBooks on time
because…
cyberscooty.(2012). Stylized book [Clipart].
http://openclipart.org/

29.  eBooks cannot be renewed like regular books
 However you can check them out again
…eBooks
expire after
their due date
and return
themselves!
OR
 place a hold if there is a waitlist for that title

30. Questions?
dynnamitt. (2012). Openbook blue [Clipart]. http://openclipart.org/