What are Downloadable audiobooks?
Downloadable audiobooks from NetLibrary and Recorded Books are digital versions of audiobooks that are available to Somerville residents for download over the Internet to their own computers. NetLibrary audiobooks can be played on desktop and laptop computers that support Windows Media Player version 9.0 and above. You can also transfer NetLibrary audiobooks to portable digital audio players that support playback of secure or protected WMA files. Apple computers and iPods are not compatible with NetLibrary.

What’s available?
The library’s subscription includes access to over 1,400 unabridged fiction and non-fiction audiobooks from Recorded Books and the complete Pimsleur Language Learning series covering 38 languages, including English. Thirty new titles will be added each month. All titles are available for immediate download with no waiting periods or reserves necessary.

To see a list of available titles

• Create a free account following the instructions below.
• After you have created an account, log in with your username and password at http://www.netlibrary.org
• To see what’s available click on “eAudiobook Center.” Then Browse by Subject or click on “List All eAudiobooks.”
• To see a list of what’s new click on “List All eAudiobooks” and then Sort by “Newest First.”

What is required to open an account?
To download and listen to Somerville’s downloadable audiobook collection you must

• be an Somerville resident.
• have a valid Minuteman library card.
• create a free NetLibrary account with a username and password.
• have access to a computer — audiobooks cannot be downloaded to the library’s public computers.

What are the computer’s requirements?
To download and play NetLibrary audiobooks on your desktop or laptop computer, the computer must

• run Microsoft Windows (98SE or later).
• have a media player that supports protected WMA files, such as Microsoft's Media Player v.9 or newer, Music Match Jukebox v8.2 or newer, or Nullsoft Winamp v5 or newer. (Apple iTunes is not compatible).
• have Internet access (high speed access is required for CD Quality downloads).

Browser Requirements
The NetLibrary web site requires one of the following Internet browsers

• Internet Explorer 5.5 and above
• Netscape 6.2 and above
• Mozilla 1.1 and above
• Firefox 1.0 and above
• Opera 7.0 and above

Cookies
NetLibrary requires your web browser to support cookies and to have all cookie options enabled. Cookies are small data files that NetLibrary writes to your hard drive. NetLibrary uses a session cookie to store your member ID, and to identify where you are in the site. No personal information is stored. Go to the Microsoft web site (http://support.microsoft.com/) or your browser’s web site for specific instructions on enabling cookies.

Create a free account

• Go to: www.mln.lib.ma.us/electronic/Somerville.htm
• Type your library card number and click login.
• Click on Register for Recorded Books (sign up here for a free account).
• Fill in the “Create a Free Account” form. Choose a username you will remember and a password that is at least six characters long.

Note: If you are not directed to the “Create a Free Account” form your computer may be running a security program that prevents referring URLs. You can reconfigure your security program to allow referring URLs, temporarily turn off your Firewall, or contact the library’s Reference Desk (978-264-9641) for assistance setting up an account.

Log in anywhere, anytime
Once you've created your account, you can use your username and password to log in and download a NetLibrary audiobook to any computer that meets the requirements listed above.

• Go to: www.netlibrary.org.
• Enter your username and password.
• Click the Log In button.

You now have access to all of the library’s audiobooks with no waiting, reservations or late fees.

Forgot your password?

• Go to www.netlibrary.org.
• Click on Lost Password?
• Enter your email address and answer the security question.
• Your password will be emailed to you.

If you forget your username you will have to create a new account with a new username and password.

Search or browse

• Go to www.netlibrary.org.
• Log in with your username and password.
• Click on the link for eAudiobook Center.
• To browse use the browse categories in the box on the right side of the screen.
• To search choose Keyword, Title, Author, Subject or Narrator.
• Click on Show All Search Options to limit by Year, Language or Duration.

Preview a book

• When you have search results on the screen, click on the Show Details link.
• Click on Listen to Preview.
• Click Open to launch a 2 minute audio preview using your media player software.

Checkout / Download

• From search results, click on the Download This Audiobook link.
• If you have high-speed Internet access and/or plan to transfer the file to a portable device, click on Checkout & Download CD Quality. If you have dial-up Internet access click on Checkout & Download Radio Quality.
• After checkout confirmation, click again on your preferred download option.
• Click on the Save button (not the Open option).
• Save the file to a convenient location. You might create a folder for audiobooks on your computer and save the file there.

You may download a maximum of ten audiobook titles within any 21 day period. You may not exceed the ten title limit by “returning” or deleting a title early.

The “checkout” period for a NetLibrary audiobooks is three weeks, after which the license to play the book expires.

Renew

• At any point during the checkout period, you can renew your checkout for an additional 21 days.
• Log in with your username and password at www.netlibrary.org.
• Click on the My Checked Out Items link.
• Click on the Download This Audiobook link for the title you want to renew.
• Click on the Renew Your Checkout For 21 Days link.

If you attempt to open an expired audiobook from your media player, you will be prompted to log in to the NetLibrary web site and renew checkout for an additional 21 days.

Play

Open the file by clicking on its icon or by navigating to it with your media player software. You may be prompted to log in with your username and password to acquire the license. A license will be issued to you for 21 days. Click the Play button.

Before stopping playback, make a note of the playback’s time display so that you can resume listening at the same place later.

Resume listening / Fast forward

In Windows Media Player use the rectangular “seek slider” button in the lower left corner to forward to a particular place in the recording. The playback time displays in the lower right corner.

Can I listen to a NetLibrary audiobook on a CD player?

No, NetLibrary audiobooks cannot be burned to CD or played on a compact disc player.

What you need to transfer audiobooks to a portable audio player

To go portable, you need a digital audio device that supports playback of:

• Secure or protected WMA/DRM files (= Windows Media Audio/Digital Rights Management encrypted files). You cannot listen to NetLibrary eAudiobooks on an iPod or other portable device that does not support WMA/DRM.
• Ability to play 32 kbps files.
• Adequate memory--256MB will hold one eight-hour book, 512MB will hold two books, 1 G will hold four books, etc.
• For an optimal listening experience, the portable device should support features such as full time stamping and bookmarking. Devices that support full time stamping do not limit the time tracking of a file in any way and will allow the full length of an audiobook file to display. Devices that support bookmarking allow you to designate a place within a file and return to that place.

Digital audio players cost approximately $40 and up, depending on features. If you are purchasing a new device for the purpose of listening to NetLibrary audiobooks, we recommend that you check the manufacturer’s web site to be sure that it meets NetLibrary’s technical requirements. We also recommend that you ask the merchant to guarantee that you may exchange the device if you find that it won’t play NetLibrary audiobooks.

A list of NetLibrary Tested Players and Features is available at the Reference Desk and on the library’s web site.

Where can I find more information on supported audio devices?

• Log in with your username and password at www.netlibrary.org.
• Click on eAudiobook Center.
• Click on “Help” (upper right corner of the screen).
• Under “Listening” click on “more…”
• Click on “Portable Listening Devices”, then on “Supported Portable Listening Devices.”

To learn more about secure or protected WMA files and devices that support Window Media Audio visit Windows Media Plays for Sure at http://www.playsforsure.com/findportabledevices.aspx

Prepare to go portable

Before you checkout and download an audiobook:

• Watch the eAudiobooks Demo available from the NetLibrary Help Topics box under Demos and Quickstarts.
• Install your media player software.
• Setup your portable device. Install its software and connect it to your computer.

Transfer to a portable audio device

Before transferring a NetLibrary audiobook to a portable device, you must acquire the license by opening the file at least once on your computer. You can then transfer the title to a portable device using your media player software. Do not “drag and drop” the file to your player, as this will not transfer the required license.

To transfer with Windows Media Player-Version 9

• Connect your portable device to your computer following the device's instructions.
• Open Windows Media Player.
• In the File menu, open the downloaded file. This activates the license and begins to play the audiobook.
• In the File menu, select Copy and then select Copy to Portable Device.
• Click the Copy button located above the right pane.
• When the transfer is complete, disconnect your portable device following its instructions.
• Close Windows Media Player.

To transfer with Windows Media Player-Version 10

• Connect your portable device to your computer following the device's instructions.
• Open Windows Media Player.
• In the File menu, open the downloaded file. This activates the license and begins to play the audiobook.
• Click the Library tab.
• Find your audiobook title in the Playlist.
• Select Sync List in the drop-down menu above the right pane.
• Drag the audiobook title into the right pane.
• Click the Start Sync button located below the right pane.
• When synchronizing is 100 percent complete, disconnect your portable device following its instructions.
• Close Windows Media Player.

This information and more can be found in the Windows Media Player v10 Help Contents under: Synchronizing content to devices > Synchronizing media items to your device > To synchronize content manually.

Listening in your car

You will need an FM transmitter to listen to your digital audio player through your car stereo. Cost starts at around $20.

When you finish listening

Delete the audiobook file from your computer and from your portable device following its instructions.

Additional assistance

Online help is available from NetLibrary. Go to http://www.netlibrary.com/ and click on the Help tab. Contact NetLibrary by clicking on Contact Us in the scrollable Help Topics list. Complete the form and click Send. NetLibrary will respond as soon as possible using your contact information.

Contact the Somerville Public Library Reference Department at 617-623-5000 for assistance setting up your account.

Contact the manufacturer for problems with your personal computer, media player software, or portable device.