ADML's app makes the Time best app list

           

The Alliance Digital Media Library's (ADML) app, Libby, was named one of Time magazine's best apps for 2018. ADML from the vendor, Overdrive, is one of LME Library's e-book and e-audio book providers.  Overdrive updated the app last year, and it has been very popular with users.

The LME Library card holders have two e-book/e-audio book services: ADML from Overdrive and eRead Illinois from vendor, Baker & Taylor.   

What are the differences in the services? The only real difference are the apps (ADML uses Libby and eRead Illinois uses Axis360) and the size of the collections. Both provide both e-books and e-audio book downloads and materials are available for both children and adults.  Both services are also shared consortia collections which provide larger selections of materials yet reduce the costs to the libraries.  However, patrons seem to prefer the ADML app, Libby, even though eRead Illinois has a larger collection and shorter wait time for holds.

Which service do you prefer?  Both services are available through the library website at lmelibrary.org.  If you are a LME Library card holder, you can login with your barcode number and your PIN.  Feel free to contact the library at 385-4540 for more information!

Audiobooks

Are you a fan of audiobooks?  Listening to an audiobook is just another way to enjoy a good book, and audiobooks are fast becoming the "it girl" of publishing. "According to numerous sources, audiobooks are the new best thing to happen in publishing: for six years in a row, they have enjoyed double-digit sales growth."

The Lillie M. Evans Library has audiobooks available in a variety of formats.  We have books on CD and playaways for all ages in the library to checkout.  Books on CD are just that, CDs that you put into a CD player (be it your car's CD player, your computer CD-ROM drive, your DVD player or a portable CD playing device).  

Playaways are recorded books that are on a device that plays the audio for you.  We supply the playaway device with the prerecorded book and a battery and you attach your aux cord (to play in your car), or attach your own earbuds, headphones or speaker.  We even have a device that you can checkout that will allow you to listen to the playaway through a radio without an aux cord.  Both formats are available for all ages: children, young adults and adults.  We can also borrow books on CD and playaways from other libraries.

In addition, we subscribe to two ebook services that also include eaudio books.  The Alliance Digital Media Library commonly known as ADML is from the vendor, OverDrive.  We are part of a consortium that allows our library cardholders to checkout out materials with their library card and PIN.  Users can download eaudio books (and ebooks) onto a variety of devices using the app called Libby.

We are also a member of the eRead Illinois which is from the vendor, Baker & Taylor.  This is also a consortial product that allows our library cardholders to checkout materials with their library card and PIN. Users can download eaudio books (and ebooks) onto a variety of devices using the app called Axis360.

Whatever audiobook format you decide to use, feel free to borrow them from the Lillie M. Evans Library! 

Big Library Reads on ADML

During the month of March, LME Library participated in the Alliance Digital Media Library (ADML) ebook Big Library Read for Shakespeare Saved My Life by Laura Bates.  We've participated is several of the Big Library Reads and will continue to participate in the future.  In addition to being a great way to get ebooks into the hands of readers, these Big Library Reads are showing publishers the power of libraries to promote and encourage reading.  The June Big Library Read was extremely popular with over 200,000 check outs, a conversation with the author, and hundreds joining the book discussion board.  More information can be found in the post: Hundreds of thousands participate in the record setting Big Library Read.  Thanks to everyone who participated, and keep reading!

eRead Illinois=more ebooks at LME Library

The LME Library is participating in the eRead Illinois Program, designed to increase access to e-books across Illinois. The LME Library card holders already have one ebook service, ADML (limit 2 @ a time), but now have access to more ebooks through eRead Illinois (limit 3 @ a time).   This increases ebooks checkouts for LME Library patrons to a total of 5 ebooks at a time!  Patrons at libraries participating in eRead Illinois can access the cloud-based delivery across a number of devices including iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows, NOOK^® and Sony Reader^TM devices, and many more.

What are the differences in the services?  ADML provides both ebook and audio book downloads from the vendor, OverDrive. Materials are purchased for both children and adults. eRead Illinois only has ebooks and from the vendor, Baker & Taylor. Materials are purchased for both children and adults but the focus is on popular material with multiple copies purchased when items are in demand.  Both services are shared consortia collections which provide larger selections of materials yet reduce the costs to the libraries.

Illinois Heartland System and Reaching Across Illinois Library System have partnered with the Illinois State Library and Baker & Taylor to provide this access. Initial funding for eRead Illinois was provided by a grant from Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White through the Illinois State Library. “RAILS selected Baker & Taylor’s Axis 360 platform for the eRead Illinois grant because of the breadth and depth of available titles, the flexibility of options to meet the diverse needs of our libraries across Illinois and the ADA compliance of the Baker & Taylor Blio ereader. Equal access for all users in RAILS member libraries is very important to us,” said Dee Brennan, Executive Director of Reaching Across Illinois Library System.

eRead Illinois is available through the LME Library website at lmelibrary.org or directly at lme.axis360.baker-taylor.com and requires a LME Library card number and PIN.  Contact the library at 309-385-4540 if you have questions about your library card number/PIN or have any other questions about this service.

ebooks for Kindle @ the library!

Today, it was announced that our ebook vendor has made it possible to use the library's ebooks on the Kindle! Here is a link to the press release: http://overdrive.com/news/OverDrive-and-Amazon-launch-Kindle-compatibility-with-Library-eBooks >

How can you tell if an ebook is available in a Kindle format? When you go to our ebook service at http://alliance.lib.overdrive.com :

1. You can click the blue “library ebooks for Kindle” button on the left to search for everything that is available for Kindle

or

2. You can do a regular search and if the copy can be checked out by a Kindle, there will be an option in the format section.

Happy reading!

UPDATE 9/23/11

More information from Overdrive on how to use Kindle books at http://overdriveblogs.com/library/2011/09/21/library-ebooks-now-available-for-amazon%C2%AE-kindle/

2nd UPDATE 9/26/11

The Metropolitan Library in Oklahoma has a nice Q&A page on using the Kindle with the library's ebooks. It's available at http://www.metrolibrary.org/kindle/

Kindle readers soon to be compatible with ADML

Wonderful news for ebook readers—Amazon and OverDrive announced the Kindle Library Lending program, which will enable Kindle customers to borrow and enjoy eBooks from library partners in the United States. The program is scheduled for launch later this year, and will significantly increase the value of the investment the LME Library has made in OverDrive. This means that Kindle owner will shortly be able to download ebooks from our Alliance Digital Media Library (ADML)!

We’ll keep readers posted about when this access will be available. More information can be found at
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1552678&highlight=

iphone & ipad users - new app v 2.2

A new version of the app for iphone & ipad is now available to use with ADML, the Alliance Digital Media Library. Users who are reading an EPUB eBook, listening to an MP3 audiobook, or browsing the OverDrive Media Console library, will now have the full iPad screen utilized for their enjoyment. Additionally, the app for iOS devices—including iPhone and iPod touch—now supports landscape and portrait orientation, and a new calendar icon displays the number of days left until the title expires. The free app is available in the App Store, and can be installed on Apple devices running iOS v4.0 (or newer). Users with OverDrive Media Console already installed will be notified that an update is available.

More information can be found at: http://overdrive.com/news/getArticle.aspx?newsArticleID=20110215

Ebook Readers and more!

During the holidays, I’ve been inundated with lots of ads for ebook devices. If you are considering purchasing an ebook reader or just wondering what all the hype is about, you can take a short guided tour of ebook devices at http://www.overdrive.com/products/dlr/tour/Topic_PortableDevices.html.

In addition, the Lillie M. Evans Library participates in the Alliance Digital Media Library (ADML). This service, powered by OverDrive, is free with your library card. You can browse the collection, check out with your library card, and download to PC, Mac®, and many mobile devices. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period.

To get started downloading audiobooks and ebooks, visit http://alliance.lib.overdrive.com/. Lillie M. Evans Library users can find best-selling audiobooks and ebooks available 24/7. You also can print off this eBook Devices Cheat Sheet for Library Users or use the complete Supported Audio Devices link on the ADML site.

Just this month, OverDrive released updates of apps for iPhone and Android, which adds support for eBooks from OverDrive libraries. Patrons will be able to download both EPUB eBooks and MP3 audiobooks directly to their iPhone, iPod touch, or Android phone/tablet. New users can search for “OverDrive Media Console” in the Apple App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/overdrive-media-console/id366869252?mt=8  and Android Market at http://www.android.com/market/#app=basesign.alltie

With hundreds of popular fiction and non-fiction titles to choose from, the ADML collection is guaranteed to have something for everyone. You can download best-selling novels, well-known classics, self-improvement guides, and much more. Go ahead—try it out!

Digital Books have Arrived!

Word is spreading about the digital collection available to our patrons. Those who have used the service find it convenient and easy to use. The collection continues to grow each month and we appreciate it when you suggest titles that you would like to see added. Send us an email at lill@lmelibrary.org with the title, author and format (audio book, eBook) and we will send it on to the selection committee. There is also an online submission form available on the Alliance Digital Media Library site once you are logged in.

Alliance Digital Media Library (ADML) is a consortium of more than 40 public libraries in Central Illinois. These libraries have joined together to provide materials to patrons that are accessible from home. You can browse the collection anytime but your library card number and pin will give you access to the download function.

Check Out Audio & More 24 Hours a Day!

The Lillie M. Evans Library District and the Alliance Library System are proud to announce its new online audio book and eBook service. Simply visit our website and click on the Alliance Digital Media Library (ADML) logo 24 hours a day; 7 days a week and download items for free using their library card number and pin. If you don’t know your pin number, please call us and we will be happy to provide it to you. Once you are logged in you simply browse for a item, add the item to your cart, select checkout, and download. It works just like an online store…without costing you any money.

There are tons of great selections available. Items can be played on a computer, transferred an iPod or other MP3 player, or a Sony E-Reader. Some titles can even be burned to a CD.

For those who may need help using this service there is an easy to use help section. Our staff has also been trained to use this service and will do their best to answer any questions you may have.

All items are free and are downloaded for a specified “checkout” period. After the “due date” items will be automatically returned to the ADML. There are never any late fees! If you can’t find a specific title you are encouraged to contact us with your request. Simply email us at lill@lmelibrary.org with the title, author and format you would like (audio, eBook, etc.) us to consider for addition to the collection.

You never know when the craving to hear the new James Patterson novel is going to hit!