 |
Downloadable
Audiobooks
Monroe
Library cardholders can now download audiobooks to their computers
and transfer them to portable devices at any time of the day,
from the comfort of their own homes!
Note: Recorded
Books/NetLibrary ListenNJ
Audiobooks cannot be downloaded to IPODs. Dial-up connections
may be too slow for downloading audiobooks.
Questions? Please contact Heather Ford at
(732) 521-5000 or hford@monroetwplibrary.org |
Check out These New Titles!
 |
 |
 |
All
He Ever Wanted
by Anita Shreve |
Remember When
by Nora Roberts |
A
Short History of Myth
by Karen Armstrong
|
About
ListenNJ
Access
couldn’t be easier! Use your personal computer and library
card to check-out and download:
- popular fiction,
- biography,
- business
and career,
- children’s
literature and learning aids,
- current
events and history,
- mystery,
- suspense
and thrillers,
- religion
and spirituality,
- romance,
and
- self
improvement
You may download to your personal computer and transfer the data
to a windows based MP3 player. (Sorry this does not work with IPODs!
- Check here for a list of compatible devices.)
Digital
audio books can also be burned to a CD-ROM disc to be
played on a CD/MP3 player.
Check
Out Details for your Audio Book:
- You do not need to come to The Library to either select or return
a digital audio book. Everything is done from a remote computer.
- The
loan period is 2 weeks. When the loan period is over the file
expires and the material is automatically checked back in.
- You
may put Items on reserve. When the requested title is available
you will be sent an e-mail . You will have three days to download
your reserved audio book, otherwise it will go to the next customer
waiting for it.
- You
can check-out up to three digital audio books at one time.
Top of Page
Getting
Started
To
access digital books at ListenNJ you will need:
- A valid Monroe Township library card.
- Access
to the Internet.
- Free
software for the device or computer on which you wish to use the
materials you download from ListenNJ.
Please
note that you can download and enjoy digital books at home, at work,
or when you travel, but you cannot download them to The Library's
public computers.
Go
to : ListenNJ
For
an overview of the process click on New
to Digital Books? Click Here!
Make
sure that your computer has Windows Media Player 9 or newer (download).
Note* - The first time the Windows Media Player attempts
to play a copyrighted file, it will alert you that Security Upgrade (instructions) must be performed. This is a one time process that identifies the
copy of Windows Media Player with the computer on which the Player
is being used.
Top of Page
Search
for a Good Book
Go
back to the Listen
NJ homepage:
Search
for a book under the Digital Book Search column:
- By author, title, or all.
- Browse
the collection by availability in Always Available, Recently Added,
Try These, and Classics.
- Browse
the collection by genre in Fiction: All Fictions, Mystery and
Thrillers, Romance, Science Fiction and Fantasy, and Children's
Fiction.
- Browse
the Non-Fiction collection by subject: All Nonfiction, Biography
and Autobiography, Business, Self-Help, Learn a Language.
If
you decide to Browse a category, you may sort all of the
results by clicking on title, author, published date, most popular,
or date added to the site at the top of the column as shown below:
- Select your book by clicking on the 'add to cart' link
for the title you want on the right side of the screen.
Your cart will then be displayed.
- To
select another book click on 'Continue Browsing', or
If you are finished, click on 'Proceed to Checkout'.
- Click 'OK' on the Security Alert dialog box.
- Select 'Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium' in the first
drop down box.
Type in your complete library card number beginning with 29370..
- Enter your PIN # -this will be CHANGEME (in ALLCAPS) unless you have
changed your PIN #.
- Hit <Enter> or click on 'Login'.
- The
check Out screen asks you to Confirm Checkout and tells
you how many other books you currently have checked out.
The book is now checked out to you and you may now download your
selection.
Top
of Page
How
to Download a Book
- Click on the 'Download' link for your audio book after
checking the title out.
- The
OverDrive Media Console will open and prompt you for a download
location for your audio files. Click ‘OK’ to
save the files to the default location.
Top of Page
Security
Upgrade- First Time Users
The
Windows Media Player Security Upgrade
- First time OverDrive users will then by prompted for the security
upgrade mentioned in the Note in Getting Started above. Click 'OK'.
- Cancel the download.
- Click
on 'Tools' on the titlebar of the OverDrive Media Console.
- Click 'OK'.
- Answer Yes to Allow Windows Media Player to download the security
upgrade.
- Then
click Play to learn whether the download was successful.
- Once
you have backed up your license you are ready to download your
audio book.
Go back to the ListenNJ screen with your selected title(s)
and click on the 'Download' button again.
- Select
the parts you want to download and click ‘OK’.
Depending on the file size and the number of parts to be downloaded,
you may have to wait several minutes.
Top
of Page
How
to Play and Navigate a Book
- Highlight the title you’d like to hear in the OverDrive
Media Console and click the ‘Play’ button.
- OverDrive
Media Explorer opens and begins playing the book.
- Use
the On-Screen Navigation of the Media Explorer to jump to specific
sections. (Click on the part of the book you would like to hear
under Parts.)
Top
of Page
How
to Burn a Book to a CD
- In OverDrive Media Console, highlight a book and click the ‘Transfer/burn’ button.
- Windows
Media Player opens. Click the ‘Copy to CD or Device’ button.
- Select
the track(s) to be burned to CD by checking the box next to the track name.
- Place
a blank CDR in your CD-ROM drive and ensure that your CD drive
is selected in the right hand pane of Windows Media Player.
- Click
the ‘Copy’ button in the upper right hand corner of
Windows Media Player to add the track(s) to the list of files
to be burned to disc. Windows Media Player will inspect, convert,
and temporarily copy the file in preparation for burning. This
process may take a few minutes. You may track the Player’s
progress by monitoring the ‘Status’ field in Windows
Media Player.
- When the disc is complete, Windows Media Player will eject the
disc and the status field will indicate ‘Complete’.
Top
Copyright
Restrictions
Some
titles cannot be burned to a CD because of copyright restrictions.
To learn whether a particular CD can be burned or not:
- Click on the image of the book in your results list (do not click
on add to cart)
- Scroll
down to the bottom of the book description to Digital Rights Information
- Restrictions on the use of this title will be displayed.
Top
How
to Transfer a Book to a Portable Device
Check
here to locate compatible devices.
- In OverDrive Media Console, highlight a book and click the ‘Transfer/burn’ button.
- Windows
Media Player opens. Click the ‘Copy to CD or Device’ button.
- Select
the track(s) to be burned to CD by checking the box next to the track name.
- Connect
your portable media device and ensure that it is selected in the
right hand pane of Windows Media Player.
- Click
the ‘Copy' button in the upper right hand corner of
Windows Media Player to copy the track(s) to the portable device.
Windows Media Player will inspect and copy the file(s) to the
device. This process should take less than a minute, depending
on how many files you transfer. You may track the Player’s
progress by monitoring the ‘Status’ field in Windows
Media Player.
- When the transfer is complete, the status field in Windows Media
Player will indicate ‘Complete’.
Top
Troubleshooting
Need
Help? Here are some troubleshooting
tips from ListenNJ.
Additional
error messages when downloading:
The
most common problem when attempting to download a book is your computer's
firewall, if you have one.
If you are running Norton Internet Security you will need to set
up a rule to allow it to accept downloads from OverDrive.
Check
your Windows XP firewall.
"When
I tried to download the digital audio book the error message said
I needed an Internet connection."
Your firewall may be blocking the download. You must configure your
firewall to permit the OverDrive Media Console to access the Internet.
If you have Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall,
you can use these directions to configure it to permit the OverDrive
Media Console to access the Internet.
Check Windows Media Player's connection. To do so, open the Windows
Media Player, go to Tools, Options. Under Player Settings select
the option that says Connect to the Internet.
Questions?
Please contact Heather Ford at
(732) 521-5000 or hford@monroetwplibrary.org
Check
out These Hot Titles!
 |
 |
 |
Bare
Bones
by Kathy Reichs |
High
Country Fall
by Margaret Maron |
The
Italian Secretary
by Caleb Carr |
What
are NetLibrary Audiobooks?
NetLibrary's Audiobooks are digital versions of audiobooks that
are available through the Internet.
System
Requirements
Audiobooks can be played on any desktop or portable device supporting
Windows Media player, Music Match (v8.2+), or Nullsoft Winamp 5.
Supported portable devices include: Creative NOMAD series, Rio,
iRiver Flash Players, Dell Digital Jukebox, and many more.
Top
Creating
an Account
You can search and browse for audiobooks and listen to previews
in your library. However, to download and listen to audiobooks,
you must first create a free NetLibrary account.
Go
to www.netlibrary.com and
use the 'Create a Free Account' link on the top right part
of the page.
Enter your identifying information (user name, password, email address).
Select the 'Submit' button.
Logging in
Once you have created an account, you can login to your library's
collection from any computer with Internet access.
Go
to www.netlibrary.com and
enter your user name and password in the login box.
Click the red 'log in' button.
You now have access to all audiobooks available in your library
or organization's collection.
Top
of Page
Searching for an Audiobook
Browse
and Search for Titles
You can start your search for an audiobook in one of three places:
Basic
Search lets you quickly perform a search by entering terms and
selecting a single search field. You may choose to search for your
terms in the Keyword, Title, or Author fields. Basic search is prominently
featured on the home page and is also available on the right side
of every page with the exception of the advanced search page.
Enter
search term in the Basic Search field.
Select keyword, title, or author.
Click 'Search'.
Advanced
Search lets you construct more complicated searches using multiple
fields and boolean operators.
- Click
on the 'Advanced Search' tab located in the top navigation.
- Use
to the drop down menu to select search parameter (Title, Author,
Subject, ISBN).
- Enter
search term or multiple search terms using Boolean operators.
- Click
search.
Tip: you can refine search results by using the optional audiobooks
limiter.
The eBook Center, available by clicking on the eBook Center link
on your NetLibrary home page, allows you to limit searches to audiobook
content and browse featured titles.
Top of Page
Checking
out an Audiobook
The default checkout period for a NetLibrary Audiobook is three
weeks. You may check out a maximum of six audiobook titles at one
time. Please do not download audiobooks to public computers in your
library.
From
search results, click on the 'Download this Audiobook' link
to Open or Save the audiobook file.
Select
a download option: CD quality, or radio quality. Radio quality provides
faster download speed and is ideal for users with dial-up connections;
CD quality offers high-fidelity playback for patrons with high-speed
Internet access.
If you select 'Open', NetLibrary will launch your media player and
begin streaming the audio as the file is downloaded. Once the download
is complete, the file will be saved to your media player's download
directory. If you choose the 'Save' option, you can download the
file to a directory of your choosing. Once the download is complete,
you can open the audiobook directly from your media player, or by
using Windows Explorer.
Top
of Page
Renewing an Audiobook
Once an audiobook has been downloaded, it can be renewed at any
time.
Go
to www.netlibrary.com and
enter your user name and password in the login box.
Click on the 'My Checked out Items' link.
Click on 'Renew this Audiobook'
If you are attempting to access an audiobook with an expired license
from your media player, NetLibrary will launch a pop-up browser
that will prompt you to login to renew your checkout.
1.
Enter your user name and password.
2. Click the 'login' button.
3. Your license will automatically be renewed.
4. Click 'play' to listen to the audiobook.
Top
of Page
Transferring an Audiobook to a Portable Device
In most cases, you can use your media player to transfer a downloaded
audiobook to portable devices supporting secure WMA format. NetLibrary
automatically transfers a license to your portable device that will
allow you to access the audiobook for up to three weeks from the
date of original checkout. Please refer to your media player's help
section for additional information.
FAQs
The
following are just some of the FAQs found on the NetLibrary website.
Q:
Do I need any software on my computer to listen to audiobooks?
A:
Audiobooks can be downloaded or played on any personal computer
or portable listening device that supports Microsoft Windows Media
Player v9 and above, Musicmatch Jukebox v8.2 and above, or Nullsoft
Winamp v5 and above.
Q:
Why doesn't the audiobook download, even though I get an acquiring
license message?
A:
If you have an older Windows Media Player version the download appears
to be working. Windows Media Player shows "acquiring license,"
but eventually you get a message that you don't have a license to
play the audiobook. You need to download a newer version of Windows
Media Player
Top
of Page
Q:
Do I need to check on anything else on my computer?
A:
Yes, it is very important that the computer's internal clock be
set to the correct time. You will not be able to download any books
if there is not a match between NetLibrary's clock and your computer's
clock.
Q:
Can I play audiobooks on portable listening devices?
A:
Yes. Audiobooks are compatible with a wide range of portable listening
devices that support secure WMA format.
Top
of Page
Q:
How do I transfer an audiobook to my portable device using Windows
Media Player version 9?
A:
Find your CD Quality downloaded audiobook file and double click
it to open it with Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player opens
and will obtain the license from NetLibrary to allow the audiobook
file to play.
Select Copy to CD or Device from the media player's menu options.
A list of available titles will be displayed in the Items to Copy
frame.
Select the title you wish to download by clicking on the check box.
Select a target device from the Items on Device drop-down menu.
Click on the copy button to transfer the title.
Windows Media Player will transfer the file to your portable device.
When the transfer is complete, disconnect your portable device and
enjoy your NetLibrary Audiobook.
(Some MP3 players will need to use the Safely Remove Hardware icon
(on the taskbar) before removing the USB cable or an error will
occur.)
Top
of Page
Q:
How do I transfer an audiobook to my portable device using Windows
Media Player version 10?
A:
Find your CD Quality downloaded audiobook file and double click
it to open it with Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player opens
and will obtain the license from NetLibrary to allow the audiobook
file to play.
You may stop playback at this point if you choose. Click the 'Library'
tab. The media Library will be displayed.
Find your audiobook in the Library Playlist pane, or sort your list
by selecting the 'Now Playing' selection.
Drag the audiobook title from the Contents or Details panes in your
library to the List pane to add it to the list of items to be synchronized,
ensure that your portable device is connected and click the 'Start
Sync' button in the List pane. Windows Media Player will transfer
the file to your portable device.
When the transfer is complete, the status field will indicate 'Complete'.
You many now disconnect your portable device and enjoy your NetLibrary
Audiobook.
(Some MP3 players will need to use the Safely Remove Hardware icon
(on the taskbar) before removing the USB cable or an error will
occur.)
Q:
How many audiobooks can I check out simultaneously?
A:
You can checkout a maximum of ten (10) audiobooks at any given time.
You will not be able to check out additional titles until the license
for a currently downloaded Audiobook expires.
Top
of Page
Q:
What is the checkout period for audiobooks?
A:
NetLibrary automatically downloads a license, with each download,
which lets you access the audiobook for 21 days. The license lets
you copy the Audiobook to two additional portable listening devices.
Q:
Can I renew audiobooks without downloading the file a second time?
A:
Yes. Audiobooks can be renewed at any point by logging into your
account. A renewal provides you with an additional 21 days of access
from the date of renewal.
Q:
What does "You need a license" mean?
A:
You may have downloaded a new version of Windows Media Player and
need to resynch with the portable listening devices. Contact your
computer or portable listening device manufacturer for specific
information.
Top
of Page
Q:
Why won't the audiobook play on my portable listening device? It
played just fine yesterday.
A:
The checkout period for the audiobook may have expired. Login to
the NetLibrary web site, and click on the My Checked Out items link
in the upper right-hand navigation, to see if the Audiobook checkout
period has expired.
Q:
Do I need to return audiobooks when the checkout period expires?
A:
No. The license for downloaded audiobooks automatically expires
after 21 days. You will not be able to play the Audiobook, even
though the file remains on your personal computer and portable listening
device. You need to manually delete the file from your personal
computer and portable listening device.
Top
of Page
Q:
Can I burn an audiobook to a CD?
A:
Yes and no. NetLibrary cannot stop you from burning the audiobook
file to a CD, but encryptions on the Audiobook file will make it
unusable.
Q:
Do I have to wait for the file to download before I can listen to
an audiobook?
A:
No. You don't have to wait for the file to download before you can
listen to the audiobook. Once you select a download option, you
are prompted to Open or Save the Audiobook file.
If you select the Save option, you can specify where the file is
placed on your personal computer. This option takes less time to
download the file, since it is only downloading the file. Note:
NetLibrary highly recommends this option.
If you select the Open option, NetLibrary launches Windows Media
Player and begins streaming the audio as the file downloads. Once
the download is completed, the file is saved to your media player's
download directory. This option downloads the file slower than the
Save option, since it is playing at the same time it is downloading
the file. You can stop the download at any time, change the download
preferences, and restart the download.
Top
of Page
Q:
What level of audio quality can I expect from an audiobook?
A:
NetLibrary offers two audio qualities: CD quality and radio quality.
CD quality offers high-fidelity playback for patrons with high-speed
Internet access. Most portable listening devices do not support
the playback of files lower than 32 kbps, so you must download the
CD quality file if you are going to transfer and listen to the audiobook
on a portable listening device. Radio quality provides faster download
speed and is ideal for patrons with dial-up connections.
Q:
Are audiobook files automatically removed from my computer when
the checkout period expires?
A:
No. You need to manually delete the audiobook file from your personal
computer and portable listening device. However, if you want to
renew the Audiobook, click on the file to automatically open the
NetLibrary web site (if your computer is online). You can login
to your account and renew the checkout.
Top
of Page
Q:
How long does it take to download a NetLibrary audiobook?
A:
Download time depends on the size of the audio file and the speed
of your Internet connection.
Q:
How do I listen to an audiobook in the car?
A:
You will need a radio transmitter or other device adapter that works
with your portable listening device and car stereo. Contact your
device manufacturer for specific requirements.
Q:
How do I delete an audiobook from my personal computer or portable
listening device?
A:
You can delete an audiobook file from your personal computer or
portable listening device in the same manner as you delete other
files. Contact your personal computer or portable listening device
manufacturer for specific information.
Top
of Page
Q:
How do I know which version of Windows Media Player I have installed?
A:
There are two ways you can determine which version of Windows Media
Player you have installed: Press the F1 key anywhere on the Windows
Media Player window. The version displays. Press the Alt key anywhere
on the Windows Media Player window. The standard menu bar displays.
Then click on Help and About Windows Media Player.
Q:
Is there a safe way to remove the connection from my portable listening
device connected to my computer?
A:
Yes. NetLibrary recommends that you use the Remove Hardware option
(generally found on your Control Panel) to remove the connection
from your portable listening device.
Q:
Can I download and play an audiobook on a Mac?
A:
NetLibrary audiobooks cannot be played on Macs because the latest
version of Windows Media Player available for Macs (version 9) is
based on Windows Media Rights Manager version 1.3. NetLibrary uses
version 2.x licenses for eAudiobooks in order to maintain a high
level of security. Because the latest version of Windows Media Player
for Macs does not support 2.x licenses, NetLibrary audiobooks cannot
be played on Macs at this point in time.
Top
of Page
Q:
Can I download and play an audiobook on an iPod?
A:
No, NetLibrary audiobooks cannot be played on iPods. iPods use the
.aac file format and the .aac file format does not support the Digital
Rights Management protection required by NetLibrary audiobooks at
this time. Digital Rights Management protection helps ensure that
the content of our publishing partners is secure, especially when
items are checked out from the library's collection and borrowed
by a user rather than purchased. This Digital Rights Management
technology allows checked out items to expire on the due date.
Q:
I can't find "Author" or "Book Title" mentioned
in my Media Player? How do I find, play, and transfer my audiobook
file?
A:
Media players and portable listening devices may be music oriented,
so you need to be creative when trying to find your audiobook file.
Try looking under Album title for your Audiobook title or under
Artist when looking for the Author.
Top
of Page
Finding help
Detailed information on using NetLibrary is available by clicking
on the Help tab in the top navigation bar. Context-sensitive help
is also available by clicking on the tips links located on NetLibrary
search, details and download pages.
Questions?
Please contact Heather Ford at
(732) 521-5000 or hford@monroetwplibrary.org
Top
of Page
Compatible
Devices
Recorded
Books/NetLibrary ListenNJ
Audiobooks
cannot be downloaded to IPODs. Dial-up connections may be too slow
for downloading audiobooks.
What
players should I consider?
Downloadable
audiobooks are in the WMA format (Windows Media Audio), and therefore
cannot be played on Apple brand portable MP3 players (iPods). Unfortunately,
not all remaining MP3 players work properly with these files due
to the DRM (Digital Rights Management) protecting these files.
When
considering MP3 players, be sure to utilize Microsoft's "playsforsure" classification system. We have tested several MP3 players and have
compiled a list of suggested players that we have had success in
using with downloadable audiobooks. Please consult the table below
for those players.
 |
When
shopping for an MP3 player, check for the "playsforsure"
icon shown to the left. This image guarantees that the player
supports the playback of WMA files; but not necessarily DRM
protected WMA files (filetype of the audiobooks).
|
The
images shown on the right should be displayed on the packaging
of any MP3 player you are considering. These tell you information
about the capibilities of the player. If the image has "Download"
checked, it will allow you to play WMA files, but not necessarily
DRM protected files.
To
play these DRM protected WMA files, make sure there is a check
next to both "Download" and "Subscription"
in this playsforsure image. |
 |
As
an added note, we strongly suggest you look closely at the system
requirements on the packaging of each portable MP3 player, as some
may only support Windows XP. Ensure your system has enough memory
(RAM) and other specifications to meet the requirements.
Recommended
players:
Portable
Player |
DRM
WMA
Files |
Bookmarking |
Working
Timer |
Pause
/Resume
Function |
Color
Display |
Batteries
vs. Rechargable |
Price
Range |
Supported
Operating Systems |
| Samsung
YP-T7J |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
rechargable |
$129.99 |
Win
XP |
Creative
Zen
Micro |
x |
x |
up
to 3 hrs |
x |
|
rechargable |
$199.99 |
Win
2k, XP |
Players
that did not work or had problems in testing:
Rio
Eigen 1.5GB Digital Audio Player - Software would not transfer DRM
protected WMA files.
Dell
DJ Ditty 512 MB Player - Played downloadable audiobooks with no
method of monitoring time (timer remained at 0:00 throughout the
book).
Sandisk
Sansa M230/240/250 Player - Could not handle large audiobook files,
does not keep track of correct location when pausing/resuming, and
has no method of fast forward or rewind.
IRiver
IFP-895T Player - Did not support playback of DRM protected WMA
files.
Creative
Zen Nano - Played audiobooks but timer stayed at 0 seconds throughout
entire book. Fast forward and rewind function properly but without
a timer and bookmarking these functions are difficult to use.
Accessories:
Most
MP3 players come with headphones for listening on-the-go. If you
would like to enjoy your audiobooks in the car, you will need either
a wired cassette adapter (available at RadioShack) or an FM transmitter.
An FM transmitter broadcasts the sound from your MP3 player to your
car stereo through an FM station. We tested the following two FM
transmitters; neither were perfect, but both performed well.
Belkin
TuneCast Mobile FM Transmitter - Pros: This transmitter is simple
to setup and use, has the option of broadcasting on 88.1-88.7 FM,
and uses batteries (less wires). Cons: There was some faint static
depending on the placement of the device in the car, and battery
life is a concern.
Newer
Technology FM Transmitter with mini-jack - Pros: This transmitter
needs no setup, is permanently set to broadcast on 107.7 FM (a channel
which is not used), has very commendable sound quality, and needs
no batteries (it draws its power from the cigarette lighter/port
in the car). Cons: Mini-jack connector required some turning once
inserted into the headphone jack to find a "sweet spot"
for listening.
Top of Page
|
ListenNJ
