Check this out: download audio books

Since June 1 Thousands of audio books can be downloaded to a computer with Internet access from the Le Mars Public LIbrary's website www.lemars.lib.ia.us. The new program includes collections from libraries across the state. Patrons with questions can contact the Le Mars Public Library by calling 546-5004 or stopping by. [Click to enlarge]

The Le Mars Public Library is going the extra mile by offering thousands of audio books for download on its website.

"You have to have a library card from the Le Mars Public Library," said Sue Kroesche, library director. That and having access to a computer with Internet access are the only requirements.

The library began offering the service in June and many of its about 8,500 patrons are taking notice.

"I do know that people are using it because they are coming in and asking about it," she said. "I think it's going to build slowly."

Audio books must first be downloaded to a computer, and from there can be downloaded to a MP3 player or burned onto a CD, Kroesche said.

If the audio book is only downloaded to a computer, the file will stay there for seven days before returning to the library's website collection, she said.

"The best way to do it is to download it to a MP3 player," Kroesche said. "Then it will stay on your MP3 player forever."

The download process works like this: first go to the library's website at www.lemars.lib.ia.us, then click on the books and reading menu at the top of the homepage, choose download audio books, which will take you to the Wilbor page where the books are displayed. Then you must download the software, Overdrive, and a windows media player before taking the next step.

"You can look at all the books available. You can hunt for specific books or an individual one," Kroesche said. "There are some that are always available."

Checkout rules are much like that of a regular library in that only one person can check out an audio book at a time, except the ones that are always available, Kroesche said.

Only three audios can be checked out at a time, and if a book is not in, patrons can put their names on a waiting list. Most audios generally return within three days, she said.

After downloading the necessary software, checkout works like this: click on the book you want to read, there will be a description explaining how many copies available and other information, then you will be asked to enter the library where you are a member. Type in the bar code number from your library card, then begin downloading the audio book onto the computer.

Then the audio book can be left on the computer, burned onto a CD or downloaded to a MP3 player.

"From there it will give you a screen, ask you to load it onto your device," Kroesche said. "You just plug in your device, and click the download screen and it goes right in there."

Le Mars Public Library offers the download program through the Western Iowa Library Consortium, which encompasses public and college libraries from central Iowa west, Kroesche said.

All of the libraries' collections in the consortium are available through the download program.

"There's thousands of titles in here right now," Kroesche said. "This encompasses half the state so it needs a big collection."

New titles are added regularly and the consortium is especially interested in children's downloadables, she said.

Even though website download programs for audio books are "pretty new," about 30 states have implemented them, Kroesche said.

She can see the advantages of having the audio books available online such as no more changing CDs all the time, and if using a MP3 player listeners can go all the way through the book or stop and restart in the right place, Kroesche said.

"I really like it because I walk in the mornings, and I can listen to quite a bit of a book on a MP3 player," she said. "I think it can be quite convenient. You're not limited to the hours of the library."

Kroesche said she plans to hold an adult class within the next couple of months to provide education and walk people through the process of downloading audio books on the website.

She encouraged people with questions concerning the process to call the library at 546-5004 or stop in and staff will walk them through the steps.

"I enjoy working with it, but there is a learning curve to it," Kroesche said. "I would love to see this get bigger and bigger."