OverDrive Media Console App on a Kindle Fire 2

With the use of the Kindle App Store, it's easy to install the OverDrive Media Console mobile app on both the first and second generation Kindle Fires.

These screenshots were taken with a second generation Kindle Fire, but it should be similar with a first gen device.

Start your Kindle Fire (Fire) and connect to a local wireless network. Tap "Apps" at the top of the device to find the App Store. Search for "OverDrive Media Console."

(Click to enlarge any image...)

Select the OverDrive Media Console app, purchase the free app, download it, and open it when it has installed. 

Note that you will always see this notice after opening the app. (I have yet to find a way to make it truly disappear... 

Click on the small "Get Books" icon and add a library. 

Type in your New Hampshire ZIP code for your local member library and select the NH Downloadable Books Consortium. 

Sign into the site with your library card number. (Note that some libraries require additional login information such as a PIN or prefix. 

Tap the small "Menu" icon to start browsing. Note the large, blue button to narrow the search results down to available titles? (The light gray icon means the title is checked out.) Read more about finding available titles.

Narrow your search results down by format, if necessary. Note the rotating your device 90 degrees shows a left-sidebar to the site? This is a helpful way to browse the site. 

Once you have found a book you'd like to read, click borrow. 

This is a great example of why it's handle to be omni-formatted! In order to use the Kindle Book version of this book you'd have to download the Kindle Book file to your computer and transfer the file to your Kindle Fire with a USB cable. Why? This title is published by Penguin and they do not allow wireless transfers of their books in Kindle format. Learn how to transfer a Kindle Book using a computer and USB cable. 

This title can be read in either Kindle Book (with USB cable transfer) or in EPUB eBook format. Tap the "Download" button to select a format. 

You are now in your web-based Account Bookshelf. Learn more about your account. Select EPUB eBook. 

Confirm your selection.

At this time, the file is typically downloaded to the OverDrive Media Console's bookshelf and is ready to read in moments. However, it is necessary to authorize the app with a free Adobe ID the first time you use it. We are prompted to do so at this time. The next time you download a title, you will not have to do this. If you don't have a free Adobe ID, get an ID. 

Fill out this simple form. Double check your spelling! Write down your ID (email address) and password immediately. (Trust a librarian on this!) If you don't wish to receive emails from Adobe, deselect the check box. 

Fabulous! You now have an Adobe ID. 

Now you have to go back to the OverDrive Media Console app and authorize the app with your ID and password. Here's how to find it. Tap on the small settings button.

Enter your email address and password. Be sure to check your spelling! Tap "Authorize."

The app communicates with the Adobe server... When you see "Deauthorize," you're all set!

Go to the app's Bookshelf to see your book. Tap on the book cover to start reading the book.  

When you are reading the book and want to return the main menu, tap on the center of the screen and tap the small back arrow at the bottom of the screen. 

To return the title back to the collection prior to the end of your 7 or 14-day loan period, click on the small plus sign next to the title. 

The OverDrive Media Console mobile app can be used on most phones and tablet devices, including Androids, Apple devices, Blackberry, Nook Tablets, and Windows 7 phones and Surface tablets. 

Thanks for the use of your Kindle Fire, Di!

OverDrive READ Format on a Second Generation Kindle Fire

Kindle Fire users can enjoy the OverDrive READ format on their second generation device. The first generation Kindle Fire doesn't seem to handle the format as nicely.

The OverDrive READ format loads the entire eBook into the tablet's browser. Kindle Fire users might have less use of this format, since the Kindle Fire is a, well, Kindle. But there are times when a title isn't yet available in the Kindle Book format through OverDrive and might be available in the OverDrive READ format. Here's how it works:

Using the web browser of your Kindle Fire 2, log into the service. Browse to find and borrow an eBook that is available in OverDrive Read format.

You'll be brought to the bookshelf once you've tapped the "Borrow" button. Select the "READ In Your Browser" button to open the eBook in OverDrive READ format. 

Through the magic of HTML 5, the eBook loads in your browser. The READ eBook will always open to a tutorial. Follow the "Next" steps to learn more or close the tutorial. 

After finishing or closing the tutorial, you will see the book cover image. Flip through a few pages by tapping the right side of the screen or swiping from right to left with a single finger. Note that you might enjoy the reading experience more in portrait view. 

If you find the font too small for your liking. (It always is for me!) Find the font settings by dragging the screen downwards and tapping the small "paragraph" icon for font settings. 

Tap on "Book Default" next to font size to select a specific size font. 

Tap elsewhere on the screen to close the settings. Note the small star icon at the bottom right of the screen. Consider bookmarking the title to add it to your favorites. 

Thanks for the use of your Kindle, Di!

Kindle Books on an iPad

You can browse the NH Downloadable Books collection, checkout a Kindle Book and read the eBook all on your iPad or iPad Mini.


Having trouble seeing the embedded document on your iPad? Download the EPUB version of the handout onto your iPad and open it with iBooks.

Read More

Complete Kindle Book Handout
Return a Kindle Book Immediately
Return a Kindle Book Early

Kindle Book Instructions

If you have a Kindle Device or Kindle app, take a look at these instructions for checking out a Kindle Book and transferring the Kindle Book from a computer to your device. Keep in mind that most tablets will work like the computer, allowing you to use a tablet in place of the computer. The steps and results are nearly identical.

Can't get the widget to load on your iPad? Download the EPUB version of the instructions to iBooks.

Borrowing a Kindle Book Handout

If you have a Kindle Device or Kindle app, these instructions will help you find, borrow, transfer, return early, and enjoy a Kindle Book on your device or app.

Download a PDF of the handout.

Checking Out an eBook for Your Kindle with the Next Gen OverDrive Site by

eBook Instructions for iPad in EPUB Format

Download the EPUB instructions to use the OverDrive eBooks on your iPad or iPhone.

So let me openly acknowledge the counter-intuitive nature of downloading an eBook to learn how to use eBooks. <smile> The files listed here contain no DRM (Digital Rights Management) and can be easily opened using iBooks (or any other app that allows you to read DRM-free EPUB eBooks.)

These handouts are also available in PDF format from the "Getting Started with eBooks" page.  

Reading OverDrive READ eBooks on an iPad

Reading EPUB eBooks on an iPad

Reading Kindle Books on an iPad

The links lead to Box.net, a file hosting site. Click the "Download" link on the Box.net website and select iBooks to open the file. The eBook will open in iBooks.

Kindle Devices and the USB Only Transfer

Kindle Books published by Penguin cannot be transferred wirelessly to a Kindle Device and cannot be used on a Kindle app on a tablet or phone or be read on a computer. Here are the instructions for transferring a Penguin title to a Kindle device.

When you find an eBook with the words "Kindle Book USB Only," continue to checkout the title as normal by clicking "Borrow." 

Click any image to see a larger version!

Add the title to your cart, proceed to checkout, and confirm your checkout of the Kindle Book format.

Click on "Get for Kindle."

 

Confirm the format...

A new tab will open. Click "Get library book" button. If you aren't already signed in, you'll be prompted to do so. (Note the early return options on this screen.) 

Select the device you want to read the book on. 

The file will download to the default download location. The browser you use and the download settings saved in your browser matter! Since I'm using Chrome right now, the file showed up at the bottom of my screen. It was ultimately saved to my desktop (my default download location).

Plug your Kindle device into your computer. You'll need to be able to look into the Kindle Touch's folders. Browse for the "Documents" folder using Windows Explorer (Windows) or the Finder (Mac). Or on a Windows computer, wait for the computer to detect the Kindle and the AutoPlay screen to pop up. Using AutoPlay, select "Open Folder to View Files." Find the Documents folder. 

I found the Kindle Book file on my desktop and dragged it into the Documents folder of my USB-connected Kindle. 

(You might notice the title changed in these next screenshots -- you're right! I updated the earlier screenshots for our new site.) 

Safely disconnect the Kindle from your computer and view the Kindle's home screen to see the library loan. 

Check out this video from Amazon for better instructions! 

These instructions are only for Kindle devices -- not the Kindle apps on phones or tablets. Remember that many tablets and phones can have the OverDrive Media Console installed to read EPUB eBooks in our collection.

Returning a Kindle Book Immediately

What if you checked out a Kindle Book by mistake and want to return it to the collection (and get it off of your account) right away? It's easy to do!

You might realize your mistake when you see the "Get for Kindle" button on your download page...

Go ahead and click the "Get for Kindle" button. This will open a new page or tab in your browser and lead you to Amazon.com's website. From there, look for a "Return Book" button. 

Go back to the tab/window that contains the NHDB website >> Your Account >> Currently Checked out Items. The book should not be listed. If it is, wait a moment and refresh the page. 

Related Tips:

Learn to return a Kindle Book early back to the collection.

The Kindle Paperwhite

The Kindle Paperwhite is an e-Ink eBook reader from Amazon. Like the Kindle Touch, which it replaces, it has a touch screen, one physical power button, and an on-screen touch menu (there is no longer a "Home" button). The greatest advancement to the e-Ink reader is the back-lighting, making it possible to read in the dark.

As someone who does a lot of reading at night in bed, I really like the back-lit screen. I can dim the screen so much lower than the iPad (and it's a lot easier to hold in bed than an iPad). In a completely dark room, the iPad lights up the place like a 100 watt bulb compared to the easy-on-the-eyes Paperwhite.

Here's how to turn on or adjust the back-lighting:

• Turn on the Kindle Paperwhite from the power button at the bottom edge of the device. 
• Get to the menu options by lightly tapping the top edge of the touch screen. 
• Tap the small light bulb icon located at the top-center of the screen. 
• Tap either the plus or minus symbols to increase or decrease the light or tap directly on the vertical "scale" of brightness. 
• To leave the menu options, tap elsewhere on the screen. 

The Kindle Paperwhite works exactly the same way as the Kindle Touch with the NHDB service. As a reminder, the Paperwhite includes an "Experimental Browser," but it should not be used to visit our NHDB digital collection and checkout books. Kindle Books from our collection need to be "sent" to the device from a desktop, laptop, or tablet computer or transferred via USB from a computer.

For as much as I enjoy reading at night with the back-lit screen, the Kindle Paperwhite isn't the perfect device for everyone. It lacks a speaker (or headphone jack) to make use of the text-to-speech function found in many books. (It's ironic that Amazon would promote the Whisper Sync technology that allows a reader/listener to pick up listening to an Audible audiobook where they left off reading on an eBook -- and then not offer a way to listen to the audiobooks on an eBook reader...)

I should note that I've also had trouble connecting to an encrypted wireless network that doesn't broadcast its SSID. This could be a fluke -- I'll have to try other networks and see if I continue to have trouble.

All in all, I'm happy with the new Kindle Paperwhite, but like the feel of the slightly lighter new Nook Simple Touch with Glow Light a little more.

Returning Kindle Books Early

The Kindle Books in our NHDB collection are yours for two weeks, but what if you are a fast reader and want to return the book early? You are in luck! The Kindle Books can easily be returned back to the collection.

Also read: Return a Kindle Book Immediately (if you checked one out by mistake)

• You'll need to use the Amazon site to do the returns. Log into your Amazon/Kindle account. 
• If you don't see a "Manage Your Kindle" link right away, visit your account. 

Click to enlarge any image.

• Find the section on "Digital Content" and click on "Manage Your Kindle." 

• From the "Manage Your Kindle" area, find the desired title. 
• Place your mouse over the "Actions" button. 
• Click on "Return this book." 

• Allow the page to reload. 
• The title will still appear in your account, but it can be removed: Actions >> Delete from library. 
• Allow the page to reload. 

Related Tips:
Learn how to remove expired titles from your Kindle.
Learn how to immediately return a Kindle Book checked out by mistake.