Hundreds of selections available
By Jeanne Willard
Staff writer
VOLUSIA COUNTY - I'm a voracious reader. Novels, magazines, the backs of cereal boxes - pretty much anything that lands in front of me.
On a typical Sunday evening when the library is closed and I don't want to shell out big bucks for a bestseller, I sort through my bookshelves looking for something I haven't read.
I'm not always successful.
Now, the Volusia County Public Libraries has a new way for bibliophiles like me to get their "book fix" 24/7.
Library patrons can browse a collection of audio books, and download them to their computer - for free.
And, if you've ever been embarrassed to show your face at the library because you owe more than the book's cover price in library fines, you'll love the fact that there are no late fees.
At the end of the 14-day lending period, the audio books automatically expire.
Once downloaded, digital books can be listened to on the computer or transferred to an MP3 player, and many can be burned to a CD.
Ready to download, I started with the quick start guide on the Volusia County Library Digital Media Web site at http://overdrive.volusialibrary.org.
I'd need a valid library card, access to the Internet and free downloadable software. Check.
Installing the required Overdrive Media Console software from the site took less than three minutes.
Just like shopping on most Internet sites, you browse titles and place your selection in the "cart."
But let me save you some time and hassle right up front.
Although I have a library card, it wasn't clear until I tried to check out that I needed to visit my local branch in person to obtain a password or pin number before any titles can be downloaded.
When I obtained my password the following day, the librarian politely reminded me that I had $11 in overdue fines.
The "no late-fees" concept was looking better and better.
I logged back on to my computer and selected suspense novels by Greg Iles and John Lescrout.
Once you successfully check out, you just click a download button.
I was prompted to download a Windows Media player security upgrade before I successfully downloaded both novels.
Just click the Overdrive Media Console icon on your desk top and select the book you want to listen to.
If you follow the quick start guide, it's a pretty simple process.
The listening software includes some neat features such as the ability to skip back 15 seconds, change play-back speed, go to a particular chapter and page and resume play from where you left off. You can download the entire book at one time or in sections.
The library site features hundreds of books including general fiction, literature, mystery and romance.
Authors range from popular novelists such as Stephen King, John Grisham and Nora Roberts, to Sinclair Lewis, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.
Children will be entertained by A.A. Milne's "Winnie-the-Pooh" and Stephanie Meyer's popular vampire novel Twilight is also available.
Some titles are enhanced, meaning they are accompanied by supplemental material from the publisher that can also be downloaded.
Titles can be placed on hold if they are not immediately available.
When the book is available you will receive an e-mail and have two days to check the item out.
Meanwhile, I'm ready to listen to a good murder mystery.