Showing posts with label eBooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eBooks. Show all posts

Updated! Hoopla - a new service for borrowing movies, tv shows, audio books and music.

We've talked about Hoopla before on this blog, but we felt it was time to update it since Hoopla has added several new types of material! When we first wrote about this service from Bossier Parish Library back in November, it allowed you to check out movies, television shows, audio books and full albums of music on your computer or smartphone. Hoopla still offers all of those things but now they've added eBooks and Comics to their library! With all these additions there's something for readers of all ages and reading levels.

What does Hoopla offer?

Hoopla offers Audiobooks, eBooks, Comics, Movies, Television and full Music albums! All right at the touch of your fingers. 








How do I use Hoopla?

Step One: Getting to Hoopla

The first step to checking out items on Hoopla is, of course, getting to the Hoopla site. On your computer this means going to http://www.hoopladigital.com. On your tablet or smart phone, you'd download the Hoopla Digital app. 

Step Two: Signing up 

The first time you visit to Hoopla site or app, you'll be asked to sign up for an account. This is free and only takes a few minutes to complete. We'll walk through each step below. The first screen shows you an Overview of the Hoopla service and lets you know what is required to use it. You'll need your library card number and PIN, and a valid email address. 


After the Overview, you'll be taken to a screen that will allow you to choose your library. Most of the time, this will automatically show you all of the libraries in your area that use Hoopla. Choose Bossier Parish Library and click Next. 



After choosing Bossier Parish Library, you'll be asked for your library card number and PIN. Bossier Parish Library does require a PIN, so make sure not to leave this blank. 
(Hint: The PIN is the last 4 digits of your library card number)



The final step in creating an account is entering your email address and creating a Hoopla password. This password is for Hoopla only so Bossier Parish Library staff won't be able to access or reset this password for you. If you do happen to forget this password, you can reset it through the Hoopla website. 


That was the final step! You should now see a Welcome to Hoopla page that gives you basic information on your Hoopla account, including the number of titles you can borrow every month. 


Step Three: Borrowing Materials

Now that you're signed up with an account you're ready to start borrowing titles! You can browse by type or search for a specific title or artist. When browsing you can switch between types at the top. There are several categories including New titles, Top titles and genres. Click on the cover picture to find more info or to borrow the item. 



When you've decided what you'd like to borrow, click on the cover picture. This will take you to a screen that will show you more details, including how long you'll be able to borrow the item. Click the borrow button to add the item to your account. 


Once you've borrowed the item, it can be found under the My Titles. This page also shows you how many more titles you can borrow in the month. 



Using Hoopla on your mobile device or tablet

Using Hoopla on a mobile device is exactly the same as the steps laid out above, though the appearance of the screens may be slightly different. 


Are you excited to start using Hoopla? We are. We're even listening to the album pictured above while typing this! 



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Get help with Overdrive - now even easier!

Getting help with Overdrive is now even easier! But first:

What exactly is Overdrive? 


Overdrive is an app that allows you to read eBooks and listen to audio-books on your phone or tablet. It's part of your library account, so there's never any charge. The books return automatically so you can't even be charged late fees. New books are added to the collection every day. For some of these books, you'll need an Adobe ID. This is a free ID that you create using your email one time only. If you're not comfortable with creating an Adobe ID, don't worry! There are plenty of books you can still access.

Overdrive is available for: Apple (via iTunes) Android (via Google Play), Windows Phone.

Download for other devices including Kindle, Nook and your PC can be found on the Overdrive Website. You can also get to the Overdrive site through the Bossier Library homepage: http://bossierlibrary.org. There is a link on the right hand side for Overdrive.



As great and convenient as Overdrive is, occasional problems can occur. Sometimes a book won't download correctly or might not download at all. Getting help for these issues is now easier than ever - and you can go straight to the source. Bossier Library is now signed for Frontline support from Overdrive. That lets you skip the middle man in the IT Department here at the library and go straight to the tech support at Overdrive itself. This allows you to save time as you don't have to wait for library staff to contact Overdrive on your behalf. 

So, how do you use FrontLine Support? 

If you have a problem with a book or audiobook in Overdrive, the easiest way to contact them is through the GreenGold/Overdrive Website. If you use Overdrive this site will be familiar to you, as it's the one you use to find and borrow books. 

To access Overdrive FrontLine support, first click the Help Icon at the top of the page. You can see it below outlined in blue. 




On the Help Page, you can find How-to articles and instructions. If those are not helpful, click on the Support button near the bottom of the page to access FrontLine support. 


The next step will be to choose your library - in this case Bossier Parish Library. (Lucky us near the top of the list!)


This takes you directly to the Overdrive FrontLine Tech Support contact page. Fill out all the information, including Name, Library Card Number, Email, and the exact problem with the book and Overdrive will find a solution! 



The greatest thing about Overdrive FrontLine support is that they are available for Bossier Parish Library patrons 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Having trouble downloading a book on Christmas? In the past you would have had to wait for the library to reopen, but now with FrontLine support you can get help, even on holidays. 



Let us know what you think in comments below! 

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Keeping New Years Resolutions with BPL - Read More Books!

For many people, New Years Resolution means reading more books or reading different types of books than you normally choose. For example, several people at the library are choosing to meet this reading challenge, which was created by the website PopSugar.

There are several ways that Bossier Parish Library can help with your resolution to read more books. There is, of course, the most obvious answer - we certainly do have a lot of books available for free. But beyond regular paper books, there are several other ways to borrow books. 



eBooks from Overdrive

eBooks allow you to read books on your computer, tablet or phone. One of my personal favorite aspects of eBooks is that I can access them anywhere I can use my phone. That means I can read while on a break at work or even waiting in line at the grocery store. So much more enjoyable than scanning the tabloid headlines or counting the items of the person in front of you in the express lane.

Overdrive is an app that allows you to read eBooks on your computer, phone or tablet. It's part of your library account, so there's never any charge. The books return automatically so you can't even be charged late fees. New books are added to the collection every day. For some of these books, you'll need an Adobe ID. This is a free ID that you create using your email one time only. If you're not comfortable with creating an Adobe ID, don't worry! There are plenty of books you can still access.
Overdrive is available for: Apple (via iTunes) Android (via Google Play), Windows Phone.
Download for other devices including Kindle, Nook and your PC can be found on the Overdrive Website.


Audio Books

Audio books can be a great way to read more books while still taking care of other responsibilities. You can listen to audio books during your daily commute or while running errands around town. They can also make more unpleasant tasks like household chores or exercising more enjoyable. You can checkout books on CD to listen in your car at any Bossier Parish Library branch. 

Bossier Parish Library also has two online services that offer Audio Books: Overdrive and Hoopla. These services allow you to checkout Audio Books on your computer, tablet or smartphone. These books return automatically, which means you never risk overdue fines. Both of these services are available as apps for tablets or smartphones, or you can access their respective websites on your computer. We did a instructional post on Hoopla here on our blog.




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App Recommendations for Readers

Smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of our everyday life; something most of us can't bear to leave the house without, like our keys or wallet. While any smartphone with internet access is useful, it's the apps on the phone that make it both indispensable and fun. Every so often, this blog will feature apps for people who love books, music, sports, art and more. We will also feature apps to help increase productivity and make your life a little easier.

This week we are going to showcase some apps designed for people who love books and reading. Most of these apps are available on several different devices, but a few aren't so we'll be sure to specify.

Overdrive Media Console

It's pretty much required that we start with Overdrive because we're a library, but honestly we'd put it at the top of the list anyway. Overdrive is an app that allows you to read eBooks and listen to audio-books on your phone or tablet. It's part of your library account, so there's never any charge. The books return automatically so you can't even be charged late fees. New books are added to the collection every day. For some of these books, you'll need an Adobe ID. This is a free ID that you create using your email one time only. If you're not comfortable with creating an Adobe ID, don't worry! There are plenty of books you can still access.
Overdrive is available for: Apple (via iTunes) Android (via Google Play), Windows Phone.
Download for other devices including Kindle, Nook and your PC can be found on the Overdrive Website.

Purchase eBooks

There are several options for purchasing books on your tablet or eReader. The apps are handy as they allow you to purchase books while away from your computer and allow you to read the same book across different devices. You can read a book on your tablet on your lunch break and then pick up right where you left off when you're stuck standing in line at the grocery store and need to distract yourself from all those impulse buys and candy bars. (or maybe that's just us.) 

Kindle

The Kindle App allows you to download books from Amazon to your device. You don't have to be using a Kindle in order to use the Kindle App, but you do have to register on Amazon before you can purchase any books or audiobooks. 

The Kindle app is available on: iTunes, Google Play, and Windows Phone. You can also download it on your PC and other apps at www.amazon.com


Nook

The Nook app allows you download books from Barnes and Noble to your device. Like the Kindle App, it is not necessary to be on a Nook to use the Nook app, but you must register at BarnesandNoble.com in order to download books. 
The Nook app is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Windows Phone

iBooks & Google Play Books

These apps comes installed on your device and allow you to purchase books from iTunes, or Google Play. . It is important to remember that any purchases you make in iBooks can only be read on an Apple product like an iPhone or iPad.  For example, if you buy books in Apple iBooks and then switch to a Samsung Galaxy, you will not be able to transfer those books to your new Samsung. Other apps like Kindle or Nook work on any device so your purchases can be transferred. 


Keep Track of the Books You Read

There are several apps that allow you to keep track of the books that you've read and get recommendations for books to read in the future. We're just going to cover two of these apps

GoodReads
GoodReads is a website and mobile app that allows you to list any books that you've read or want to read in the future. You can also rate the books and receive recommendations for books to read based on those ratings. There are discussion groups and online book clubs as well. Because authors have GoodReads pages as well, you can get updates on upcoming books and works. GoodReads is free but you will have to register with an email address.
This app is available on iTunes and Google Play.


BookCrawler
BookCrawler is similar to GoodReads in that it allows you to keep track of books you've read. BookCrawler lets you scan the barcode of the book itself to add it to your list, letting you skip typing all the book titles manually if you'd like. Of course, you can still search for books by title or author as well. There is a free version that allows you to input up to 25 books, but for more than that you'll have to pay for the full version. Luckily for those who are serious about cataloging their personal library, the full version is usually around $2. Unfortunately BookCrawler is available only on iTunes. Hopefully an Android version will be released soon!



Reading Can Mean More Than Just Books

Reading means more than just eBooks or audiobooks.

Comixology
Comixology allows you to purchase and read comics on your phone or tablet. You can purchase the same day the comics are released in stores. You can find sales, discounts and even free comics! Comixology app is free, though you'll have to purchase the comics.
This app is available on iTunes and Google Play.


Poetry from the Poetry Foundation
This app allows you to read a new poem daily or search for your favorite poets. Feeling romantic? Need something to cheer you up? There are collections based on every mood and occasion. You can even search by memorable lines! This app is free and available on iTunes and Google Play.





What are your favorite reading related apps? Have ideas on topics you'd like us to cover? Leave a comment here or on our Facebook or Twitter