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NetLibrary eAudiobooks : Support, training and documentation : Frequently asked questions for users

eAudiobooks frequently asked questions for users

Jump to: General | Audio quality | Bookmarking | Checkout | Downloading | Portable devices | Renewing  | Software

General

  1. How do I find eAudiobooks?
  2. Will I need an account to access eAudiobooks?
  3. Can I return an eAudiobook early and get another?
  4. Are eAudiobooks automatically removed from my computer when the checkout period expires?
  5. Once I've downloaded an eAudiobook, can I move it to another computer?
  6. Can I burn an eAudiobook to a CD?
  7. How do I listen to an eAudiobook in my car?

Audio quality

  1. What level of audio quality can I expect from an eAudiobook?

Bookmarking

  1. How do I bookmark where I left off?

Checkout

  1. What's the checkout period for eAudiobooks?
  2. Do I need to return eAudiobooks when the checkout period expires?
  3. How many eAudiobooks can I check out simultaneously?

Downloading

  1. Do I have to wait for the file to download before I can listen to an eAudiobook?
  2. Once I've requested an eAudiobook download, do I have to stay logged in to NetLibrary for the download to complete?
  3. How long does it take to download an eAudiobook?
  4. How do I download an eAudiobook?
  5. What if my download attempt fails?

Portable devices

  1. Can I play eAudiobooks on portable devices?
  2. Why won't the eAudiobook play on my portable device?
  3. How do I transfer an eAudiobook to my portable device?

Renewing

  1. Can I renew an eAudiobook without downloading the file a second time?
  2. How many times can I renew an eAudiobook?

Software

  1. Will I need to install any software on my computer to listen to eAudiobooks?
  2. What if I need additional assistance?

How do I find eAudiobooks?
A keyword search from your library's eContent home page produces results that include all forms of eContent available through your library's collection, including eAudiobooks. To limit the search to eAudiobooks, use the search options available in Advanced Search or the eAudiobook Center.


Will I need an account to access eAudiobooks?
Yes. Although a free preview is available for most eAudiobooks, you must first create an account from within your library to download and listen to complete eAudiobooks. In most cases, you can create an account by clicking the Create a Free Account link in the top right navigation of your library's eContent home page. You may also be directed to the Create a Free Account page if you try to access an eAudiobook without logging in.


Can I return an eAudiobook early and get another?
No. Since the licenses automatically expire, there's no way to return an eAudiobook—early or otherwise.


Are eAudiobooks automatically removed from my computer when the checkout period expires?
Once a checkout period expires, you no longer have access to an eAudiobook. However, the eAudiobook file remains on your hard drive unless it's manually deleted.


Once I've downloaded an eAudiobook, can I move it to another computer?
You can transfer an eAudiobook file to another computer if you haven't opened or played the eAudiobook. Once you've opened the eAudiobook, you've obtained the license that allows it to play; once you've obtained the license, you can't move the eAudiobook.


Can I burn an eAudiobook to a CD?
Yes and no. NetLibrary cannot stop you from burning an eAudiobook file to a CD, but encryptions on the file will make it unusable. So, it won't work.


How do I listen to an eAudiobook in my car?
To listen to an eAudiobook in a car, you'll 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. Also see Supported portable audio devices.


What level of audio quality can I expect from an eAudiobook?
You can choose from one of two levels of audio quality when you download an eAudiobook: radio quality or CD quality. Radio quality provides faster download speed and is ideal if you have a dial-up connection. CD quality offers high-fidelity playback for high-speed Internet access.


How do I bookmark where I left off?
If you're not using a portable device that has bookmarking capability, you can make note of your hours:minutes position when you stop listening and fast forward to that position when you resume.


What's the checkout period for eAudiobooks?
With each download, you automatically get a license that gives you access to the eAudiobook for up to three weeks. Before you open or play the eAudiobook you can transfer the license to two additional devices, allowing you to listen on the platform of your choice.


Do I need to return eAudiobooks when the checkout period expires?
No. The license automatically expires after three weeks, preventing you from accessing the file.


How many eAudiobooks can I check out simultaneously?
You may checkout a maximum of ten eAudiobooks at a time. After reaching your limit, you won't be able to check out additional titles until the license for at least one of the eAudiobooks has expired.


Do I have to wait for the file to download before I can listen to an eAudiobook?
Once you select a download option, you're prompted to Open or Save the eAudiobook file. If you select Open, the file downloads and your media player is launched. The Save option allows you to download the eAudiobook file to a directory of your choosing. Once the download is complete, you can open the eAudiobook directly from your media player, or by using Windows Explorer.

NetLibrary recommends that you choose Save rather than Open. Listening to a file while it is downloading increases the download time. It is also advisable that you save the file in a specified directory, so you can easily remember where the file was saved.


Once I've requested a download, do I have to stay logged in to NetLibrary for the download to complete?
No. You can allow your login session to time out.


How long does it take to download an eAudiobook?
Download time depends on the size of the audio file and the speed of your Internet connection. The following table summarizes estimated download times for CD-quality and radio-quality files.

Duration Quality File Size Download Times (hours:minutes:seconds)
Dial-up Modem
(56 Kbps)
DSL
(256 Kbps)
Cable Modem
(1.5 Mbps)
15 hours CD Quality ((32 Kbps)) 217.8 MB 08:51:01 01:56:09 00:19:21
Radio Quality (4 Kbps) 41.1 MB 01:40:12 00:21:55 00:03:39
10 Hours CD Quality 145.2 MB 05:54:00 01:17:26 00:12:54
Radio Quality 27.4 MB 01:06:48 00:14:36 00:02:26
8 Hours CD Quality 116.16 MB 04:43:12 01:01:57 00:10:19
Radio Quality 21.92 MB 00:53:26 00:11:41 00:01:56
5 Hours CD Quality 72.6 MB 02:57:00 00:38:43 00:06:27
Radio Quality 13.7 MB 00:33:24 00:07:18 00:01:13

How do I download an eAudiobook?
Go to the eAudiobooks self-guided demo (Flash).


What if my download attempt fails?
Once you've checked out an eAudiobook, you can attempt to download it at any point within the three-week checkout period. To re-download a file please log in to your NetLibrary account and click on the "Checked Out Items" link located at the upper right part of the screen.
You might experience dropped connections for long downloads via dial up. You will need to restart your download if it does not complete.


Can I play eAudiobooks on portable devices?
Yes. eAudiobooks are compatible with a wide range of portable devices, including portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs, and even select smartphone devices. For more information, see Supported portable audio devices.


Why won't the eAudiobook play on my portable device?
Either you don't have the right software installed, you aren't using a supported portable device, or you didn't request a "CD-quality" download. For information about software, see Supported media software and operating systems. For information about portable devices, see Supported portable audio devices. For information about CD-quality vs. radio-quality downloads, see What level of audio quality can I expect from an eAudiobook?.


How do I transfer an eAudiobook to my portable device?

If you use Window Media PLayer, version 9, follow these instructions:

  1. Connect your portable device to your computer following the device's instructions.
  2. Open Windows Media Player.
  3. In the File menu, open the downloaded file. This activates the license and begins to play the eAudiobook.
  4. In the File menu, select Copy and then select Copy to Portable Device.
  5. Click the Copy button located above the right pane.
  6. When the transfer is complete, disconnect your portable device following its instructions.
  7. Close Windows Media Player.
  8. Enjoy listening to the eAudiobook on your portable device.

If you use Windows Media Player, version 10, follow these:

  1. Connect your portable device to your computer following the device's instructions.
  2. Open Windows Media Player.
  3. In the File menu, open the downloaded file. This activates the license and begins to play the eAudiobook.
  4. Click the Library tab.
  5. Find your eAudiobook title in the Playlist.
  6. Select Sync List in the drop-down menu above the right pane.
  7. Drag the eAudiobook title into the right pane.
  8. Click the Start Sync button located below the right pane.
  9. When synchronizing is 100 percent complete, disconnect your portable device following its instructions.
  10. Close Windows Media Player.
  11. Enjoy listening to the eAudiobook on your portable device.

Can I renew an eAudiobook without downloading it a second time?
Yes. You can renew eAudiobooks at any point by logging into your account. A renewal gives you an additional three weeks of access from the date of renewal. If you try to open a file with an expired license from your media player, you'll be prompted to log in to renew your checkout.


How many times can I renew an eAudiobook?
You can renew an eAudiobook one time during its 21-day checkout period.


Will I need to install any software on my computer to listen to eAudiobooks?
You can download or play eAudiobooks on any desktop, laptop, or portable device supporting Windows Media Player version 9 or above. For more information, see Supported media software and operating systems.


What if I need additional assistance?

Contact the manufacturer for problems with your personal computer, media player software, or portable device. Contact your librarian or the NetLibrary administrator in your organization for local assistance. Contact NetLibrary for additional assistance.