See Interface Preview for NetLibrary -BIG switch to EBSCO style in July

Hey gang,
Why not start getting used to the new platform ebook reading/viewing now, so it won't be such a shock in July when it changes for real?  Go ahead, click the giant Preview banner on the NetLibrary site now.

What's so great about it?

• Enhanced eBook viewer
• Improved research tools (folder, citation exports, powerful EBSCOhost features)
• Narrow search result list by subjects, categories, authors, and more
• Enhanced notes feature

Ready for an overview? Watch this quick vid on new features and changes.  FYI this preview link is not our full collection...it's just to give you an idea of what to expect.

What ELSE will be different? 

Patrons will need NEW EBSCO eBook accounts!
Since our move to III,  a "free NetLibrary account" is no longer required to read eBooks online--only needed for downloadable titles.

So we'll be alerting current NetLibrary patrons that they will need to save their personal account content (notes on eBooks, lists of eBooks they may have saved) somewhere safe, before the transition takes place.  After the transition to EBSCOhost, users will be able to set up their own My EBSCOhost accounts for saving and managing our collection of eBooks.


Finally, the records in the catalog will connect to the eBook title on the new EBSCO platform, which is good news.

Questions?   let me know!
Sally

Downloadables Review - How to Help Patrons

So many devices, so little time...

with all the news about Kindle and OveDrive, this is a good time to review how best to answer questions from patrons about eBooks or eAudio.

The first stop should be showing/telling them directions to the "My Help" section on our OverDrive site. This really walks them through it. From the Library website, click eCollection, then eAudio or eBooks.  


It is, however, a bit vaugue about transferring EPUB titles to an eReader device.  For details on this, do use our own "Help & Troubleshooting" link at the bottom of the eCollection page, just look under "To transfer to eReader" for a short summary.

and don't forget, we have Tip Sheets on transferring EPUBS to eReaders or Apple, Android or BlackBerry devices. These are saved on the L:\drive...feel free to print them for your branch or desks.


#1 takeaway?  Nook, Sony or Kobo eReaders can't handle a direct download.  eBooks MUST be downloaded to a computer, then transferred to the eReader while it's cabled up to the computer.


eBooks cannot be returned early from mobile or eReader devices. BUT they can be returned early from the computer, from within Adobe Digital Editions.

Lending Periods can be customized to 7 or 14 days, rather than the 21 day default. Click here and scroll past Kindle news. 

If you are talking to somone who just needs more help...please refer them to Ask A Librarian.

Unfortunately, we aren't able to make appointments or give in person help with their device, because 9 times out of 10, this has to be setup with the patron's home computer, and email is the best method.



And yes.  Kindle is coming but NO date is set!

NetLibrary for remote patrons -- Hooray!

Hooray hardly seems to express it - but do take a moment to scope out the vastly improved patron access to our NetLibrary titles. Thanks to the hardworking MMD folks, all 32,159 eBooks titles in the new Catalog have new URLs which allow seamless access whether you are In-Library or not. For patrons at home, they just need to click on the hyperlink that says ..."accessible through the World Wide Web…"

THEN they should be prompted for a Library Card and PIN. Once they login with that, they should reach that particular title at our APL NetLibrary Site.


(May I just say here, "Ta Da") No more sending the patron to a vague NetLibrary generic page!

NetLibrary patrons are still encouraged to create a free account -- necessary if they want to *download* a NetLibrary EPUB title. But they can do this after linking from a record in the Library Catalog.

They no longer need to start from the Library website to create an account.

For new patrons in person -- you can still show them our NetLibrary webpage, since it has some details about the eBook collection, etc.