eBooks

A valid Rawson Memorial District Library card . The Rawson OverDrive audio and eBook collection is limited to residents of the Rawson Memorial District Library area which includes: Village of Cass City, Elkland, Elmwood, Novesta, Ellington, Grant, Evergreen, and Greenleaf Townships.
A computer or mobile device with an Internet connection.
A free software program or mobile app may be required, depending on your device:
- Adobe Digital Editions software program (for downloading and reading eBooks on a Windows or Mac computer; also needed to transfer eBooks to some eReader devices, including the Barnes & Noble Nook)
- OverDrive Media Console mobile app (for downloading and reading eBooks on a mobile device; available for Android, BlackBerry, iPhone / iPad, and Windows Phone 7)
- Amazon Kindle / Kindle App users do not need any additional software or apps, but must have an Amazon.com account.

Return to the top

3. What types of eBooks does the library offer? Are they all old classics?

Rawson Memorial District Library offers all types of eBooks for all ages and reading tastes. You can find many of the latest releases, your favorite genres such as mysteries, romance, science fiction, cookbooks, biographies, and more, as well as eBook collections just for kids and teens. Yes, there are "old classics" like those offered by many online eBooks sites, but with your Rawson Memorial District Library card, you have access to so much more, all for free!

4. How do I find out if the specific title I want is available as an eBook?

The easiest way is to use the Quick Search bar on the left hand side of the Fuel Your Mind Overdrive Site homepage. Also, you may use the Rawson Memorial District Library Catalog to search for items. If an item is available at Fuel Your Mind Overdrive, it will have a clickable link that takes you from the Rawson catalog to the Overdrive site. Please note there is a delay between when eBooks are purchased and when their records are added to the main online catalog. For the most accurate and up-to-date results searching directly on the Fuel Your Mind Overdrive site is recommended.

Return to the top

5. Why isn't my favorite book available as an eBook? Can you order it?

Unfortunately, not all publishers make their eBooks available to libraries. If you would like to request a specific eBook title, please let a staff member know and we will be happy to see if we are able to purchase it for the library's collection.

6. How many eBooks can I check out at a time?

You can check out a total of 5 items at a time from Rawson Memorial District Library's OverDrive digital collection. Please note that this total includes any combination of both eBooks and eAudiobooks.

7. How long can I keep an eBook that I check out from the library?

The default checkout period for eBooks is 14 days, but you can also select a 7 day checkout period. You can adjust your default checkout period for future checkouts by logging into My Digital Account on the Fuel Your Mind OverDrive site and selecting the Lending Periods link.

Return to the top

8. What happens when the eBook is "due"? How do I "return" it to the library?

Once the checkout period for your eBook is over, the eBook file will automatically "expire" and you will no longer be able to access it on your computer or eReader device. There is no need to "return" it to the library - and no worrying about overdue fines!

Please note that even though you can no longer open the eBook once it has expired, the eBook file itself may still be stored on your computer or eReader device. You may want to check the instructions for your particular device to find out how to delete files in order to open up storage space for other titles.

9. Can I return an eBook early if I'm finished with it?

Yes, you can return an eBook early. Doing so will be appreciated by other patrons who may be waiting for that particular title, and it also may help you stay under the 5-item digital collection checkout limit.

Return to the top

10. Can I renew an eBook if I'm not done with it yet?

There is currently no mechanism in place for renewing a digital item such as an eBook. However, you may log back into Fuel Your Mind OverDrive and download the title again immediately if no one else is waiting for it, or place a hold on the title if there are no copies currently available.

11. Why do I have to place a hold for an eBook? If these are electonric, why aren't there unlimited copies available?

Most publishers require that library eBooks are offered to only one person per copy at a time, similar to how physical books are checked out. They feel that this restriction helps maintain their profitability, as unlimited eBooks available for free from the library would hurt sales of their eBooks through commercial sites.

12. How many eBooks can I place on hold at a time?

You may place up to 5 items on hold at a time from Fuel Your Mind OverDrive digital collection. Please note that this total includes any combination of both eBooks and eAudiobooks.

Return to the top

13. How will I know when my eBook hold is available for me?

When an eBook title that you have placed on hold becomes available, you will receive an email at the email address you specified when placing the hold. You will then have 3 days (72 hours) from the time the email is sent to log in to the Fuel Your Mind OverDrive site and checkout and download your eBook. If you do not checkout your eBook within the 3-day time frame, your hold will be cancelled and the title will be sent to the next person on the hold list.

14. Can I download library eBooks to my Kindle / Nook / iPad / other eReader device?

Yes, you can download library eBooks to many popular eReader devices, including Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and more. Please check OverDrive's Device Resource Center for a complete list of compatible devices.

15. I heard that library books don't work on the Amazon Kindle. Is this true?

Library eBooks were previously unavailable for the Amazon Kindle due to the proprietary file format used by Amazon. However, OverDrive and Amazon have recently announced that Kindles and Kindle apps are now compatible with library eBooks! Simply choose the Kindle Book format under the eBook you select.

Return to the top

16. Can I download eBooks at Rawson Memorial District Library using the library computer?

Unfortunately, you cannot download eBooks using the public computers in our library due to software security restrictions. However, if you are able to bring your own laptop, tablet, or smartphone to the library, you are welcome to use our free high-speed wireless internet to download eBooks onto your own device.

17. How do I download eBooks to my eReader?

Please see our Downloading Instructions page for step-by-step guides to downloading library eBooks to a variety of popular eReader devices.

Return to the top

18. What is the difference between Kindle Books, EPUB eBooks, and PDF eBooks?

Kindle Books are specifically formatted for use by the Amazon Kindle and Kindle apps. Please select this format if you wish to read the eBook on one of these devices. They are not compatible with any other eReader.

EPUB eBooks have reflowable text, which means that if you resize the text or change the font of the eBooks, the text will "reflow" to fill the screen. This makes EPUB eBooks the optimal choice for reading eBooks on small screens.

PDF eBooks preserve the layout of complex documents, including any charts and illustrations. However, because of this they do not "reflow" their text as well as EPUB eBooks. Therefore, you may notice page breaks in odd places when reading these eBooks on an eReader device. Because they are not optimized for small screens, PDF eBooks cannot be downloaded using the OverDrive Media Console for mobile devices.

Check OverDrive's Device Resource Center to see what format is compatible with your particular device. (Note that EPUB and PDF eBooks are not compatible with the Amazon Kindle. )

19. I want to buy an eReader device. Which one do you recommend?

There are many things to consider when shipping for an eReader device. You may want to consult this comparison of popular eReaders to see the different features offered by various devices. Many electronics stores now offer demo products to try out to help you decide which one is most comfortable for you to use. And of course, you'll want to check OverDrive's list of compatible devices to make sure that the product you choose will work with Rawson Memorial District Library's eBook collection.

Return to the top