eBooks & eReaders

Overdrive READ
- Nothing to Install, Read in your Browser!

Overdrive has a new format (since December) for ebooks that does not require any software or app installation.  It is called Overdrive READ and it works in the browser of whatever device you have, whether it's a Windows or Mac computer, a laptop, a Google Chromebook, most tablets and phones.  Whenever it is listed as an available format, you can use it for reading instead of EPUB or Kindle format.

Check here for more information.

EReaders

EReaders and tablet computers are the preferred method of reading for a growing number of book enthusiasts. If you have been thinking about hopping in the digital reading pool, but don’t know the difference between a Nook and a Kindle, this is a great place to start. For those of you who have already converted to e-books, this site is a great way to stay up on the latest digital additions to the Dayton Metro Library collection, as well as information about the latest e-reading news.

 

What to Buy?

For a comparison of the various e-readers that are available and a chart of which devices are compatible with the Dayton Metro Library's downloadable e-books and audio books, please look at OverDrive's comparison page here.

 

What to Read?

Any e-reader is only as good at the book you are reading. The Dayton Metro Library offers thousands of new and important books for e-readers. We have best selling fiction and non-fiction titles for adults, teens and kids. You can find these titles in the Dayton Metro Digital Library. Digital copies of materials are also listed in the library catalog.

 

What does it Mean?

As with any new technology, e-readers have their own pseudo-language with everything from EPUB to DRM to Nook being used in conversations about the devices. Here is a quick rundown of some of the more common terms you will hear when looking at e-readers:

• DRM: Digital Right's Management - This is software that is included with copies of e-books to ensure that the books are not improperly sold or shared with others. The software helps protect publishers rights to electronic content, but often causes issues with compatibility and uniformity within the industry. DRM is one of the reasons some e-readers are not compatible with some e-books.
• PDF: One of the more common terms associated with e-readers. PDF refers to a type of computer file that many e-books come in. PDFs became prevalent on the Internet as a way to download and save documents or forms and have gone on to become one of the dominant file formats for e-books. It is a proprietary file format from Adobe.
• EPUB: Another common file format for e-books. This format is an open source file format that has become the industry standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum.