Free Library Blog - Posts by Jamie W.

Changes Coming to Our Electronic Resources and Databases

Jamie W. — 2013-05-15T09:07:00-05:00

In our continual effort to better serve you, a team of librarians has recently taken a fresh look at our many electronic resources and databases, and has recommended some changes. Public library services have shifted dramatically over the past few years, with not only greatly reduced budgets but also a growth in the information you can connect to online. Ultimately, we recognize that our electronic databases must be relevant to your needs and provide the excellent library service you deserve.

To that end we will no longer be subscribing to a small selection of our current databases. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! The vast majority of the content available in these databases is also available in similar form at freelibrary.org and through other free resources, like Pennsylvania’s PowerLibrary.

The databases we will no longer be subscribing to include:

Freegal (ending as of June 1)
EBSCOhost, which includes MasterFile Premier, Middle Search Plus, Primary Search, ERIC, Novelist Plus, and Novelist K-8 Plus (ending as of July 1)
Dun & Bradstreet’s Million Dollar Database (ending as of August)

These changes will allow us to focus more on the types of services you value most and continue to be a library that is responsive to your needs. In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be posting a helpful series of blogs that details just where you can find all the information you need, so check back often to learn how you can maximize your Free Library experience.

To get you started, read our post on Freegal and the many digital music resources available to you through the Free Library and online!

As always, we welcome your feedback.

Music Everywhere

Jamie W. — 2013-05-15T09:06:00-05:00

This is a great time for music lovers. Not so long ago, we had relatively few choices when it came to how we heard our music. We could buy it, which is ideal if you’re sure you’re going to like it once you get it home; listen to the radio or watch MTV, OK as long as you’re content to hear what someone else decides you should hear; or go see it live, again wonderful, but depending on where you live and the kind of music you like, maybe not possible. And those examples only take into account our very recent history. Go back much further and people who wanted to hear music had to play it themselves (also not such a bad option, as any musician will tell you).

Now though, anyone with access to the Internet also has access to a nearly limitless amount of music, much of it free and entirely legal. I don’t mean that online music can or should take the place of buying CDs and records, seeing music live, or making music yourself, just that it’s awfully nice to be able to satisfy your musical curiosity so easily. So, while the Free Library will no longer be offering the Freegal database of downloadable music, there are still plenty of great ways to access your favorite tunes.

Let’s look at some of your options.

Library Streaming Services
While music on the open web is great and the amount of content is growing every day, you still can’t find everything. That’s where the library can help. Check out our streaming music service over at the Download Media page. Online Music from Alexander Street Press is comprised of six individual collections focusing on jazz, classical, traditional, and world music. You can stream all day, create playlists, and more. A library card is required to login and a world of great listening awaits.

Online Streaming Services
Subscription services like Spotify, Pandora, and Last.fm are also a great way to hear music online. These services are free and supported by advertising – just like radio – except that here you get to choose what you want to hear. Spotify lets you listen to the specific songs, artists, and albums you choose without limitations, while Pandora and Last.fm offer you the ability to create custom radio stations based on the music you love. At the basic (ad-supported) level each of these services are free. Even better, all indications are that the market for streaming music online is about to get even bigger with recent reports that Amazon, Apple, and Google are all hoping to get into the market.

Embrace the video wormhole!
As if listening to your favorite music weren’t addictive enough, there is also a nearly endless stream of music video on sites like YouTube and Vevo. Vevo is sponsored by three of the “Big Four” major record companies and serves up new music videos and hits from some pop’s biggest starts. YouTube, of course, is also a great source for today’s hottest videos, as well as your old favorites from the video era, but the real fun begins when you discover one of YouTube’s many hidden corners of music arcana. From lost dance floor gems, to Afro-rock greats, to forgotten Philadelphia A-sides, these fan created videos offer a music wormhole too fun not to allow yourself to fall into now and then.

Of course, all this is only the beginning. You can also find new music on aggregators like The Hype Machine; search out tomorrow’s hits on Bandcamp, or hear a little of everything on SoundCloud. Please share your favorite sources for online music with us in the comments below.

New to Ebooks? Start Here

Jamie W. — 2013-05-07T10:57:00-05:00

Congratulations on your new e-reader, tablet, or mobile device! We hope you enjoy borrowing digital items from the Free Library of Philadelphia. Here's a quick guide to get you on your way.

First of all, finding digital items to check out on the Free Library's website is simple. You can start at the pink 'Download Media' button on our homepage or by taking a look at the video below that introduces our various digital platforms and shows you how to get around our site.

The majority of our best-sellers and in-demand ebook titles come from Overdrive. For an introduction on how to use the Overdrive service take a look at the video below.

Now that you know how to checkout an ebook, there are basically three ways to download them. The option that's right for you depends upon the type of device you own. Find a guide for each below...

1. Downloading ebooks for tablets, phones, and mobile devices (Including Kindle Fire, Nook Color and Nook HD)

2. Downloading ebooks for Kindle (excluding Kindle Fire)

3. Downloading ebooks to a Nook (excluding Nook Tablets, Color, and HD) or other dedicated e-reader

Finally, you may discover that not every ebook or audiobook you're interested in is currently available from the Free Library. Find out why here.

Publishers Warming to Library Ebook Lending

Jamie W. — 2013-05-02T09:58:00-05:00

Yesterday, we were pleased to learn that Hachette, one of the “Big 6” publishers in the United States, will now sell their full catalog of ebook titles to public libraries beginning May 8th. Until now, Hachette had limited libraries to a small selection of backlist titles. This is good news for ebook lovers. Hachette will give our readers access to ebooks by David Baldacci, Sara Zarr, Sandra Brown, James Patterson, David Sedaris, and Kate Atkinson, among others.

In related news, Tony Marx, the CEO of the New York Public Library, published an op-ed in the New York Times yesterday about the state of library ebook lending. In it, he discussed a pilot project with Simon & Schuster whereby New York libraries will offer their ebooks for loan. While this does not directly impact us here in Philadelphia, it is important to acknowledge this step by another major publisher.

These developments mark the first time that some content by all of the Big 6 American book publishers will offer their digital titles to libraries. For those who’ve followed this story on our blog and elsewhere, this is surely welcome news. While we still have a way to go before we can enjoy the full access and sensible pricing terms that libraries and you deserve, it is worth remembering that publishers also face intense pressures in this new digital environment and we applaud their recent efforts.

Here’s a recap of where we stand with each of the Big 6 publishers:

Hachette – Full ebook catalog available to libraries.

Random House – Full ebook catalog available to libraries.

Harper Collins – Full ebook catalog available to libraries.

Penguin – Titles purchased before February, 2012 are still available through libraries that use the Overdrive ebook platform, but new titles and best sellers are available only to a limited number of libraries through a pilot program with the 3M and Axis 360 ebook platforms.

Simon & Schuster – Full catalog available to New York libraries through a pilot program.

Macmillan – Offers a limited selection of their ebook to all libraries.

Want library ebooks on your Android? There's an app for that!

Jamie W. — 2013-04-18T09:12:00-05:00

Dear Android Lovers,

We know you want to read fantastic library ebooks and listen to great audiobooks on your device and now, it couldn't easier. Wth the free Overdrive Media Console app, you can enjoy library ebooks in EPUB, PDF, and Open EBUP formats as well as MP3 audiobooks on your Android tablet or phone. Library ebooks and audiobooks are free, convenient, and best of all... no late fees. When your loan expires the file is removed from your device. Here's a great video to help you get started.

Grab a Grammy Winner with Freegal!

Jamie W. — 2013-02-12T10:23:00-05:00

The 55th annual Grammy awards were held this week in Los Angeles and the world was invited to sit on its collective couch and watch. Did the Grammys reaffirm your faith in pop music? Or like many in this age of increasingly fractured pop culture, where each of us is invited to delve ever deeper into our own pools of idiosyncratic taste, did you simply find yourself wondering, "Who are these people?"

Personally, I was surprised to discover that contrary to what I had thought, Mumford and Sons are not part of an elaborate J Crew advertising campaign, but are real band. Who knew?

Thankfully, the Free Library of Philadelphia has resources to keep me, and others like me, au courant. Head over to our downloadable media page and checkout Freegal. Freegal is a service that allows Free Library card holders to download three free MP3 each week. Once downloaded, these files are yours to keep. That's Freegal - free and legal.

Here are just a few of the Grammy winners and nominees you'll find at Freegal:

Mumford & Sons
Adele
Kelly Clarkson
Usher
Beyoncé
Carrie Underwood
Jack White
P!nk
Alabama Shakes
Miguel

Welcome to Overdrive Read

Jamie W. — 2013-01-29T08:31:00-05:00

Overdrive released their revamped website about two weeks ago and we've already heard from many of our readers. New features, such as the improved download button (no more accidentally checking out the wrong format!), are already getting positive reviews. Though one feature we have not talked much about yet is Overdrive Read.

Overdrive Read is a browser-based reader. You can read your EPUB ebooks on your computer, laptop, tablet, phone, or any almost any device with a modern web browser. No downloading, no apps, no software required. Here is Overdrive's own list of the Top 8 features (Top 8? really?) in Overdrive Read.

With OverDrive Read, you don’t need to worry about Adobe IDs or Adobe Digital Editions. There’s no software to download or apps to install. Just “See Book—Read Book” in your browser.
You can sync to “furthest page read” between devices. You can start reading in Chrome on your desktop computer, pick up where you left off in Safari on your iPad, and then again in your Android phone’s default browser. Just navigate to your Bookshelf on your library’s website to resume where you left off.
You can customize the font, font size, justification, line spacing, and even the theme.
Use bookmarks or the unique “thumb placeholder” feature to save your place.
Looking for a specific passage? With full-book searchability, you’ll have no trouble locating that elusive quote.
For assistance getting started with OverDrive Read, check out this Help article.
We recommend using HTML5 browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 10, and Safari. These browsers are best for use with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
If you’re using older versions of Internet Explorer, you may be prompted to install the ‘Chrome Frame plug-in’ when you click on an eBook to read for the first time. The plug-in is free, and only takes moments to install.

Redesigned Ebook Platform Coming this Friday

Jamie W. — 2013-01-10T08:32:00-05:00

If you’ve been waiting for the process of checking out library ebooks to become simpler, Overdrive, the company that maintains the Free Library’s primary ebook collection, promises that their Next Generation platform will change the game.

Overdrive’s Next Generation website is designed to be easier for new and returning users to search, browse, and check out ebooks and audiobooks. No more device authentication. No more confusion about formats. In fact, with the option to read ebooks in your web browser via OverDrive Read, many people won’t need to download any software at all. All you need is your library card and a device with a modern web browser (most computers, laptops, and tablets).

OverDrive will roll out the Next Generation website for the Free Library on January 11, 2013.

In addition to One-Step Checkout and OverDrive Read, the completely reimagined library websites incorporate other improved features like:

Responsive design to provide consistent user experience across all devices.
Simplification of all features to reduce the number of clicks.
Each ebook or audiobook title will now bear a simple icon showing format and availability.
A one-click icon will add titles to your Wish List.
An improved search with filtering options

Why Can't I Find All the eBooks and Audiobooks I Want at the Free Library?

Jamie W. — 2012-12-21T14:23:00-05:00

Let's say there's a hot new bestseller tearing up the New York Times list. It's everywhere, in the libraries, the books stores, at fancy displays by the grocery store checkout line, everyone, it seems, on every train, every subway, every airplane, and in every doctor's waiting room is reading it. Naturally, your curiosity is piqued and you want to read it for yourself to see what all fuss is about. So, you head on over to www.freelibrary.org, click the pink download media button on our homepage. You're brimming with hopes of quickly and easily checking out and downloading the ebook or audiobook version in your pajamas. However, you are saddened to discover that there's a waiting list! Why, you wonder, must I wait to checkout a digital item?

The answer is simple: ebooks work just like print books. The library buys a certain number of them based on their popularity and what our budget will allow (donate here, if you are so moved) and we can loan each copy to one person at a time. The only exceptions are ebooks from our Freading ebook service which works a bit differently. Learn more about Freading here.

OK. So that seems reasonable enough, but let's say you're in your P.J.s looking for that special ebook and it seems that the library doesn't have it all? "How could that be?" you wonder, "Do those librarians live under rocks? In caves?"

Of course not, in fact, only a few of us still live under rocks or in caves, and while the reasons we might not have your ebook or audiobook are complicated it boils down to this: the digital book industry is in transition and book publishers have not yet decided how to handle digital library lending. In fact, a number of big publishers won't sell their ebooks to libraries at all! Learn more about that here and here. When it comes to audiobooks, publishers are generally more comfortable with library lending, but most only offer their titles to us in WMA format rather than in the more universally acceptable MP3 format. This means that most of our audiobooks will work if you download them to a PC, but for those of us who prefer to use our Macs or mobile devices like tablets, phones, Kindles, Nooks, or any other gadgets that play MP3s but is not WMA compatible, the selection is more limited. Learn more about audiobooks here.

So, in the meantime, please know that we're advocating for your right to enjoy library material in any format you choose and we ask that you do the same for us. Take action here.

Downloading Audiobooks from the Free Library

Jamie W. — 2012-12-19T11:27:00-05:00

The Free Library of Philadelphia offers a large number of downloadable audiobooks in our Overdrive collection. Downloading audiobooks is simple, but the process you will use and the audiobook formats available to you depends upon the type of computer or device you have.

If you have an iPad, iPhone, iTouch, Nook Tablet, Kindle Fire, or other mobile device that can play MP3 files, go to your app store -- whether it's the iTunes Store, Google Play, the Nook Store, the Kindle App Store, or elsewhere -- and add the free Overdrive Media Console (OMC) App to your device.

From within the OMC app you will be able to search for, checkout, download, and listen to audiobooks. Please note that you are restricted to MP3 format audiobooks with mobile devices.

If you would like to download audiobooks to your PC and listen to them through your computer or transfer them to an portable MP3 player such as an iPod, simply download Overdrive Media Console (OMC) software to your PC. You will then go to our Overdrive collection on your PC to search for, checkout, and download your audiobook in either MP3 or WMA file format. Once you download the audiobook, it will open in OMC and you can listen to it on your PC or use OMC's transfer feature to send it your portable music player. Find specific instructions on how to transfer audiobooks from your PC to an Apple iPod here.

The process is the same if you have a Mac computer at home. However, on a Mac, you are not able to checkout WMA format audiobooks, only MP3. Find specific instructions on how to transfer MP3 audiobooks from a Mac to an Apple iPod here.

For more help and information on downloadable audiobooks see the comprehensive selection of audiobook articles and tips over at Overdrive's Help page.