Audiobooks

Please note: Starting April 7, 2008 the loan period for OverDrive audiobooks will change to 14 days from 21 days. Items that are currently checked out at that time will retain their original three week period, but checkouts after the change is made will be 14 days.

The Santa Barbara Public Library System offers 2 services for downloading audiobooks onto your home computer or portable digital media player:

NetLibrary

• If you already have a NetLibrary account and are ready to search and download audiobooks click here
• If you need to create a NetLibrary account click here
• To learn more about audiobooks, setting up an account, and NetLibrary please read below

OverDrive

• To search and begin downloading Overdrive titles click here
• To learn more about OverDrive please read below

What are Downloadable Audiobooks?

Downloadable audiobooks are digital versions of audiobooks that are available through the Internet. Audiobooks can be played on any computer or portable device supporting Windows Media Player version 9.0 and above. You can also transfer your favorite titles to a wide range of portable devices, including portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs, and even select smartphone devices. Please note the Apple iPod is not supported and audiobooks are not compatible with Macintosh computers at this time.

You will never accrue late fees on downloaded audiobook titles. At the end of the loan period, titles will expire and be automatically 'returned' to the library. At this time, you can delete the expired file(s) from your machine.
To download audiobooks, you will need:

• A valid library card
• Access to the Internet

:: Downloadable Audiobooks powered by OverDrive

To access digital materials on OverDrive, you will need:

• Free software for your computer and/or device on which you wish to use the material you download from this site
• A security update for your Windows Media Player

The free software download and security upgrade is necessary only once.  The steps for preparing your computer or portable device to use OverDrive are:

• Click on   
• Select Quick Start Guide from the left column
• Read the Overview if you wish and then follow Step 1 to Download & Install Free Software
• After you have installed the software, go to the Start button, then All Programs, and then open OverDrive Media Console
• Select Tools from the menu bar, open and then perform the Windows Media Player Security Upgrade. 

Check Out, Download, and Enjoy

You can browse or search this site for downloadable materials. You may store up to six (6) titles in your cart for thirty (30) minutes while you are browsing and deciding on which title(s) to download   Remove the titles you have decided not to download and proceed to checkout. You may check out up to four (4) titles at a time for a two (2) week period.   For more information on the checkout process, click here.

If a desired title is not available, you may place a hold on up to ten (10) titles. You will be notified by email when your hold is available for downloading.  Each title will be held for you for four (4) days.  For more information on placing a title on hold, click here.

Once you have checked out a title, a download page will be displayed. Click the 'Download' button to start the download. Once the download is complete, you can close your Internet connection and enjoy the materials offline.

Portable Devices for OverDrive 

You can use your media player to transfer a downloaded audiobook to portable devices that support secure WMA format. A license is automatically transferred to your portable device, which will allow you to access the audiobook for up to three weeks from the date of original checkout. Please refer to your media player’s help section for additional information.  You may want to purchase a device that will work on both OverDrive and NetLibrary.
More information on OverDrive supported portable devices.

More help:
OverDrive Audiobook frequently asked questions

For additional assistance, contact your librarian.

:: Downloadable Audiobooks powered by NetLibrary

If you already have a Netlibrary account click here.

• What are Downloadable Audiobooks?
• Creating an Account
• Logging in
• Searching
• Checkout
• Renewing
• Portable devices

Creating an Account

You can search and browse for audiobooks and listen to previews without an account. However, to download and listen to audiobooks, you must first create a free NetLibrary account. (You’ll be prompted to do so when you try to check out an audiobook.)

From a computer outside the library:

1. Go to set up a NetLibrary account and click on Santa Barbara Public Library.
2. Click on the link to create a Free NetLibrary Account in the upper right hand corner.
3. Create an account with NetLibrary as directed.

Logging in

Once you have created an account, you can log in from any computer with Internet access.

1. Go to www.netlibrary.com and enter your user name and password in the log in box.
2. Click the red "Log in" button.
3. You now have access to all audiobooks available in the library’s collection.

Searching for a NetLibrary Audiobook

You can search for audiobooks using the Black Gold catalog as you would any other library item. Or you can use either Basic Search and Advanced Search at NetLibrary's website. The Audiobooks Center, available by clicking on the audiobooks Center link on the NetLibrary home page, allows you to limit searches to audiobook content and browse featured titles.

Checking out a NetLibrary Audiobook

The default checkout period for a Downloadable Audiobook is three weeks. You may check out a maximum of ten audiobook titles at one time. Please do not download audiobooks to public computers in your library.

1. From search results, click on the Download this Audiobook link to Open or Save the audiobook file.
2. Select a download option: CD quality, or radio quality. Radio quality provides faster download speed and is ideal for users with dial-up connections; CD quality offers highfidelity playback for patrons with high-speed Internet access. If you will be listening to the audiobook on an MP3 player, you must download the CD quality version.
3. If you select Open, NetLibrary will download the title and launch your media player. Click the play button to listen to the Audiobook. The Save option allows you to download the file to a directory of your choosing. Once the download is complete, you can open the audiobook directly from your media player, or by using Windows Explorer.

Audiobooks do not need to be returned; the license will expire in 21 days unless it is renewed.

Renewing a NetLibrary Audiobook

Once an audiobook has been downloaded, it can be renewed at any time.

1. Go to www.netlibrary.com/recordedbooks and enter your user name and password in the log in box.
2. Click on the My checked out Items link.
3. Click on Renew this Audiobook

If you are attempting to access an audiobook with an expired license from your media player, a pop-up browser will prompt you to log in to renew your checkout.

1. Enter your user name and password.
2. Click the log in button.
3. Your license will automatically be renewed.
4. Click play to listen to the audiobook.

Portable Devices for NetLibrary

You can use your media player to transfer a downloaded audiobook to portable devices that support secure WMA format. A license is automatically transferred to your portable device, which will allow you to access the audiobook for up to three weeks from the date of original checkout. Please refer to your media player’s help section for additional information.

More information on tested players

More information on supported portable devices.

More help
Audiobook frequently asked questions are answered at: http://www.netlibrary.com/Help/Default.aspx?Page=FAQ#AudiobooksFAQs

For additional assistance, contact your librarian.

Other Services

:: Chapter a Day™

Click here to try our new service. Tune in each day to hear Wisconsin Public Radio readers present the current Chapter A Day™ selection.