MP3 Audiobooks from Overdrive

Great news, Overdrive has started offering MP3 format downloadable audiobooks! What this means is that almost any portable device that can play MP3 audio files, including iPods and Zunes, can now play these titles. Currently, the library owns 86 titles but this number will continue to grow.

Requirements

There are a few things needed to enjoy these new MP3s.

• An MP3 compatible portable device. Many people, who have been using Overdrive all along, will possess a player that accepts MP3s. iPod and Zune players can also use these titles.
• Overdrive’s Media Console 3 software, which is available under Software Downloads at Overdrive’s site.
• iPod users will need iTunes to transfer the titles from their computer to their iPod. Zune users will need Zune software to transfer the titles. Both of these programs are available under Software Downloads at Overdrive’s site.

Once you have all of the software you need, you will go through the normal steps to obtain the audiobook-find the title, download it to a home computer using the Media Console software, and transfer the title to a device using Media Console or other appropriate software.

Finding Titles

MP3 titles can be found a number of ways via Overdrive’s website.

How to tell the format of an Audiobook

Overdrive has added a new feature to titles that makes it easy to know what format a title is in and what it is capable of working with. In the example below, the library owns the title in both MP3 and WMA formats.

Each title now has the format it is in listed under the book summary. Audiobooks in the MP3 format are the new titles, and the ones in the WMA format are the titles that require a WMA (Windows Media Audio) compatible listening device.

Overdrive has also added a visual guide that tells you what the title is compatible with: PC, MAC, Burn to CD, WMA, Ipod, MP3. Options ghosted out are NOT available.

Things to Remember

Only certain publishers have made their titles available in MP3 format because these titles lack the security of WMA audiobooks. As a result, most titles are classics or older fiction/non-fiction.

MP3 format titles also take longer to download.

Last Update: October 3, 2008