How to Check Out E-books from the Library for Your E-reader or Mobile Device
The Kansas City Public Library has a growing collection of more than 2,000 e-books that you can check out for use on a variety of reading devices, such as the Kindle, Nook, and iPad. E-book borrowing requires a free Library account and PIN.
These instructions will focus on our downloadable e-books, which are provided to the Library through a service called OverDrive. The process for checking out e-books will be different depending on whether you are using a Kindle e-reader, a Nook or other supported e-reader, or a smart phone or tablet.
Note: The Library also has many more e-books that can be read online through EBSCOhost eBook Collection (no e-reader required).
Skip to instructions on how to get e-books for:
Lending & Availability
E-books checked out from the Library are readable for 21 days. You can check out up to 10 e-books (or digital audio books) at a time. When an item expires, it will be automatically returned and will no longer be viewable on your computer or e-reader. (You may need to manually delete the e-book from your computer or device after it has expired.)
As is the case with physical books, libraries own a limited number of copies of any given e-book. If all copies of the e-book you’re searching for have been checked out, the record will still display, and you can place a hold on it.
Where can I download e-books?
- You MAY download e-books using your home computer or portable, wi-fi-enabled device anywhere inside or outside the Library.
- Due to legal issues, you MAY NOT download e-books using a Library public computer.
Supported E-readers
The Kansas City Public Library’s OverDrive collection, which currently contains Adobe PDF, Adobe EPUB, and Kindle e-books, is supported by most e-readers and devices.
The following devices work with the Kansas City Public Library’s e-book collection:
- Amazon Kindle
- Barnes & Noble Nook
- Kobo
- Sony Reader
- iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch (with installation of app)
- Pandigital Novel
- Literati Reader
If you have an e-reader or device not listed above, visit OverDrive’s list of all compatible devices to find out whether your device will work with the Library’s e-books.
Checking Out E-books for the Kindle or Kindle App
As of September 2011, the Kansas City Public Library offers Kindle versions of many of its e-books. These e-books work on both the Kindle e-reader and on any mobile device or computer through a Kindle app such as the Kindle Cloud Reader.
Instructions:
- Visit our OverDrive e-books collection at kclibrary.lib.overdrive.com.
- Browse or search for an e-book.
- Click the “Get for Kindle” button. This opens the Amazon.com website. You may be required to sign in with your Amazon.com account if you are not already logged on. (Sign up for a free account.)
- Select a Kindle device or Kindle reading app. Click the “Get library book” button and sync your device or app to download the book, or choose to send it directly to your Kindle via USB.
- You can also deliver e-books wirelessly to a Wi-Fi-enabled Kindle.
- To return a Kindle e-book early, log in to your Amazon account, go to the "Manage My Kindle" page, and choose action "Return this book."
Video Tutorial: Downloading E-books for the Kindle and Kindle App
Checking Out E-books for a Nook, Kobo or Other Non-Amazon E-reader
In order to read the Library's e-books on a Nook, Kobo, or other more "traditional" e-reader, you must download and install the third party software program Adobe Digital Editions on the computer you will be using with your e-reader.
Instructions:
- Download and install the free Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) software on your computer (you can also access it on the Help page).
- Create a free Adobe ID and authorize your computer. When the Setup Assistant appears, click "get an Adobe ID online" if you don't already have one.
- Go to the Library’s OverDrive catalog and search or browse for an e-book. (Tip: Use "Advanced Search" and search by e-book format.)
- Once you've found a book, click "Add to cart," then from your Cart, click "Proceed to Checkout."
- Enter your Library card number and PIN
- Click “Confirm check out” and click the “Download” button under each e-book.
- In the pop-up window that appears, select “Open with: Adobe Digital Editions.”
- After ADE launches, connect your e-reader to your computer. In the ADE screen, drag the e-book icon to your e-reader.
- Disconnect your e-reader safely. The e-book will return automatically after 21 days.
- To return an e-book early, click the drop-down menu on the book cover icon in Adobe Digital Editions and choose "Return Borrowed Item."
Video Tutorial: Downloading E-books for the Nook and Other Non-Amazon E-readers
Checking Out E-books for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Other Mobile Devices
You can use the Library’s e-books on popular mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone and iPad, Android, Blackberry, or Xoom Tablet. Computer syncing is not required; e-books can be delivered directly to your device through the free Overdrive Media Console app.
Instructions:
- Search your device's app store for the Overdrive Media Console app and install it on your phone.
- Authorize the app with your Adobe ID (tap "Register at Adobe.com" if you do not have one).
- Tap "Get Books," then "Add a Website" and search for the Kansas City Public Library in Missouri. Tap the star icon to add it to your favorites, then tap the ">" arrow to launch the catalog.
- Search or browse the OverDrive catalog for an e-book.
- Tap "Add to cart" and "Proceed to checkout."
- Tap "Confirm check out" and enter your Library card number and PIN.
- Tap "Download" to get the e-book.
- Your e-book launches in the OverDrive app. Swipe pages to read, and tap the center of any page for menus.
Video Tutorial: Downloading E-books for Mobile Devices
Note: To read the Library's older, PDF-formatted e-books on a mobile device, you must download a third-party e-book reader app such as Bluefire or Aldiko.
Troubleshooting
Due to the nature of technology and the publishing industry, the world of e-books and e-readers is always changing. Check this area regularly for troubleshooting tips and updates as they are discovered.
Nook
If you’re having a problem, chances are someone else has had it, too. Search the Nook support forum and the Adobe Digital Editions discussion forum.
Error: “User not activated”
When attempting to read a borrowed OverDrive e-book on the Nook, users have reported seeing the message “User not activated.”
Follow these instructions to reset Adobe Digital Editions and re-authorize your Nook.
- Note: If you still get the error message after reinstalling ADE and reauthorizing your computer and your Nook, you may need to reset your Nook to factory settings and start over. Do this under the Settings menu on your Nook. Be sure to back up any books you have previously saved to your device by copying them to your computer manually, as this function will wipe your Nook’s memory.
