Audio ebooks are here!
NetLibrary is new service
for library patrons

Boyd County Public Library card holders can now check out audio books anywhere, anytime by downloading them to a computer or personal listening device.

They’re called audio ebooks.

Here’s how it works: Anyone with a valid Boyd County Public Library card can reach the site by clicking on the NetLibrary logo at the bottom of our Web site's front page. Once a person is registered, they can download books from any computer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Initially, library card holders must come into the library (any branch) to set up their account. Library staff members are working with NetLibrary to make the registration process work from computers outside the library, but it will likely be several months before that happens, said Director Debbie Cosper.

To start, there will be 1,200 titles to choose from. After that, about 30 titles will be added each month. The titles include everything from new releases to best sellers to classics.

Some of the benefits of NetLibrary include:

• Unlimited copies are available, so there are no more holds to worry about.
• There are no overdue fines with audio ebooks – unless they are renewed, titles cease to play after 21 days.
• Downloading can be done without any special software, with either dial-up or high speed, to your computer or portable player.

“Downloadable books are convenient and patron-driven,” said Cosper. “This service broadens our audio collection without the upkeep of a physical collection.”

These digital audio ebooks can be played on any desktop or portable device supporting Windows Media Player version 9.0 and above. The titles can also be transferred to portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs and even some smartphone devices.

NetLibrary is a great service for patrons who are too busy to come into the library, Cosper said.