The Albert Lea Public Library has expanded its services to include downloadable audiobooks and eBooks from OverDrive. The starter collection has more than 800 titles which are shared by all participating SELCO libraries. Some titles will be formatted for audiobooks and some for eBooks and a few will be available in both formats. The collection will be expanding as demand for the service grows.

The library is able to offer this service thanks to the Albert Lea Public Library Foundation’s Fountain Lake Bookstore who provided the funds. The Fountain Lake Bookstore is located at the Fountain Lake entrance of City Hall and is run by volunteers.

The collection is available for download 24/7 from the library’s website, www.alplonline.org.

If you have a valid library card you can browse and download titles anytime, anywhere by visiting www.alplonline. org and clicking on the OverDrive link.

Patrons may browse the collection’s website and download titles to PC, Mac, and many mobile devices. Patrons will need to install free software. For audiobooks, users will need OverDrive Media Console. To read eBooks, users will need Adobe Digital Editions. Titles can be enjoyed immediately or transferred to a variety of devices, including iPod, Barnes and Noble Nook, Sony Reader and many others. Some audio titles can also be burned to CD to listen on-the-go. Patrons can choose loan periods and the downloaded titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period so there will never be any late fees. Audiobooks can be downloaded at the library from the download station located at the fiction library circulation desk.

This new service, powered by OverDrive, is free for library patrons. All you need is an Internet connection and your library card.