Online Resources FAQs

  • General Questions

    The maximum loan times for digital content vary depending on the service.

    • Libby/OverDrive eBooks, audiobooks: 10 at a time (3 bestsellers)
    • Libby/OverDrive magazines: unlimited
    • hoopla (all formats): 4 per month
    • Freading eBooks: 3 per week

    Others do not have loan limits (LinkedIn Learning, PressReader); you access the content as needed or download and keep.

    Yes. Staff at the information desk can help you with this if you come into the library or call 780-410-8601. We can also book an hour-long one-on-one appointment to go through the processes in-depth.

    You will also find self-guided tutorials about downloading eBooks and other digital library content at Online Resources and Tech Help

    For most of our digital content, yes, you can log into a database, download an eBook, or stream a movie from wherever you have an internet connection. However, some of our resources are only available inside the library (ALLDATA, Ancestry, and FamilySearch).

    Libby is the app for the library’s largest collection of eBooks, downloadable audiobooks and digital magazines. With Libby (which is made by a company called OverDrive) you can download books, audiobooks and magazines directly to your mobile device. Freading and hoopla are two other library apps that offer digital material for mobile devices.

    The basic steps for this process are:

    1. Download the app (Libby, hoopla or Freading) from the App Store/Google Play Store.
    2. Authorize your app with your library card number and PIN. Freading and hoopla require you to create an account with an email address, but Libby does not.
    3. Check out a book from our collection within the app.
    4. Read your eBook from the shelf in the app.

    See our detailed instructions for using Libby or contact us for more assistance.

    No. eBooks and databases are not included in the ME Libraries materials-sharing agreement due to electronic-licensing restrictions. Use your membership with your local library to access its digital collections.

    For some services, eBooks and other digital content require no holds and are available to everyone at any time (e.g., hoopla). For others, the library gets access to just a certain number of copies (e.g., Libby/OverDrive). This also varies from book publisher to publisher.

    The library must legally abide by the terms of use and the distribution model set out by publishers, which in most cases means one digital copy loaned out to one person at a time.

    Not usually; digital content checked out with a library account will typically expire on its own. For Libby/OverDrive eBooks and audiobooks, you have the option of returning items early.

    Some content, like downloaded articles, will stay on your device or computer until you delete them.

    Some are real-time streaming services – like LinkedIn Learning – where you may see what you viewed in your account history, but the content is not "checked out" at any time to you, so therefore it doesn't get returned.

    There are two main ways to download library eBooks to a black-and-white screen e-ink reader (e.g., Kobo, NOOK).

    On a modern Kobo with WiFi, you can borrow and read books directly from our OverDrive catalogue. See the attached instructions for Kobo direct downloads.

    Otherwise, you can use a Windows or Mac computer to download books from our OverDrive (or Freading or Read Alberta) catalogues and then plug the eReader in to transfer them using free software called Adobe Digital Editions. See the attached instructions for using Kobos with Adobe Digital Editions.

    The process is different for smartphones and tablets like iPads and Kobo Arcs, so please refer to the "How do I download eBooks to my tablet" FAQ if you have such a device. 

    The maximum loan times for digital content vary depending on the service.

    • Libby/OverDrive eBooks, audiobooks, magazines: 21 days 
    • hoopla audiobooks, eBooks, comics: 21 days
    • hoopla movies/TV: 3 days
    • hoopla music albums: 7 days
    • Freading eBooks: 14 days

    Others do not have loan limits; you access the content as needed (LinkedIn Learning, PressReader) or download and keep.

    Some of the library's digital services require you to sign up for a separate account with that service, usually using your email address and a unique password. In addition to the 4-digit PIN associated with your library card, you set up your own passwords for these third-party services when you create an account with them.

    It's good practice to not use the same password for each. We recommend using a password manager to remember.

    You can access library eBooks and audiobooks through most smartphones and tablets by downloading the appropriate app for your device (Android, iOS, Windows). System requirements vary by app; please refer to the specific digital service you'd like to use to check if your device is compatible.

    You can also download library eBooks to a computer and then transfer them to an eReader. Some eReaders allow you to download directly. Eligible eReaders include Kobos and NOOKs. Please note: Kindle eReaders – except for the Kindle Fire – are NOT compatible with Canadian library eBooks.

  • Libby (OverDrive)

    In late 2024, OverDrive discontinued universal access to downloading MP3s. However, if you need this file type for accessibility reasons (i.e., print disability), library staff can request an MP3 for you.

    Fill out this MP3 request form and a staff member will be in touch.

    Remember that CELA and NNELS also offer accessible formats.

    If you search for a title, author or series in Libby that returns no results, Libby will automatically do a “deep search” to display relevant titles that are not currently in our collection but are available for us to purchase. You can apply a "Notify Me" smart tag to be notified if we add the title to our collection in the future.

    Note: Due to budgetary constraints, adding a "Notify Me" smart tag does not guarantee that we will be able to purchase the title.

    Read more about the "Notify Me" tag by visiting the Libby Help website.

    Yes, you can use iOS VoiceOver, Android TalkBack, and desktop screen readers (like NVDA and JAWS). Learn more about Libby's accessibility features by visiting the Libby Help website.

    You are able to return Libby titles early to refresh your checkout limit and allow others to check them out. If downloaded to the Libby app, hold your finger down on the title in your bookshelf. If downloaded to Adobe Digital Editions, right click on the title in your bookshelf.

    You can also change your default lending period in your Libby/OverDrive account settings.

  • hoopla

    Your hoopla checkout limit resets on the first of each month. Please be aware that library staff cannot reset this for you, and if you've reached your limit you'll have to wait until the first of the month.

    Yes, on a mobile device but not on a computer. After you have borrowed an item, you will see the option in the app to download underneath "Play" in the item details.

    Keep in mind this will temporarily affect the storage on your device.