Borrowing e-Books with Freading
- Watch the video instructions for using Freading from the Westport Public Library
- If you have been using Overdrive you may be able to use the same applications for Freading. If not, you need to do some initial set-up
You need an Adobe ID:
If you have borrowed e-books from other libraries, you probably already have one. Try to remember, or recover, your account e-mail and password.
If you don't have an Adobe account, go here and get one (It is free.)
Confused? check Westport's instructions for getting an Adobe ID)
Note: for the initial set-up you may need as many as three IDs (Adobe, Apple or Google, and library card number)
Desktop and Laptop Computers:
- If you are using a desktop or laptop computer, and you have not previously used Adobe Digital Editions, install the software and authorize it with your Adobe ID. (If you use a dedicated e-book reader such as Nook, Sony or Kobo, synch it to the same Adobe ID.) Skip this step if you have previously borrowed library e-books using this computer.
- Now open your browser and go to Freading to borrow e-books.
iPhones and iPads:
- Go to the App Store, use your Apple ID, and get the Freading app.
- Once it is installed, you need to activate it with your Adobe ID.
- Now open your browser and go to Freading to borrow e-books.
Android phones and tablets:
- Go to the Play Store, use your Google (g-mail) ID, and get the Freading app. (Note: you can use the Bluefire reader if you prefer.)
- Once it is installed, you need to activate it with your Adobe ID.
- Now open your browser and go to Freading to borrow e-books.
Kindle Fire (an Android variant):
- Do you already have the OverDrive Media Console app on your Kindle Fire? If yes, skip to step 3.
- If not, get the free overdrive app from Apps>Store and install it.
- Open the app and tap on the settings icon.
- Enter in your Adobe ID if you have one, then "authorize", or
tap on "Get a Free Adobe ID" to get one, then authorize.
- Thereafter, whenever you want to borrow an e-book, open your browser, go to Freading, and download books. They will be readable in your overdrive app. You can borrow books from both the county libraries (Overdrive) and us (Freading) and have them all appear in the same reader.
If you need more information please visit the directions posted by the Poudre River Public Library. But remember, pick up your books through the Takoma Park Freading web site, not from Poudre River.
Checking out e-books.
- Log in with your library card number. Don't worry about the token allotment. That is simply a cap to keep you from borrowing more than 2 or 3 books per week. (We pay per download.)
- Search or browse for a title that interests you.
- When you have found something you want, click on it to open the book's information page.
- Look for the download link and click it.
- You may, or may not, need to tell Freading which application you want to use.
- Once the book is downloaded you are ready to read or,
if you downloaded it onto a computer or laptop, you can then transfer the book to your e-reader (Nook, Kobo, Sony or the like).
- The book will automatically disappear when your two week checkout period has expired. You can return it early if you wish. Go to "my downloads" to renew a book.
A note on tokens:
You will be given 10 tokens per week. Your unused tokens will accumulate for four weeks, then zero out. Each download costs one, two or four tokens.
Why Freading?
Many people can check out the same book simultaneously. You will never have to wait for a book. Moreover, because we are not buying the digital copies but only renting those that are chosen for download, we can keep our costs under control.
Additional Information