Borrowing audio books from the library

Step 1: Get a Library Card

The Toronto Public Library website says that they’re not issuing new cards at the moment, but that anyone who lives in Toronto can get a digital access card (the instructions are at https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/register/).

 

Because my office is in Markham, I also have a Markham Public Library card, which offers something similar (https://markhampubliclibrary.ca/?post_type=bccms_faq&s=getting+a+library+card). The Markham Public Library also has a on-line chat function that you can use to get answers to questions: it’s very useful. Access it from https://markhampubliclibrary.ca/mpl-from-home/ - click the “Ask MPL Live Chat” button.

 

Step 2: Install a Player/App

You need an audio book player on the device you’ll be playing the audio books on (phone/tablet/computer). I like “Libby” for my phone, but use “OverDrive” on my laptop. Note that the same player is used for “ebooks”: for people who can read but have poor eye sight, you can make the print as larger as you need it on your device.

 

You can download either app for free from: https://www.overdrive.com/apps/. You can also use Libby online, without an app (see https://libbyapp.com/welcome).

 

Step 3: Search for and Check Out an Item

Once you have the app installed, you run it and log in with your library card number. That takes you to a site that you can use to search, explore (including looking for new items), and add items to your online “shelf” in the app you installed above. You can set preferences for format, and available items are grouped into “books” and “audio books” so it’s easy to find the right format. You can even put a hold on an item if it isn’t available.

 

Step 4: That’s It

Enjoy the book. The only disadvantage of this system is that when items are due, they just disappear from the app: to be honest, there have been times I've been happy to pay the fine that arises from keeping a book a few more days just to finish it.