Rushford Public Library

eBook FAQs

Are there other places I can get free ebooks?

Library eBooks

Any patron with a valid Rushford Public Library card is able to borrow eBooks and downloadable audiobooks free from your library through OverDrive at selco.lib.overdrive.com. eBooks are checked out through the OverDrive website with your library card and may be borrowed for up to 21 days. Titles automatically expire at the end of the loan period. There are no late fees. You can check out up to five items at a time and place requests on titles that are currently checked out.

The OverDrive collection is made available by SELCO and is shared by participating libraries in the SELCO region. Through contributions of SELCO and member libraries, the collection continues to grow each day.

Need Help Getting Started?

The SELCO OverDrive site contains a wealth of information to help guide you through the process of downloading an ebook or audiobook. Once in the site, check out the Help section for assistance with your eReader and finding the file format that is right for you. You can also go to the OverDrive site for a list of compatible devices and the file formats that work with each, or watch a series of step-by-step device-specific video guides to help walk you through the process.

In addition, the following guides are available to help get you started, depending on what device you own:

Publisher Availability

Unfortunately, not all publishers release their titles in eBook form to libraries. MacMillan and Simon & Schuster are the two largest publishers who have refused to sell to libraries. As of November 23, 2011, Penguin stopped selling all their new titles to libraries, and Hatchette Book Group also stopped offering its frontlist titles in mid 2011. HarperCollins now imposes a limit on the number of times their titles may be checked out – 26. However, Random House is one of many other publishers who offer their titles to libraries for purchase without these types of restrictions.

View the full OverDrive publisher list.

Are there other places I can get free eBooks?

Many websites offer free eBooks, but most are titles that are in the public domain, which are older items that are no longer covered by copyright. Some of these sites only allow titles to be read via your browser, while others offer downloads. The links below are a sampling of sites where you can obtain free eBooks.

www.bartlelby.com

www.books.google.com/books

www.books.google.com/ebooks (Google eBookstore: find free eBooks via their homepage or toggle “Free Only” under “Price” after you do a search)

www.feedbooks.com

www.gutenberg.org (titles also available via OverDrive)

www.ibiblio.org

Amazon Kindle & Privacy

Libraries are concerned about your privacy. We do not keep records of what you have previously checked out and we do not give out your information. That said, we want you to know that when you check out a Kindle eBook you must use your Amazon account. At that point we no longer have control over protecting your records associated with this transaction. At the very least, Amazon may use this information to recommend other items for purchase to you, as is the case with any purchases you make through the site.