Starting February 12th Library cardholders in Troy can download popular and classic audiobooks and more — for free. This new access is being offered in collaboration with the New Hampshire State Library.

The digital books site, http://nh.lib.overdrive.com allows their patrons to checkout and download audio books from home or from the library. It features a collection of popular fiction from Nora Roberts, James Patterson, and Terry Brooks. The collection also includes business, biography, foreign language learning, and general nonfiction titles. You’ll be able to download The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell, Word by Word, a live seminar recording by Anne Lamot, and Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Album.

Books for children and teens are included in the collection too. There are many titles for teens by authors such as J.K. Rowling, Cornelia Funke, C.S. Lewis, and Meg Cabot. Younger children can listen to Thomas and Friends: The Railway Stories written by Rev. W Awdry, Teddy Tales, and more.

Audio books can be downloaded to Windows-based PCs and laptops, Pocket PCs, and also transferred to WMA/MP3 or WMV players (unfortunately this exclude iPods). Some of the titles can also be burned to CD for listening in the car and on CD players. The titles are DRM protected using Microsoft Windows Media Rights Manager that restricts file sharing and rights to listen to the audio book once the lending period is over. Since titles automatically expire and are returned to library circulation, a user will never need to physically return titles to the library.
To check out items, patrons browse the collection, select a title, and then enter their library card number beginning with a four digit prefix found on the date due receipt you get at the library. Patrons will be required to download and install the free media software which is a simple and easy process.

If a title is not available immediately, users can place a hold and will receive an email notification when it is ready for checkout. The collection also includes 50 “Always Available” titles from Blackstone Audiobooks. This group of titles allows an unlimited number of patrons to check out a book at the same time. With no waiting lists or holds for these titles, there is always a book to check out.

This service is funded with Grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the New Hampshire State Librarian.