eBooks Explained

 

Click below to find:

Ventura County Library offers ebooks you can read on a computer or mobile device. Some ebooks can be saved to your device, others may only be viewed with an active Internet connection.

Compatible Device Information

Our most popular, downloadable ebook collection is OverDrive eBooks. OverDrive works with most computers offering titles in Kindle, epub and pdf file formats. Compatible devices include:

Other Free eBook Resources

There are many, free sources for downloadable ebooks. We have listed many on our eLibrary page. Here's a sampling:

OverDrive Help

 

The best place to start your OverDrive experience is at the "My Help! BETA" button just above the "Getting Started" menu.

Be sure you are in our OverDrive collection at: http://vencolibrary.lib.overdrive.com/

Additionally, OverDrive offers a Quick Start Guide, Check Out Assistance and FAQ pages. 
If, after checking the online help pages, you are unable to resolve an issue, email the following information to the Web Librarian:

  • Your Ventura County Library card
  • Your computer's operating system
  • Your internet browser and version
  • A short description of the issue, including any error messages
  • If relevant, your mobile device make and model
  • The item title(s) and format(s)

Finding it more difficult to download an ebook from the library than from a retailer? Here's why:

In order to lend ebooks and eaudiobooks through libraries, publishers have developed Digital Rights Management (DRM) to limit your use of the digital item. DRM controls the check-out time, transfers to machines and "returns" the item when your check-out period expires.

This extra software piece makes the process to checkout more complicated. That's the bad news.  The good news is that libraries would likely not be participating in the loaning of digital content if not for DRM.

More about VCL's eBooks

Ventura County Library currently offers many types of ebooks in our eLibrary (also, see our list of links to free books on the Internet).  Those ebooks include:

  • eLibrary eBooks
    • BookFLIX  – Classic video storybooks for beginning readers with read-aloud, educational games and activities. Viewable.
    • EBSCOhost eBooks – eBooks on business, technology and other subjects. Searchable and viewable.
    • Gale Virtual Reference Library – A database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources. These are reference books from which you can download and print articles.
    • Missions of California eBooks – Each of the 21 missions is covered in a separate ebook that can be downloaded to a desktop computer or PDA. These may be in use by another patron while being viewed and need to be "returned."
    • OverDrive eBooks - Downloadable eBooks. These EPUB and PDF ebooks work with most computers and on the Kindle, Sony Reader, the Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo eReader and the iPad (among others).
    • Social Studies Fact Cards – Quick facts for students in grades 4 through 8; includes material on explorers, Indians, missions, ranchos, U.S. presidents, states, countries, early civilizations and more. Articles are printable.
    • TumbleBook Library - An online library of animated, talking, picturebooks. Viewable.
  • Also available - career related ebooks from
    • LearningExpress Library – A career oriented, interactive instructional and test preparation database that offers over 300 practice tests and over 150 downloadable ebooks

      •