E-Audiobooks

Downloadable audiobooks are digital versions of books made available through the Internet using your library card. You can listen to them through your Windows computer (sorry, no Macs) or transfer them to an mp3 player (sorry, no iPods) to listen to them anywhere.

Financial support for this initiative comes to you from Westchester County Executive, Andrew Spano, and the Westchester County Board of Legislators.


*First Time users must set up an account at NetLibrary.

How do I get started?

There are two steps. First, you have to prove to NetLibrary that you have a library card in the Westchester Library System (WLS). Once that is done, you can set up your NetLibrary account. We suggest you finish reading these instructions before you click on any links.

Use the following instructions to set up your NetLibrary account:

  1. Click here to go to the WLS setup page.
  2. Enter all 14 digits of your library barcode in the pop-up box without any spaces and click "OK." (You may need to set your browser to allow pop-ups)
  3. You will then get a pop-up stating "Valid barcode number ....!" Click "OK."
  4. You will be taken to a final WLS page with a logo stating "eAudiobooks, etc." Click anywhere on the logo and you will be taken to the NetLibrary Basic Search page to begin using the service.

Setting up your NetLibrary Account:

  1. Click on the "Create a Free Account" link in the top right corner
    of the page.
  2. On the next page, you set up your account. You get to choose your very own username and password. Choose ones you'll remember and then write them down anyway. You have to enter your password twice.
  3. Once everything is filled in click on "Create Account." If there are no problems, you will be taken back to the NetLibrary Basic Search page. You will be told if there is a problem. For example, your username might already be taken by someone else. If so, you'll have to choose another one.
  4. Remember your username and password because they (and not your library barcode) are how you will get access to the 1,200 downloadable audiobooks.
  5. You are done. In the future, you can use the "NetLibrary account log in" at the top of this page or you can bookmark the NetLibrary log in page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What's available?

Any patron with a library card from a Westchester public library can now download, via a website called NetLibrary, over 1,200 Recorded BooksTM titles. Once downloaded, you have the option of either listening to the content on a Windows computer or transferring it to a portable digital player that supports Windows Media files. Back to the top.

What do I need in order to listen to e-Audiobooks?

Audiobooks can be downloaded or played on any Windows based personal computer or portable listening device with Microsoft Windows Media Player v9 and above, Musicmatch Jukebox v8.2 and above, or Nullsoft Winamp v5 and above. NetLibrary audiobooks cannot be played on Apple computers or on iPods at this point in time. Back to the top.

Can I use a dial-up connection or do I need high-speed broadband?

NetLibrary offers two audio qualities: "radio" and higher fidelity "CD". Radio quality provides shorter download times and is ideal for patrons with dial-up connections. Unfortunately, radio quality books cannot be transferred to an mp3 player. CD offers higher fidelity playback for patrons with high-speed Internet access. If you wish to transfer the file to a portable listening device, you must download the CD quality file. Back to the top.

How do I search for an audiobook?

Basic Search on the NetLibrary home page (www.netlibrary.com)
lets you quickly perform a search by Keyword, Title, or Author. Basic search is prominently featured on the home page and is also available on the right side of every page with the exception of the advanced search page.

Right now you also get access to a wide selection of text only "eBooks" in addition to the audiobooks. The Basic Search will bring up both eBooks and audiobooks. For example, a search using "Jules Verne" will give you 16 books but only three are downloadable audiobooks. If you want just audiobooks, click on the "Audiobooks Center" link towards the bottom of the NetLibrary Basic Search page. Back to the top.

How many can I check out and for how long?

The checkout period for a downloadable audiobook is three weeks. You may check out a maximum of ten audiobook titles at one time. The license lets you copy the audiobook to two additional portable listening devices. Information about your checked out audiobooks will be kept in the "My Checked Out Items" section of the NetLibrary website, not under your local public library record. Back to the top.

Do I need to return audiobooks when the checkout period expires?

No. The license for downloaded audiobooks automatically expires after 21 days.
After that, you will not be able to play the audiobook, even though the file remains on your personal computer and portable listening device. However, you will need to manually delete the file from your personal computer and portable listening device in the same manner you delete other files. Back to the top.

Can I return an audiobook early?

No. Back to the top.

How do I renew an audiobook?

You must go to the NetLibrary website (use the link on the top of this page or www.netlibrary.com) and after logging in, click on "My Checked Out Items" located in the upper right hand corner. You do not need to download the file again. It can be renewed one time. Back to the top.

Can I renew an expired audiobook?

As long as you have not deleted the file from your personal computer (and portable listening devices), you can renew without downloading it again. If your computer is online you can click on the file to automatically open the
NetLibrary website. Follow the procedure above for renewing. Back to the top.

How do I transfer an Audiobook to a portable device?

You use your media player to transfer a downloaded audiobook to portable devices that support the secure Windows Media Audio format. NetLibrary automatically transfers a license to your portable device (up to two devices) that will allow you to access the audiobook for up to three weeks from the date of the original checkout. Please refer to your media player's help section for additional information.
Keep in mind that "media player" and "portable device" are two separate things.
Your portable device plays media but it is not a media player.
See What do I need in order to listen to audiobooks? above.
Back to the top.

Why can't I use a Mac or an iPod?

NetLibrary audiobooks cannot be played on Macs because the latest version of Window Media Player available for Macs (version 9) is based on Windows Media Rights Manager version 1.3. NetLibrary uses version 2.x licenses for eAudiobooks in order to maintain a high level of security. Because the latest version of Windows Media Player for Macs does not support 2.x licenses, NetLibrary audiobooks cannot be played on Macs at this point in time.

NetLibrary audiobooks cannot be played on iPods either. iPods use the .aac file format and the .aac file format does not support the Digital Rights Management protection required by NetLibrary audiobooks at this time. Digital Rights Management protection helps ensure that the content of NetLibrary's publishing partners is secure, especially when items are checked out from the library's collection and borrowed by a user rather than purchased. This Digital Rights Management technology allows checked out items to expire on the due date. Back to the top.

How do I find help?

This is just a brief overview. Detailed information on using NetLibrary is available by clicking on the "Help" tab in the top navigation bar in NetLibrary.
Context-sensitive help is also available by clicking on the tips links located on the search, details and download pages. Many questions can be answered by consulting the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) found under "Help."

Please contact a Reference Librarian at 914-698-1250 or emamref@westchesterlibraries.org.
Back to the top.