Your browser (Internet Explorer 7 or lower) is out of date. It has known security flaws and may not display all features of this and other websites. Learn how to update your browser.

X

About Us / Contact

eBook Help - Kindle

eReader Instructions
Download Printable Instructions

Create Kindle Account 

You should have created an Amazon account for your Kindle when you first registered you device. You will be using this account to transfer library eBooks to your Kindle. 

Select eBooks

1. Go the Hamden Public Library’s home page (www.hamdenlibrary.org). You will find the link to Overdrive Digital Library listed under Downloadable Media.

2. Search or browse for a title. Click “Add to Book Bag” to select your title. You may place a hold if the eBook is already checked out to another patron.

3. You will automatically be directed to your book bag when you select a title. From there, you may proceed to checkout, or continue browsing. You may take out up to 3 ebooks at a time.

4. Begin the checkout process by entering your library barcode number. You will then be asked to confirm your checkout. The default loan period is 14 days, buy you may select a 7,14, or 21 day loan period at this time. Be sure to choose the Kindle format – you will not be able to open EPUB files on your Kindle. 

5. Click “Get for Kindle.” You will be redirected to amazon.com. Sign into your Amazon Kindle account if you have not done so already.

Transfer

You may transfer your library eBook to your kindle one of two ways - wirelessly, or via USB. Some titles may only transferred by USB.

Wireless 

If you have a wireless connection, simply select your Kindle from the dropdown list and click “Get library book.” Your ebook will automatically download to your Kindle the next time it connects to a wi-fi network. If you don’t see your title downloading, and you are certain you are connected to wireless, you may need to re-synch, or even reboot, your Kindle. Please be aware that you will not be able to download your library book over an Amazon 3G wireless network. If you do not have access to an alternative wireless network, you will need to download your ebook to a computer, than transfer it to your Kindle via USB cable.

USB 
To transfer an ebook to your Kindle via USB cable, select “Transfer via computer” and click “Get library book.” You will be prompted to open or save the file; choose “Save” and select a location that is easy to find again, such as the desktop. Once the file has been saved, connect your Kindle device to your computer using a USB cable. Once connected to a computer through the USB, your Kindle device will appear in the same location as external USB drives usually appear. For Windows users, this is typically in the “Computer” or “My Computer” menu. For Mac users, the drive will appear on the desktop. Click on the Kindle icon, then click on the “documents” folder. Locate the downloaded ebook file, then drag and drop it into the documents folder.

Returning

Titles automatically expire at the end of the selected loan period, so there is no neeed to worry about late fees. However, you may choose to return a title before it expires. To do so, you need to login into your online Amazon account, click "Manage Your Kindle," then find the title of the book you want to return. Next to the eBook title, click "Actions," then, "Return this book." To remove the title completely from your list of eBooks after it has been returned, click "Actions," then, "Delete."

If you have not downloaded the eBook to your cKindle, you may return the eBook by logging into your account on the Hamden Overdrive Digital Library web site and clicking the "Account" icon. You will see your checked out items on your bookshelf, and titles that have not been downloaded will display a "Return Title" that you can click to return your eBook to the library.