eBooks & Downloads FAQs

  • General Questions

    From any page on our website, click "Explore" in the menu along the top. This will display another menu; please click "eBooks & Downloads" located under the "Format" heading.

    Once you are on the eBooks & Downloads page, you'll see links for:

    Alternatively, you can access Flipster directly here., opens a new window

    From any page on our website, click "Explore" in the menu along the top. This will display another menu; please click "eBooks & Downloads" located under the "Format" heading.

    Once you are on the eBooks & Downloads page, you'll see links for:

    Alternatively, you can access Freegal music directly at http://omahapubliclibrary.freegalmusic.com/, opens a new window.

    From any page on our website, click "Explore" in the menu along the top. This will display another menu; please click "eBooks & Downloads" located under the "Format" heading.

    Once you are on the eBooks & Downloads page, you'll see links for:

    You can also bookmark the direct link: https://omaha.overdrive.com, opens a new window.

    eBooks and eAudiobooks can also be found in our catalog, opens a new window.

    To offer you the widest selection of eBooks and downloadable/streaming magazines, audiobooks, movies and music, we partner with a number of suppliers. While we've integrated these offerings into our website where possible, in some cases integration is not possible and separate accounts are required.

    We offer three services that cover a range of formats:

    eBooks and eAudiobooks

    • OverDrive


    Magazines

    • Flipster Magazines


    Music

    • Freegal

  • eBooks & eAudiobooks

    Our eBook vendor has imposed a technical limit on the number of checkouts and returns that can be done by an individual patron in a certain period of time. The vendor does not make public the details of the limit or the period of time before a limited account is released.

    The intention of this limit is to prevent the possible abuse of the system that could occur with someone checking out a title, transferring it to a device, returning it to the library without deleting the file from the device, checking out another title and repeating, thus allowing more than five titles to be on their device at the same time.

    Unfortunately, this limit can also have the unintended effect of penalizing someone who is simply a speedy reader and wants to return titles early so that others can enjoy them.

    We recommend waiting 72 hours after checking out before returning an eBook to avoid getting this error. For very speedy readers, simply avoid the download and use the READ IN BROWSER option

    A replacement library card will not affect current eBook or eAudiobook checkouts. However, if you have an eBook or eAudiobook wishlist or holds, you will need help to move them to your new library card. Please contact eBooks and eAudiobooks Support with your new library card number.

    OverDrive Listen and MP3 are different file formats used for eAudiobooks.

    • OverDrive Listen eAudiobooks are designed to be listened to in a web browser such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, or FireFox.
    • MP3 eAudiobooks work in the OverDrive app.

    More information on eAudiobook file formats is available on the OverDrive help site, opens a new window.

    Kindle, EPUB, OverDrive Read, and PDF are different file formats used for eBooks.

    • Kindle eBooks will only work with Kindles devices or the Kindle app.
    • EPUB eBooks work in the OverDrive app and Adobe Digital Editions.
    • OverDrive Read eBooks are designed to be read in a web browser such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, or FireFox.
    • PDF eBooks can be only be read in Adobe Digital Editions.

    More information on eBook file formats is available on the OverDrive help site, opens a new window.

    Renewing digital titles works a little differently than renewing physical books from the library. When you renew a digital title, it doesn't extend your lending period. Instead, it lets you borrow the title again immediately after your current checkout expires (if there are no existing holds) or it places you on the wait list to borrow the title again as soon as possible (if there are existing holds).

    You'll see the option to renew a title three days before it's set to expire. A Request again button will appear under the title on your Loans page.

    For detailed instructions on how to renew an eBook or an eAudiobook, please visit the OverDrive help site., opens a new window

    Here are the steps:

    If you haven't yet downloaded your item: You can get the eBook site on our website by clicking on Explore > Format > eBooks on the top left of any page on our website, or you can bookmark their direct link: https://omaha.overdrive.com

    If you’ve downloaded the title, you can return from your Loans page of your Overdrive Account. 

    1. Visit Loans page.
    2. Select Return beneath the title.

    If you use the Libby app on your phone or tablet: 

    1. Click on the icon of two stacked books with a bookmark.
    2. Tap loans at the top of the screen.
    3. Tap Manage Loan.
    4. Tap Return Early, then Return.

     If you haven't downloaded the item yet, you will see a “Return” option next to it.

    Returning Kindle Books

    You can return Kindle Books like any other book in Libby.

    If you'd prefer, you can return Kindle Books from Amazon instead:

    1. Go to your "Manage Your Content and Devices" page on Amazon.
    2. Find the title in the "Your Content" list, then tap the icon with the three dots.
    3. Tap Return this book in the pop-up window.
    4. Select Yes to confirm and return the book.

    The returned Kindle Book may still appear on your Kindle device or reading app, but you won't be able to open it. Follow these steps to fully remove the title from your device.

    If you need more detailed help tailored for your device, please visit the OverDrive (OPL's eBook vendor) help site.

    You can request 5 titles to us to purchase a month.

    There is no limit to how many "Notify Me" smart tags you can set up in Libby, opens a new window.

    To suggest items not found in our library catalog:

    1. Click Log in from the top right of any page.
    2. Select My Library Dashboard from the drop-down menu and log in when prompted.
    3. Choose Submit a Suggestion from the dashboard menu on the left.
    4. Enter the title, author and publication year, and click Next. You will be able to choose a format on the second screen.
    5. When you have finished entering the information, click Next and then Submit your suggestion.

    Another way to express interest in titles to your library is through Libby, opens a new window. You can find titles your library doesn't offer and use a "Notify Me" smart tag to alert the library of your interest and send you a notification if the purchase is completed. 

    • You'll find titles that aren't offered by your library when:
      • You run a search and no titles in your library's collection match your search query.
      • You run a search with fewer than 100 results, and you manually turn on the "deep search" filter in the search results screen.
    • You can set up a "Notify Me" smart tag for titles not offered by your library. When you tag a title with your "Notify Me" smart tag, your interest in the title is anonymously shared with all of your saved libraries.
    • If a title you've tagged with your "Notify Me" smart tag is purchased, you'll get a notification and have the option to borrow it or place it on hold right away.

    Learn how to find titles not offered by your library and set up a "Notify Me" smart tag, opens a new window.

    You can have up to 12 holds on eBooks or eAudiobooks at a time.

    Everything is returned automatically. There are never any late fees.

    You may check out up to ten eBooks and eAudiobooks at a time.

    The default loan period for both eBooks and eAudiobooks is two weeks. You can change your default loan period by changing the settings in your OverDrive account.

    Some publishers do not offer eBooks to libraries or do not offer eBook versions of new titles to libraries.

  • Downloadable Music

    You are able to stream 3 hours of music each day. Your limit will reset to zero every day at 12:00 am Central Time.

    To sign up for notifications, please visit OPL's Freegal Music website, opens a new window. Under My Account select Notifications to add your email address. On the mobile application, you can edit your notification settings through your device Settings.

    Music tracks are downloaded as DRM-free MP3 files, and play in iTunes or any other media player. Download a music track by clicking on the icon, click the “Download Now” link, select Save at the prompt, and designate where you want to save the song on your computer.

    Any time you click on the “Download now” link, even if you cancel the download, the download counts toward your weekly allotment limit.

    Freegal Music has a free app to download to your Apple, opens a new window and Android, opens a new window devices.

    Video is premium content, and a video download will count as 2 of your weekly music selections. If you do not have 2 downloads left, you will not be able to download a video. Videos are in MP4 format, and are yours to keep. Files are large and it’s recommended that you be connected to a wifi network or cable while downloading.

    You are able to download four songs per week. Your download counter will reset to zero each Monday at 12:00 am Central Time.

    The music you access via the Freegal Music site is for non-commercial purposes only. It comes with a license for personal use only. This means that you cannot duplicate it for others, or play it in public, other than for the intended enjoyment of a normal circle of family or friends.

    After downloading a song it does not expire. There are no Digital Rights Management restrictions on the music files but other copyright laws apply for all music downloaded.

    To download music or music videos through Freegal Music, you need the following:

  • Digital Magazines

    Flipster is a digital magazine platform. OPL is making this switch in order to offer several popular titles digitally for the first time, including Entertainment Weekly, People, Real Simple, Sports Illustrated, Time and more. Many of the titles that were available through RBdigital are also available through Flipster, and include current and back issues. This collection is accessible via desktop or an app on your Apple or Android device. You may download magazines to read offline, anytime, anywhere. 

    You’ll need your library card barcode and a computer or other device with internet access. Once you’ve logged into Flipster and found a magazine to read, click on the cover to read the title in your browser. Please note, you do not need to create a separate username and password to download Flipster titles.

    Many of the titles will stay in your account until you choose to delete them. Some select titles will expire, but can be downloaded again if you wish. These titles display an expired icon and appear grayed out when no longer available to read. Select weekly titles may expire in two days while select monthly or seasonal titles may expire in seven days. The titles that expire will show how many days they have on the "My Shelf" section of the app. Loan periods are set by the magazine publishers.

    No. You don’t have to worry about overdue fines or any other fees to use Flipster.

    Yes. To access back issues on your desktop or laptop computer, open the most recent issue of a magazine and select the “All Issues” menu item in the right column. To access back issues on your mobile device, click on a magazine and scroll down to “Download More Issues.”

    No. Using your mobile browser, access Flipster and read magazines from your mobile device with an internet connection or 3G/4G connection.

    Yes, both the desktop and mobile versions of Flipster support keyword searching within a magazine. Search across all issues using the “Contents Gallery” feature when using Flipster on your desktop or laptop computer. There is no search feature on the mobile app.

    The Contents Gallery allows you to view the table of contents for all available issues of a magazine when using Flipster on your desktop or laptop computer. To use the Gallery, select “All Issues” from the viewer menu, and then click “Contents Gallery” from the resulting menu pane.

    Yes, printing is available when reading a magazine on a computer, but not from a mobile device or the iPad app. The print button is located toward the bottom of the right hand menu when viewing a magazine on a computer. The available print options (single page, range, etc.) are determined by the publisher.