Using Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) with Older E-Readers

This guide is for Kobo e-readers (Glo, Mini, Aura) and Nook e-readers (Simple Touch, GlowLight).

Note: Kindle e-readers, including Paperwhite and Oasis, are not compatible with borrowing public library ebooks.

Using a newer Kobo? Models like the Elipsa, Sage, Libra 2, Clara 2E, and Nia let you borrow ebooks directly on the device. Please visit our Kobo setup guide.

Step 1: Create an OverDrive Account

Visit overdrive.com and click Sign Up.

• Enter your name, email address, and create a password
• Confirm your email to verify the account

This account lets you authorize Adobe Digital Editions to open and transfer library ebooks.

Step 2: Download Adobe Digital Editions (ADE)

Download and install Adobe Digital Editions on your computer. This free software allows you to transfer borrowed ebooks to your e-reader.

⚠️ Important: Please use the most current version of Adobe Digital Editions available from their official website. Older versions may pose security risks and can cause errors or compatibility issues.

Step 3: Authorize ADE with Your OverDrive Account

1. Open ADE
2. Click Help > Authorize Computer
3. From the vendor menu, select OverDrive
4. Enter your OverDrive email and password, then click Authorize

Next, connect your e-reader to your computer:

1. In ADE, find your e-reader under Devices
2. Click the gear icon and select Authorize Device

Both your computer and your e-reader must be authorized using the same OverDrive ID.

Step 4: Borrow Ebooks from the ORL’s Digital Collection

Open the ORL’s Digital Collection

1. Sign in using your ORL library card number and PIN
   • Reset your PIN online if needed
2. Browse or search by subject, collection, title, or author
3. Books marked Available can be borrowed; those with Wait List require a hold

• Click the cover or the three-dot icon for details, samples, and read-alikes
• Click Place a Hold if the title is unavailable
• Enter your email for notifications. You’ll have 3 days to borrow it once it becomes available on your Holds page
• Click Borrow to check out a book
• Select your loan period (7, 14, or 21 days) and confirm
• Click Download, then Open the file in ADE when prompted

Borrowed titles appear under your Loans tab and can be downloaded anytime during the loan period.

Step 5: Transfer Your Ebook to Your E-Reader

1. Connect your e-reader to your computer
2. Open ADE and ensure you’re in Library View
3. Right-click the ebook cover, choose Copy to Computer/Device, then select your e-reader
4. Safely eject your e-reader before disconnecting

Enjoy your ebook on your device!

Step 6: Renewing Ebooks

You may renew a title if no one else has a hold on it.

1. Three days before your due date, a Request Again link appears on your Loans page
2. Click Request Again, confirm your email, and click Submit
3. You’ll receive an email when the ebook is available again
4. Once notified, re-download it from your Holds page

If others have the book on hold, your renewal request places you in the hold queue.

Step 7: Returning Ebooks Early

Although borrowed titles return automatically at the end of the loan period, you can return them manually through ADE:

1. In ADE, right-click the ebook cover
2. Select Return Borrowed Item
3. Confirm by clicking Return

Note: Titles in Open EPUB or Open PDF formats cannot be returned early.

Need Further Help?

Library staff are unable to provide additional support for Adobe Digital Editions, and Adobe does not offer direct support for ADE. If you’re experiencing error messages, please visit Overdrive Help, our ADE Troubleshooting Guide, and consider reading your ebooks using the Libby app or directly in your browser.