This help page is for Kobo eReaders (Glo, Mini, Aura), Nook eReaders (Simple Touch, Glowlight), and others. Note: Kindle eReaders (including Paperwhite, Oasis) are not compatible with borrowing public library eBooks.
Got a newer Kobo (Libra H2O, Forma, Aura ONE, Aura H2O Edition 2, Aura Edition 2, or Clara HD)? You can borrow eBooks from the library right on the Kobo eReader itself, view our help page.
1. Do you have access to a personal computer and are comfortable using computers? You will have to download software to your computer to allow you to borrow eBooks from the ORL.
2. Do you have a compatible eReader that will let you borrow eBooks from the library? You can check what eReaders are compatible at http://help.overdrive.com/customer/en/portal/articles/1481736-e-ink-readers.
3. Do you have an ORL card and PIN code? You will need both to borrow digital books. If you do not know your PIN code, you can reset PIN Code online if your email address is associated with your library account.
Go to https://www.overdrive.com to create an OverDrive account.
Click on Sign up. Go to Enter your details and enter your name, email address, and create a password. Click Sign Up. Verify the OverDrive Account from your email.
This account permits you to open the copyrighted borrowed eBooks on your computer and transfer them to your eReader.
For most eReaders, you will need to install Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) on to your computer.
This free program is available for download at http://www.adobe.com/ca/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html.
ADE manages the eBooks you have borrowed from the ORL and lets you transfer the book to the eReader.
Once installed, we recommend using your OverDrive Account to authorize ADE.
In ADE, click Help, then Authorize Computer.
Open the eBook vendor menu, and select OverDrive.
For Vendor Login ID: enter the email used for your OverDrive account. For the Vendor Password: enter password used for your OverDrive account. Click on Authorize
Your computer and eReader must be authorized using the same ID. Connect your eReader to the computer. In ADE, find your eReader under Devices, click on the gear icon, select Authorize Device
You can learn more about the software requirements for your eReader from OverDrive Help.
You can learn more about other ways to authorize ADE from OverDrive Help.
Visit the ORL eBooks collection at https://orl.overdrive.com.
Sign in (at the top right hand corner) to your account using your library card number and PIN (password). You are ready to borrow eBooks!
Browse by Subjects or Collections, or search for titles or authors by clicking the magnifying glass icon.
Books that are out on loan will have a Wait List banner at the top. Books that are ready to borrow will have an Available banner.
Click on the three-dot icon or the cover image of the book see book summaries, samples, or read-alikes.
Click on Place a Hold to be put on a waiting list for digital books out on loan.
The first time you place a hold, you will be asked for an email address to send the notification to for when the book is ready. You will have 3 days from the time the notification is sent to go to the Holds page of your account and borrow the book.
Click on Borrow to check-out the book. If desired, change the lending period (7, 14, or 21 days) before clicking on Borrow again in the pop-up window. In the SUCCESS! window, click Download and then Open the file your browser downloads, it will open in ADE.
The title will also be added to your Loans page under My account on the ORL eBooks website, and will be available to download from there.
Connect your eReader to the computer. Your eReader appears under Devices in ADE. Make sure that you are in Library View, you may need to click the Library button in ADE to view this screen.
Right-click on the book cover, select Copy to Computer/Device and select the eReader.
Safely eject your eReader before unplugging it from the computer.
Enjoy reading your eBook!
You may renew your digital book, if there are no holds on the title.
Three days before your book is due, a Request again link will become available under the cover image of the borrowed book on the Loans page of your account on the ORL eBooks website.
Click on the Request again link to open the form. Confirm your email address and click the Submit. You will get an email when the title becomes available for check-out at the end of its initial loan period, after which you can check out the title again from the Holds page in your account and re-download it.
If there are holds on the book, filling out the Request again form will add you to the wait list for the book.
While eBooks are returned automatically at the end of their loan period, you can also return them before they are due.
From Adobe Digital Editions, right click on the image of the eBook.
Select Return Borrowed Item and then click on Return to confirm.
Exception: Open EPUB and Open PDF formatted eBooks cannot be returned early through ADE.
Some patrons who are downloading eBooks to Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) to transfer to eReaders may experience some problems with that program. Give these troubleshooting steps a try.
Call us at 1-844-649-8127.
Email help@orl.bc.ca, in your email, please include:
Note: If your ORL card has expired or you have outstanding late fees of $20.00 or more, you'll be unable to borrow from this collection. You can pay fees online. To renew an expired card, call your library branch.