eBooks and eAudiobooks

Read or download eBooks and eAudiobooks from this website for FREE if you are a full Kent Library member

Don't know what they are? Check out our eBooks and eAudiobooks facts.

Our entire eBook and eAudiobook collection is accessible from our online library catalogue (you can restrict your search to 'eResources') as well as on our providers' interfaces. Click on the name of the suppliers or adjacent icons to access each service.

Overdrive

Provides popular fiction and non fiction eAudiobooks and eBooks for library users to borrow.

Using our eLending library, you can download eBooks and eAudiobooks onto your PC, Mac, smartphone, eReader or MP3 player. Please note that due to Amazon's restrictions, Overdrive eBooks cannot be used on Kindles in the UK.

You can use this facility from your home computer or other internet-enabled computer with your normal Kent Library card number and PIN. Due to technical and licensing issues, downloads are not permitted on library computers.

For more details view the Overdrive FAQs. We recommend you read through the Quick start guide and other help available from the 'Getting started' box on our eLending library site before attempting to download any content.

Overdrive News

New features for the mobile experience

User-defined lending allows you to choose your lending period for each title (7, 14, or 21 days).
Advanced search functionality gives you the opportunity to search by criteria such as title, author, keyword, publisher, format, etc.
Enhanced searching allows you to search within results to narrow down a list of titles, and limit the results to only show titles with copies available. This means no more scrolling through dozens of pages to find a title.
Page numbers in search results give a clear view of how many titles were generated by the search or browse.

eBook and eAudiobook samples give instant access to content

OverDrive is gradually enhancing eBook and eAudiobook records with free samples for immediate access on reading devices and platforms. You can experience stories immediately on your computer or mobile device and decide if they are right for you without having through the 'check out and download proccess'.

When available, the word “Sample” will appear below a jacket on e search result page. You can then click on it and enjoy 10% of the title before deciding to check it out or not.

dawsonera

This collection is being built as our main non fiction eBooks collection and is particularly suited to students, researchers and purposive users.

To use the collection you first need to visit a Kent Library and set-up your account on one of our public computers (call your library in advance to make a booking to avoid disappointment). You can then sign on the website to view or download eBooks using your login and password from any internet-enabled computer, including at home and in the library.

For more details view the dawnsonera FAQs and the terms and conditions of use.

Please note

Not all books are currently available as eBooks or eAudiobooks, or may not be available to us via the above providers.
A title may also only be available in a certain format (e.g. EPUB but not PDF; WMA but not MP3).
eBooks and eAudiobooks are offered as part of a 2-year pilot. We would welcome your feedback to assess the suitability and development of the service. Email us at libraries@kent.gov.uk with your comments.
For licensing reasons, only people who live, study or work in Kent can access our online resources and eBooks/ eAudiobooks remotely. You will need to confirm your online registration in a library and provide some proof of the above prior to doing so.
Need some help finding your way round any of the above? Technical difficulties?Contact Ask a Kent Librarian.

Customer comments

"I have recently found myself disabled and unable to get out of the house. With the ability to download books onto my iPad I have found the eBook lending service a great asset. Thank you for this service".

Val

"I just wanted to say that this is the best thing ever! I read a lot, but I'm not keen on borrowing library books (not entirely sure why, I just prefer to buy them). However I discovered this site a few months ago and have been reading books from it ever since. I've discovered a lot of books I would probably have never read before and had the opportunity to read those that I've been meaning to read for ages! Being a student, it is more convenient for me to read books online as I have my laptop with me wherever I go and I can read in between working. Thank you so much for this fantastic service! I sincerely hope that more books will be added to your ebook/audiobook library in the future!"

Lucy

"I had not used the library for 15 years but find I now go in there to read my e-reader with the books I have downloaded. Have always loved reading but never remembered to take the book with me. Now I always have one or two on loan and can return them as soon as I have finished, without getting in the car or paying to park. Its just brilliant."

Janice