BorrowBox
Contents
Requirements for using BorrowBox
How to borrow and download an e-book
Using BorrowBox e-books on Kindle devices
Accessing BorrowBox e-books on non-Kindle e-readers
How to read BorrowBox e-books offline on your computer
BorrowBox
BorrowBox lets you download e-books, e-audiobooks and e-press (newspapers and magazines) on your:
- tablet
- smartphone
- PC
- Mac
You'll need to download the BorrowBox app to read them on your smartphone or tablet.
Requirements for using BorrowBox
To register, you will need a West Berkshire Libraries Membership Card and an internet connection. After downloading your e-books and e-audiobooks, you can access them offline without needing an internet connection.
If this is your first time using BorrowBox, you will be asked to create an account. Returning users with an existing BorrowBox account will be directed straight to the main page.
How to begin with BorrowBox
The easiest way to enjoy free e-books, e-audiobooks, and ePress is through the BorrowBox app. Download the app from the App Store if you're using an iPhone or iPad (iOS version 6 or later), or from the Google Play Store if you're using an Android device.
Once installed, open the BorrowBox app and select 'West Berkshire Libraries' from the 'Please select your library' option. Log in using your library card number, which can be found on the back of your card, and your PIN number.
After logging in, you will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions. Once you agree, you can browse, borrow, download, and reserve e-books, e-audiobooks, and ePress within the app.
How to borrow and download an eBook
Open BorrowBox: If you're using a smartphone or tablet, download the BorrowBox app following the instructions provided above.
Sign in: Access "My Account" using your library card number (located on the back of your card) and your PIN (If you're unsure of your PIN, you can reset this....[links here]).
Browse the collections: Explore the 'e-books,' 'e-audiobooks,' or 'ePress' collections. You can browse through categories to find interesting titles or search for something specific.
Borrow a title: Select an e-book, e-audiobook, or ePress item and tap 'Borrow.'
Confirm your loan: Tap 'Confirm eBook loan' or 'Confirm e-audiobook loan' to proceed.
ePress options: For ePress, choose 'Borrow issue only' to borrow the current edition, or select 'Confirm loan and subscribe' to automatically receive new editions as they become available.
Access your borrowed titles: The e-book, e-audiobook, or e-magazine/newspaper will now be available for you to enjoy. You can access it later from 'My Loans.'
Customize your reading experience: Once you've opened an e-book, you can adjust the display settings, such as selecting a dyslexia-friendly font or modifying the font size and line spacing to suit your preferences.
Using BorrowBox eBooks on Kindle devices
Kindle Fire is currently the only Kindle model that supports access to the BorrowBox service.
To read BorrowBox e-books on a Kindle Fire, you need to download the BorrowBox Kindle Fire app, which is available on the Amazon Appstore and can be installed like any other app on the device. After installation, select your library (e.g., "West Berkshire Libraries") from the list, then register using your library card number and PIN (usually the last four digits of your card number).
Once installed, launch the BorrowBox app, log in with your library credentials, and you can borrow and read e-books or listen to audiobooks directly on your Kindle Fire.
Note that standard Kindle e-readers like the Kindle Paperwhite do not support BorrowBox; only the Kindle Fire tablet (an Android-based device) is compatible with BorrowBox. For other e-readers such as Kobo or Nook, BorrowBox e-books can be transferred using Adobe Digital Editions on a computer.
This process allows Kindle Fire users to enjoy BorrowBox's digital library seamlessly, while other Kindle devices remain unsupported for this service.
Accessing BorrowBox eBooks on non-Kindle eReaders
BorrowBox works with e-readers such as Kobo and Nook. To transfer your downloaded book to your e-reader, you'll need to use Adobe Digital Editions:
install Adobe Digital Editions on your computer
borrow a book on BorrowBox and download it
open the downloaded file in Adobe Digital Editions
connect your e-reader to your computer and transfer the e-book to your device
This allows you to read BorrowBox e-books on compatible e-readers by managing and transferring the files through Adobe Digital Editions.
How to read BorrowBox eBooks offline on your computer
You can read directly in your browser by following the instructions above, or you can download an e-book for offline reading.
To read offline, install Adobe Digital Editions on your computer. Visit the Adobe Digital Editions download page and follow the steps to complete the installation. When you open Adobe Digital Editions for the first time, go to Help > Authorize Computer. In the window that appears, select Adobe ID from the dropdown menu and enter your Adobe ID and password. If you don't have an Adobe ID, click the link to create one or visit the Adobe website to register.
After setting up Adobe Digital Editions, return to West Berkshire Libraries BorrowBox website, go to 'My loans,' select your book, and click 'Download for e-reader (Adobe ePub)'.
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