GETTING STARTED
To obtain a BookShare account, contact the Primary Contact at your school.
Before downloading books or software edit account profile. Make sure to also create a download password under your account preferences. The password will allow books to be downloaded by students on multiple computers, or at home. The download password can be given to students.
To add students that will use BookShare, inform the Primary Contact of the student’s name, disability type (learning, visual, physical), and learning plan (IEP, 504).
THIS TUTORIAL WILL INSTRUCT:
Downloading the necessary software:
· Read:OutLoud- for viewing, reading, and listening to books
· The Unarchiver- for unzipping compressed(.zip) files onto computer
Downloading and using books
Student use at home
DOWNLOADING NECESSARY SOFTWARE
NOTES:
*There are different software application requirements for macs and PCs. This tutorial is for macs ONLY.
*Downloading software must be done once on every computer that students will be using for BookShare books.
Download the Read:OutLoud Reader for Macs
This software is not necessary for viewing and reading the books but provides a much better experience with many learning options.
Log into BookShare.org account
- Click the “Getting Started” tab
Ø Choose “Reading Tools”
Ø Under “Software for Macintosh” (Make sure you choose the download for Macintosh!) select “Download Read:OutLoud”
- Doubleclick the ROL BookShare icon that appeared either in “downloads” or on the desktop
- (This is not the program! It is the installer.)
Ø Agree to download.
- Follow software installation prompts and “agree” to licensing terms
- Notice the destination, i.e. Macintosh HD->Applications->Bookshare. This is where you will be able to access BookShare.
Ø Create a folder under this destination for Downloaded Books. All downloaded books should be saved here so they can be accessed from any user account later on.
Download the Unarchiver- (for helping files download, not for viewing files)
Allows users to unzip the zipped book files in order to open the downloaded books. Not a run-able program, only for helping download .zip files.
Go to www.bookshare.org
- Click the “Help” tab
Ø “Download Books FAQ” view question #4 “What about Windows 98 PCs or Macs? Do I need additional software to unzip the books?”
Ø Click on the Unarchiver link and follow prompts to download the Unarchiver
- Open the Unarchiver desktop icon or unarchiver icon in “downloads” and set preferences
Ø Under “Archive Formats” choose ‘Select All’
Ø Under “Extraction” select a destination to extract the contents to.
Ø Choose “Ask for a destination”. Each time you download and unzip a book, you can now choose to sent it to the folder you created at Macintosh HD->Applications->BookShare->DownloadedBooks
DOWNLOADING BOOKS
Books can be downloaded from multiple computer user accounts and can be accessed from any user account if they are saved in the Macintosh HD->Applications->Bookshare->Downloaded Books.
Open Read:OutLoud and log into BookShare account. (Books may also be downloaded through web browser)
- Search for the desired book title
- Select the DAISY icon. Some books can be downloaded with images. Be patient! This can take a while, and even longer if images are being downloaded
- Select student(s) that will use the book
- “Download”
Ø It will package the download into a .zip file.
Ø When “Download Packaging Complete” click on the book title
Ø Enter download password
- File will be “parsing” and open in the Read:OutLoud
- Click “open” on the download box to find location of the file
Ø Open location and drag and drop folder into Downloaded Books folder
STUDENT USE AT HOME
Students who are BookShare members through the school can set up their own at home account. They need to follow the prompts on the BookShare website for downloading the appropriate Mac or PC software. All computers being used for BookShare books and READ:OutLoud need the software.
The same book can be downloaded on various computers. This means that students can access at home. They NEED and CAN HAVE the download password for this (NOT your account password).
Sharing via E-mail
- Create an e-mail as usual
- Add attachments- add the .zip file for the book you want to share
- Receiver opens attachment as usual
Ø Follow prompts
Ø Agree to open with the Unarchiver (macs) or Stuffit (PCs)
Ø Enter download password
- Drag and drop file to desired location (folder created for downloaded books)
- Open ROL and open file as usual
Sharing via Flash Drive
- Open the flash drive document folder
- Open BookShare folder
Ø Drag and drop whole folder of desired book to be transported OR
Ø Drag and drop .zip file of desired book
- Receiver opens on other computer as usual