OverDrive eBooks – Downloading ADE software and using eBooks

Downloading Adobe Digital Editions (ADE)

Adobe Digital Editions is needed to read PDF or E-PUB titles(s) downloaded from the Toronto Public Library Website. Notes steps will be slightly different depending on the computer system being used e.g. MS 7, Vista etc.

  1. Go to and click on Find Your Way – Downloads eBooks
  1. Under OverDrive eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMusic and eVideo click Access Online

  1. Under ‘Digital Software’, select Adobe Digital Editions
  1. Click on Get ADOBE DIGITAL EDITIONS

  1. At the Adobe Digital Editions site, scroll down to the Adobe Installer and click Install
  1. Click Install
  1. Click Yes
  1. Click Next – you may need to minimize your Adobe Digital Editions site in order to see the Adobe Digital Editions Setup window

  1. Click Install

  1. Click Close

  1. Adobe Digital Editions icon will be on your desktop. Double click to set up on your computer.
  1. Follow prompts provided by the Adobe Digital Editions Setup Assistant.
  1. Authorize Computer with an Adobe ID. If you don’t have an Adobe ID, they are free and quick to get at While you can use Adobe Digital Editions to read eBooks without authorizing your computer, you will not be able to transfer the downloaded books to an eReader or another computer. Authorizing is recommended.
  1. You have successfully installed Adobe Digital Editions.

Checkout an eBook

You can checkoutFiction and Non-FictioneBooks from Toronto Public Library’s OverDrive collection.

Note:You must download the Adobe Digitals Editions (see preceding steps). Itshould now appear as an icon on your desktop.

  1. Go to click on Find Your Way – Downloads eBooks
  1. Under OverDrive eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMusic and eVideo click Access Online
  1. Search for the eBook (Fiction or Non-Fiction) you wish to download or Browse the left column options.
  1. Once you’ve located the item you wish to download, click add to cart. The detail icons will illustrate the format, what computers this plays on and if t works on iPod.
  1. Click Continue Browsing for more items or Proceed to Checkout

Note that items added to your cart will remain there for 30 minutes before they are ‘returned’ to the library’s collection. It is important to complete your checkout within this timeframe.

  1. Type in your Library card number and PIN and click Sign In
  1. Select the lending period from the drop down window and then click Confirm check out
  1. Now the item appears on your Bookshelf with a Download button below the cover. Click Download
  1. Click Open
  1. Your EPUB item immediately downloads to Adobe Digital Editions where you can open and read the book.
  1. If your title does not appear in Adobe Digital Editions, select Library and click AddItem to Library. Your Documents files will appear and you can browse for the missing title (usually will be in eBooks or Books).
  1. To download to a portable player, plug the player into the computer and it will appear on the left column of the Adobe Digital Editions screen (e.g. PRS-300), click and drag the title over to the portable player.
Revised February 17, 2011 / Page 1 of 10