Maine InfoNet (and through them the Minerva consortium) received a $40,000 grant in late 2008 to offer libraries everywhere in the state the opportunity to provide their members access to downloadable audio books.  The grant will pay for the configuration and license fees for three years and for one year of maintenance fees.  Libraries that joined the project were asked to pay an annual fee to purchase content. Curtis Memorial Library now provides downloadable audio books through OverDrive!

This project provides online access to downloadable audio books through OverDrive.  Library members are able to checkout downloadable digital content via the Internet utilizing state-of-the-art digital copyright protection technologies for free, 24/7, from a statewide collection of audio books.   Audio books can be downloaded in full or in segments, burned to a CD (where permitted by publisher) and/or transferred to hundreds of supported audio devices such as MP3 Players, IPods (where permitted by publisher) or Zune players.

Check in the How do I…? section for information on how to download your first book!