Week 9: Apps

Phones aren’t just for making calls anymore! People expect their phones to act like multi-tools so they can share and receive information whenever, wherever. In 2014, it is expected that mobile internet usage on smartphones and tablet devices should overtake desktop internet usage.

Mobile devices rely on apps (short for applications) for games, maps, social media, eReading, etc. Apps are simple computer programs that are designed for mobile devices. There are apps for most of the social media tools we’ve talked about: Twitter, Facebook, HootSuite, TweetDeck, Goodreads and Pinterest. The average person has 41 apps on their device!

These devices use operating systems: Apple’s iOS, Android, Windows or Blackberry. The operating system determines things like what the display of a device looks like and how the touch screen operates.

Depending on your device and which operating system it uses, you have access to an app market that allows you to download new apps. Not all app markets are created equal! They each have a different number of apps available. A particular app may not be available in all markets. The four main app markets are:

New Brunswick Public Library Service uses apps, too: OverDrive Media Console and BiblioNB. Overdrive Media Console lets you search or browse the Electronic Library, checkout an audiobook or eBook, download it, and read or listen to it on your device. All in one place!  BiblioNB is the mobile version of the library catalogue, and also includes program information and library locations and hours.

THING #20 – Browse an app market and install OverDrive Media Console

The OverDrive Media Console app is available for free in all four major app markets.

You can find step-by-step instructions for installing apps by following these links:
Apple device
Android device
Blackberry device
Windows device

THING #21 – Download and return a library eBook

Use the OverDrive Media Console app to download an eBook from the Electronic Library. You can use the step-by-step instructions provided in the guide for your device. The guides are available on the NBPLS website.

If you aren’t sure whether the title you want is an audiobook or eBooks, look for the icon

Can’t find anything you want that is available for loan? Click on Browse to see all EPUB eBook titles. Then check off Available Now and Submit to see all the titles currently available to check out.

 

Return an eBook

Titles will remove themselves from your device once the lending period is over, but if you would like to check your eBook in early you can in the OverDrive Media Console app. Select the book you would like to return and press the cover for a couple of seconds to see options. Select “Return”.

 

THING #22 – Explore the BiblioNB app

Now that you’re app happy, try downloading another! NBPLS launched its very own app in August called BiblioNB. The app acts like a shortcut to the library website, but with style. Find the app in either the Apple or Google Play app markets, download it, and then try and do these 3 things:

1.       Browse new releases.

2.       Log in to your library account.

3.       Scan an ISBN (hint – go into search).

Pretty handy, right?

Cool extra thing - Try one of the other eBook apps and download a free classic

There are many other apps available for reading eBooks: Amazon’s Kindle app, Apple’s iBooks, Kobo, Sony’s Reader, and more…Each of these connects to a store where you can buy eBooks. There are also apps with access to free eBooks.

The Top 5 Best eReader apps for Android Tablets
Top 5 eBook Reader Apps for Android Phones/Tablets
5 Fantastic Free iPhone E-book Reader Apps
Best e-Reader Apps for the iPad
Top Ereader Apps for Windows Phone 7

Don’t forget to let us know what you thought of the Electronic Library experience on your blog. We’d love to know your favourite app for eBooks, too.