How to borrow an e-book using a Kindle
Unless you have a Kindle equipped with Wi-Fi such as a Kindle Fire, you will need a home computer with access to the Internet to check out a library e-book.
There are two ways to check out an e-book – via wireless and USB. Wireless is the easiest and used most of the time; USB method is used when there is Internet access but no wireless access available OR the title you wish to download says “Kindle Devices via USB only.”
Downloading via Wireless
1. On your home computer, go to the St. Joseph Public Library website, sjpl.lib.mo.us and click on “Missouri Libraries 2 Go”
2. Click on the “Sign in” tab in the upper right corner of the screen and begin typing in our library name in the window and St. Joseph Public Library will be offered as an option; then type in your 14-digit library card number with no spaces.
3. Access the dropdown menu from the “All Formats” window and select “Kindle.” Under “Browse categories” choose fiction or nonfiction or search by title. Many of the titles will be checked out and a hold must be placed on them. You may search for books that are currently available by checking the “only show copies of titles available” box and click “submit.”
4. Click on “Add to Cart”. Click on “Proceed to checkout” Choose the 7 or 14 day checkout period from dropdown menu. Click “Confirm Checkout”
5. Click “Get for Kindle” box. You will automatically be taken to the Amazon site and asked for your e-mail address and password to your Amazon account. Click “sign in using a secure server” box. (A default screen should come up naming your Kindle device.) Your book selection should now be showing. Click on “Get Library Book” box.
6. A screen will come up giving you a choice to save the book. Click “Save”.
7. Turn on your Kindle. If your Kindle is not already connected to a wireless network, click “Menu” and select “Turn Wireless on”. Once the Kindle is connected, in just a few moments the book should be delivered to your Kindle device. Check by clicking the “Menu” button and scroll down to “Sync.” Your book should be there and ready to read.
8. You may return an item early by visiting amazon.com on your computer, log into your Amazon account and click on “Manage Your Kindle.” Under “Actions” click on “Return this Book,” click “Yes” and wait for it to update and click on “Actions” again and click “Delete” from the library; then click, “Yes.”
Downloading via USB
You will need a USB cable to transfer using the USB method
1. Follow the instructions 1-6 for “Wireless Method” given above.
2. Connect your Kindle to your computer using the USB cable. (If your computer did not come with its own USB cable, a generic one may be purchased)
3. Make sure the “Deliver to” field is set to “Transfer via Computer,” then click the yellow “Get Library Book” button.
4. Select your Kindle device name if the correct one is not on the default screen, and click “Continue.”
5. You will be prompted to open or save the file. Choose “Save” and hit “OK.” The file will download to your computer into your default downloads location. This is probably in your “Downloads” folder.
6. The downloaded file must be found and transferred into the “documents” folder on your Kindle. The procedure to do that will vary depending on your system, but here are some basic steps using a computer running Windows 7:
7. Click on the “Start” menu, then “Computer”. Locate your Kindle device in “Devices with Removable Storage”. Double click to open it. Keep the window open but move it to the side.
8. Open your “Downloads” folder on your computer and locate the e-book file that you just downloaded – you will be looking for a file name that gives the title followed by “azw”
9. Click on the file name of the book, then drag and drop it into the “documents” folder of your Kindle.
10. Before disconnecting your Kindle from the computer, click the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon at the bottom of your computer screen to remove it safely.
11. The downloaded title should now appear on the home screen of your Kindle.
