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Free Downloadable Audio Books From Merrimack Valley Library Consortium

It's 2am, you can't sleep and you're looking for a good audio book to get you through the night. Now you can check out and download audio books in the comfort of your own home at any time from MVLC's Digital Downloads site at http://mvlc.lib.overdrive.com. Listen to James Patterson's latest thriller, learn a foreign language, reminisce with an old time radio program, or "Get Real" with Dr. Phil. There is sure to be something to interest everyone in your family.

"We hope to bring busy commuters back to the library," says Burlington Public Library director Lori Hodgson. "Once they have a library card they will be able to check out, download and return these books without stepping foot in the building. We hope to offer more virtual library services of this type in the future."

"But it isn't just commuters who will benefit," says Erin Apostolos, Assistant Director for User Services at MVLC. "Books from students' summer reading lists will soon be available. Homebound patrons will be able to access the collection. Busy parents who no longer have time to read can take in a book while driving to soccer practice or cooking dinner. Grandparents may enjoy listening to the Jack Benny program or Dragnet. We have worked hard to develop a well-rounded opening day collection. We plan on adding 45-50 new books each month."

The MVLC libraries in the following cities and towns will be offering this service. You must have a valid card issued by one of these libraries to participate: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Essex, Georgetown, Groveland, Hamilton-Wenham, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Littleton, Lowell, Manchester, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, North Reading, Rockport, Salisbury, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Tyngsborough, West Newbury, Westford, Wilmington.

MVLC has contracted with Overdrive, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise digital right management and digital media solutions to provide this service. Audio books can be downloaded and listened to on your PC via the Overdrive Media Console. Most can be transferred to an MP3 player or burned to a CD. The books are currently not iPod compatible.