Special!
While we are practicing social distancing at home, please remember you can get eBooks and digital audiobooks with your library card. While the library is closed for COVID-19:
- Anyone with a library card can borrow eBooks and audiobooks
- Fines and fees on your account will not block access to eBooks and audiobooks
- If there is a problem with your account, please call the library. It is likely your account has expired and we can update you over the phone
- Don't know your library card number? Call the library!
Don't have an library card? Apply for an account here!
eBooks and Digital Audiobooks
The Brownwood Public Library is part of the Big Country Library System. This means we share our collection of eBooks and audiobooks with 20 other neighboring libraries. Since we pool our resources, we all benefit by having a larger collection of books to choose from!
We have three options for reading eBooks and audiobooks.
We recommend owners of Android and Apple devices should choose SimplyE for the widest selection of eBooks.
We recommend owners of Kindle devices or those reading off a computer to choose the Libby or Overdrive app.
We recommend those listening to digital audiobooks use the Libby or Overdrive app if they are listening to the book through the app. Access Overdrive on your computer if you are downloading audiobooks to a flash drive to listen to in your vehicle.
We have three options for reading eBooks and audiobooks.
We recommend owners of Android and Apple devices should choose SimplyE for the widest selection of eBooks.
We recommend owners of Kindle devices or those reading off a computer to choose the Libby or Overdrive app.
We recommend those listening to digital audiobooks use the Libby or Overdrive app if they are listening to the book through the app. Access Overdrive on your computer if you are downloading audiobooks to a flash drive to listen to in your vehicle.
We are very excited to introduce the new SimplyE app!
SimplyE was originally developed by New York Public Library as a way to combine all of their apps for eBooks into one easy-to-use app. Since then, the Texas State Library started E-Read Texas, designed to bring electronic books to Texans served by small community libraries in all parts of the state.
Brownwood Library is excited to be one of the first libraries to be a part of this innovative project. Patrons using SimplyE will find a wider variety of eBooks, combining the Big Country Library Consortium books (6,000 and growing) with the Texas State Library books (1,500 and growing).
Currently, SimplyE does not support Amazon devices or audiobooks. Please use Libby or Overdrive if you have one of these.
A Bigger Voice with Publishers
As awesome as it is to increase the number of eBooks available to check out, the E-Read Texas project also offers the promise of combining Texas libraries' considerable purchasing power to have a bigger voice with publishers and other book vendors. Currently, many publishers charge libraries 3 times the price that you see on Amazon… and often these books expire in a year or two! We hope this partnership will give Texas libraries a unified voice with publishers, without a for-profit hosting platform as an intermediary.
By using and supporting the SimplyE app, the Texas State Library will continue to grow this project. As this project continues to grow, the libraries in the state of Texas could potentially make a major difference in how and how much digital content we're able to offer all of our citizens.
Please support this great initiative! If you find any glitches or have any recommendations, let Brownwood Library know! We'll pass it on to help create the best eBook reader out there!
SimplyE was originally developed by New York Public Library as a way to combine all of their apps for eBooks into one easy-to-use app. Since then, the Texas State Library started E-Read Texas, designed to bring electronic books to Texans served by small community libraries in all parts of the state.
Brownwood Library is excited to be one of the first libraries to be a part of this innovative project. Patrons using SimplyE will find a wider variety of eBooks, combining the Big Country Library Consortium books (6,000 and growing) with the Texas State Library books (1,500 and growing).
Currently, SimplyE does not support Amazon devices or audiobooks. Please use Libby or Overdrive if you have one of these.
A Bigger Voice with Publishers
As awesome as it is to increase the number of eBooks available to check out, the E-Read Texas project also offers the promise of combining Texas libraries' considerable purchasing power to have a bigger voice with publishers and other book vendors. Currently, many publishers charge libraries 3 times the price that you see on Amazon… and often these books expire in a year or two! We hope this partnership will give Texas libraries a unified voice with publishers, without a for-profit hosting platform as an intermediary.
By using and supporting the SimplyE app, the Texas State Library will continue to grow this project. As this project continues to grow, the libraries in the state of Texas could potentially make a major difference in how and how much digital content we're able to offer all of our citizens.
Please support this great initiative! If you find any glitches or have any recommendations, let Brownwood Library know! We'll pass it on to help create the best eBook reader out there!
OverDrive eBooks & eAudiobooks
To browse, borrow and read eBooks and digital audiobooks from Overdrive, choose the Brownwood Library, enter your full library card number and your library account PIN. Your PIN is your phone number on file at the library, with no dashes or spaces. (Use your 7-digit phone number for 325 numbers and your 10-digit phone number for all others.)
To access the collection via your computer, visit the Big Country Library Consortium.
To access the collection via your computer, visit the Big Country Library Consortium.
There are now two apps to access OverDrive eBooks and Audiobooks from your device:
Visit the Getting Started with Overdrive and Getting Started with Libby pages for specific directions, to read or print, for your device.
Getting Started with Libby
Getting Started with the Overdrive App
Getting Started with Overdrive on a Computer
Getting Started with eReaders
Getting Started with Kindle eReaders
Getting Started with Overdrive Listen
Getting Started with Overdrive Read
Getting Started with the Overdrive App
Getting Started with Overdrive on a Computer
Getting Started with eReaders
Getting Started with Kindle eReaders
Getting Started with Overdrive Listen
Getting Started with Overdrive Read
