OverDrive is offering unlimited access to an eBook version of Michael Malone's, The Four Corners of the Sky, from now until June 1, 2013.  It's available in the following eBook formats: Adobe ePub, Adobe PDF, Overdrive READ, and Kindle.

OverDrive's Big Library Read program spotlights one title for a set time period for library patrons around the world to read simultaneously, creating a global "library book club."

The Four Corners of the Sky is master storyteller Michael Malone's new novel of love, secrets, and the mysterious bonds of families.  In small towns between the North Carolina Piedmont and the coast, dangerous clouds can boil out of all four corners of the sky. In such a storm, on Annie Peregrine's seventh birthday, her father gave her the airplane and minutes later drove out of her life. Thus begins an enchanting novel that sweeps you off on a journey of unforgettable characters, hilarious encounters, and haunting secrets. Is love a choice or a calling? Why do the ties of family bind so tightly? And is forgiveness a gift to others...or a gift we give ourselves?

This eBook edition contains a special introduction by Michael Malone specifically for the Big Library Read program.

We also have a print copy of The Four Corners of the Sky, but you might have to wait in line for it!

The most common question with OverDrive involves the "unresolved issues" message you see when trying to download titles. This usually means that your library card has expired. Library cards expire every four years to make sure we have your latest contact information. All you need to do is to visit any branch and present a valid picture ID to renew your library card and you should be all set to download.  

"""\""""""""""""""

Do you want to learn how to download library books onto an eReader?  Are you interested in buying an eReader but don't know which one is best for you? Find out about the different types of eBook collections available and learn how easy it is to borrow free library e-books on your device!  Bring your own eReader to this event or try out a variety of other popular devices and learn how to download a library e-book.  See a demonstration of how easy it is to read and enjoy these collections.  May programs will be held in the following locations:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library  May 12  10am

Berryessa Branch Library  May 16  11am

Willow Glen Branch Library  May 19  3pm

West Valley Branch Library  May 30  1pm 

Are you working on an in-depth historical research project? Take the War of 1812 for example; it is a topic that the HathiTrust can provide invaluable research material. The HathiTrust is a huge repository of free digitized content (books, periodicals, historic documents) from numerous research libraries including works digitized via the massive Google Books project. HathiTrust was founded in October 2008 by the thirteen universities of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation and the University of California. The partnership includes over 50 research libraries across the United States and Europe, and is based on a shared governance structure. As of September 2011, HathiTrust comprises over 9.6 million volumes, over 2.6 million (27%) of which are in the public domain. HathiTrust provides a number of discovery and access services, notably, full-text search across the entire repository. For those with inquiring minds, Hathi is the Hindi word for elephant, an animal famed for its long-term memory. (source: Wikipedia).

You may have noticed that some ebooks links from the catalog are broken. We're working on fixing them but for now, please search for the title directly from the collection pages:

NetLibrary: http://0-www.netlibrary.com.catalog.sjlibrary.org/ 

OverDrive: http://overdrive.sjlibrary.org/

Safari Tech:  http://0-proquest.safaribooksonline.com.catalog.sjlibrary.org/

The Library has a vast collection of tens of thousands of downloadable eBooks, eAudioBooks, and eMusic.  Each collection we buy has its own rules, though, and its own device compatibility.  We know it can be confusing!  But hey -- free eBooks?  It's worth figuring it out.

We've got a brand new "Need Help?" section on our Downloads page just for helping people figure this stuff out.  We have a guide for new users, frequently asked questions, a list of supported devices, and where to go for troubleshooting if you still get stuck.  Check it out and contact us if you have any questions!