April 22, 2020

The week of April 19–25, 2020, is National Library Week — a time when libraries across the country typically celebrate their myriad offerings and show appreciation for the patrons they serve.  However, that celebration is drastically different this year due to precautions related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Marathon County Public Library’s (MCPL) Board of Trustees voted to close all 9 MCPL locations to the public beginning March 17, 2020. A "Safer at Home" order from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers went into effect on March 25 stating, “Libraries shall close for all in-person services, but may continue to provide on-line services and programming.” The order was originally...

COVID-19 E-books Events Facility Improvement National Library Week Wisconsin's Digital Library

March 12, 2020

Wisconsin's Digital Library (WDL) is always working to improve your digital library experience, and this occasionally includes adding or changing features. Starting in March, when a digital library hold becomes available for you, you can borrow it immediately (within three days) or have it delivered later.  The "deliver later" option keeps you at the front of the wait list but passes that copy of the title to the next person in line. This feature gives you more control over your holds, so you can borrow and read titles when it's most convenient for you.  Also, to make the "deliver later" option possible, the "auto-checkout" option for holds has been removed.  If you need...

E-books Wisconsin's Digital Library Online Resources

February 24, 2020

Wisconsin’s Digital Library (WDL) offers a huge collection of free e-books and mp3 audiobooks, but the most popular of these items are subject to waiting lists, just like physical library items. However, thanks to a new “lucky day” feature, you have a chance to “skip the line” and check out some of these high-demand items without waiting! To browse this new collection in the Libby app, select “Explore” and choose “Skip the Line,” or if you use the OverDrive app or the WDL website, choose “Available Now” in the main menu and look for the “Lucky Day” section. Visit www.mcpl.us/ebooks for more information about Wisconsin’s Digital Library!  

E-books Reading Recommendations Audiobooks Wisconsin's Digital Library Technology

February 5, 2019

To those of our patrons who download e-books and audiobooks from Wisconsin's Digital Library (OverDrive / Libby): Please take a few minutes to complete the survey available at the following link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019patronsurvey. Your input will help the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) – the organization that maintains the digital library – as they continue to grow and develop this collection of e-books, audiobooks and other digital materials for Wisconsin library patrons. This survey is performed annually, will take an average of 10-15 minutes to complete, and is available through February 28, 2019. We thank you in advance for your time and feedback!

Wisconsin's Digital Library E-books Online Resources

January 25, 2019

Have you used the Overdrive or Libby apps in the last year? If you have, then you were one of the millions of people who checked out items in 2018, when these two apps had a record year for checkouts and downloads! Overdrive has reported that, nationwide, about 274 million e-books and audiobooks were checked out via Overdrive and Libby last year. 185 million of those checkouts were for e-books, while 88 million were audiobooks. 43,000 libraries across the U.S. are part of the Overdrive and Libby systems, thus proving their is a strong demand for digital content. Wisconsin's Digital Library (the system that the Marathon County Public Library and its patrons have access to) did spectacularly well,...

E-books Wisconsin's Digital Library

June 30, 2017

Borrowers of library e-books and audiobooks, please take note! In June of 2017, OverDrive announced a new mobile app for Wisconsin's Digital Library called Libby. This app is designed to simplify the OverDrive mobile user experience, especially for new users. Libby will be added to Wisconsin's Digital Library in August as the preferred app for new users. Currently, there is no definitive timeline for when the current OverDrive app will be discontinued. Libby is currently available for download in the app stores for iOS and Android (but not yet for Amazon's Kindle Fire devices.) If you have any questions about borrowing e-books and digital audiobooks from the library...

E-books Audiobooks Technology Wisconsin's Digital Library

June 12, 2017

Today marks the beginning of OverDrive's next Big Library Read, where patrons can get immediate access to Marie Benedict's debut novel The Other Einstein without having to wait! Now through June 26, MCPL patrons can log into their account on OverDrive (also known as Wisconsin's Digital Library) and borrow The Other Einstein on their smartphone, computer or tablet using the OverDrive app. The Big Library Read, held a handful of times each year, is a huge global e-book club where patrons can all read and discuss the same title together. The Other Einstein is the story of Albert Einstein's wife Mitza Maric, a brilliant physicist in her own right. Mitza has always been a...

Books Libraries E-books Wisconsin's Digital Library

October 25, 2016

For those of our patrons who use Wisconsin's Digital Library (aka Overdrive) to access e-books and audiobooks, please be aware that the WDL website will be getting a substantial upgrade in early November 2016. This upgrade will improve the appearance and funtionality of the site, and some familiar options may appear different. A preview of the new Wisconsin's Digital Library is available at the following link: https://wplc.overdrive.com/preview. If you have difficulties using the new site, please don't hesitate to contact us or visit your local MCPL for hands-on assistance.

Wisconsin's Digital Library E-books Audiobooks

September 30, 2015

Marathon County Public Library is excited that we will be taking part in OverDrive’s Big Library Read program featuring two young adult e-books. Library card holders will be able to borrow and read "The Door in the Hedge" by Robin McKinley and/or "In the Shadow of Blackbirds" by Cat Winters starting midday Wednesday, October 7 and concluding at midnight on Monday, October 21 (U.S. EST) by visiting http://mcpl.us/catalogs/overdrive.   "The Door in the Hedge" opens a door into an enchanted world in this collection of original and retold fairy tales. Four short stories, two original and two cherished classics, take you into a magical world of whimsy, wonder, princesses and talking frogs. "In the...

Teens Books Wisconsin's Digital Library

May 29, 2015

Marathon County Public Library, Wisconsin’s Digital Library and OverDrive all hope you’ll join us and other patrons in the Big Summer Read, an online shared reading program for all ages, through most of June. Each year, OverDrive selects a title with an author and publisher willing to allow an unlimited number ebooks and e-audiobooks available to download anytime from June 9 to June 23. This year adult patrons can read or listen to Kate White’s fast-paced suspense novel “Eyes on You” – Robin Trainer learns that being a media star comes with its costs; including potentially her own life. Can you guess her perpetrator before the big reveal? For the first time, OverDrive also is inviting children and teens...

Audiobooks Wisconsin's Digital Library Summer Library Program

March 13, 2015

Check out OverDrive’s Big Library Read, which offers community-wide access to a title during March 17-31, 2015. During this special event, all card holders can simply download “Shakespeare Saved My Life" by Laura Bates from OverDrive. Since OverDrive is offering simultaneous use for this title, the title is available right away, with no waiting on hold for the next copy. The title expires at the end of the lending period for each user, not the end of the program. Synopsis: “Shakespeare professor and prison volunteer Laura Bates thought she had seen it all. That is, until she decided to teach Shakespeare in a place the bard had never been before — supermax solitary confinement. In this unwelcoming place,...

Wisconsin's Digital Library Reading Recommendations Technology

February 3, 2015

Do you download e-books or digital audiobooks? If so, please consider taking a short survey from the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) about the digital collections. The WPLC was formed in 2001, and its main service is the Wisconsin Digital Library. This digital catalog is utilized by Marathon County Public Library and other Wisconsin public libraries to offer e-books and digital audio books to patrons. This short survey will help WPLC develop its digital collections so it is as relevant as possible to library patrons. Access the survey here. Curious about borrowing e-books or any other digital materials from the library? Visit our Wisconsin Digital Library page...

Wisconsin's Digital Library Technology E-books

October 6, 2014

Check out OverDrive’s Big Library Read, which offers community-wide access to a YA title during October 13-28, 2014. During this special event, all card holders can simply download “Anatomy of A Misfit" by Andrea Portes from OverDrive. Since OverDrive is offering simultaneous use for this title during October 13-28, the title is available right away, with no waiting on hold for the next copy. The title expires at the end of the lending period for each user, not the end of the program. Synopsis: “Anika is the third most popular girl in her high school–despite feeling she doesn’t fit in with the popular crowd in her small Nebraskan town. To maintain her social status, Anika does whatever Becky Vilhauser (...

E-books Audiobooks Wisconsin's Digital Library

September 12, 2014

Join OverDrive’s national celebration by checking out an eBook from the library, sharing your reading stories, or simply reading your favorite eBook. Read an eBook Day is a celebration of modern storytelling. Want to win a tablet? Share your eReading experience in the comments on OverDrive's Read an eBook Day page, or share on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #eBookDay to enter the contest. New to OverDrive and the world of eBooks? Overdrive has some great getting started guides and information for those new to OverDrive. Visit our Wausau location, call us (715-261-7230), or email ref@mcpl.us with your OverDrive questions. We're here to help you!  

Wisconsin's Digital Library E-books

August 1, 2014

Help select the next book for October's Big Library Read! In June, Overdrive's global e-book club read "A Pedigree to Die For" by Laurien Berenson. During the Big Library Read, Overdrive offers simultaneous use for a title during the program timeframe, with no waiting on hold for the next copy. The title expires at the end of the lending period for each user, not the end of the program. October's genre is Young Adult, and there are several selections that you can vote for through Friday, August 8. There is no limit on how many times you can vote. Submit your pick here, and get ready for the next Big Read!  

Wisconsin's Digital Library E-books

June 2, 2014

Looking for a new book to read on your Kindle or Nook for June? Check out Overdrive’s Big Library Read, which offers community-wide access to a new mystery during June 3-18, 2014. During this special event, all card holders can simply download  "A Pedigree to Die For, Melanie Travis Mystery Series, Book 1 " by Laurien Berenson from Overdrive. Since Overdrive is offering simultaneous use for this title during June 3-18, the title is available right away, with no waiting on hold for the next copy. The title expires at the end of the lending period for each user, not the end of the program. Publisher’s description of "A Pedigree to Die For": "The apparent heart attack that killed kennel owner Max...

E-books Wisconsin's Digital Library Technology

May 27, 2014

Dreading assigned summer reading?  Have to spend hours in the car with your annoying younger siblings?  Mowing thousands of lawns this summer?  I may have a solution as close as your headphones and smartphone.  As I was scrolling around the internet this week, I discovered that Sync, sponsored by AudioFile Magazine is giving away free young adult audio books paired with either a classic or required reading book.  Sync is powered by Overdrive, so you will need to make sure that you have Overdrive downloaded to your computer, tablet or device. (Get Overdrive from your preferred app store or here.)  The files are in MP3 format and each pair is available for one week only, but the...

Audiobooks Wisconsin's Digital Library Teens

May 21, 2014

Did you know that you can now stream videos from the Wisconsin Digital Library Catalog (Overdrive)? New this week, stream a video from our current collection of 220 titles, and look for more to be added in the future. How to stream videos: --From the Wisconsin Digital Library Catalog (Overdrive) home page, select “New Streaming Video” under the featured collections list at the top of the page. -If you are using a web browser, once you have located a title that is available for streaming, simply click "Play" to start watching the video. -If you are using the Overdrive app, tap the "Add to app' button to add streaming video to your in-app bookshelf. -Streaming video works on most devices as long as you...

Wisconsin's Digital Library Technology Movies

July 22, 2013

...are available for checkout at your local MCPL!  Tablets and laptops are available for in-house use for up to two hours. Tablets are only available at the Wausau library and include iPad and Android-based devices. The laptops are all Windows 7 PCs. E-readers are available for 14-day checkout and  include NOOKs and Kindles. E-books are available via our partnership with Wisconsin’s Digital Library (aka OverDrive). More than 53,000 fiction and nonfiction titles are available. We also can provide you with checkout and download instructions for any device.  When it comes to helping you experience new technologies, MCPL has you covered! www.mcpl.us/catalogs (from the MCPL...

Wisconsin's Digital Library E-books Newsletter

April 5, 2013

See classic literature in a new light by getting some Tolkien on your tablet, some digital Dickens or a little Kafka on your Kindle, with the Marathon County Public Library’s new Digital Classics Book Club. Each month, the group picks a new classic available free and without wait through the library’s Overdrive system here and here. Instead of a monthly gathering, members post their thoughts on MCPL’s Goodreads page (also free) as the pages turn. Need a hand getting started? Call or stop by the Wausau Headquarters' reference desk any time. The club begins in May with "Babbitt," Sinclair Lewis' scathing critique of the American Dream, told through the eyes of his disillusioned...

Book Clubs Wisconsin's Digital Library E-books

October 31, 2012

Finally, owners of NOOK Color, NOOK HD and NOOK Tablet are able to download e-books and audio books directly onto their e-readers using the free OverDrive Media Console app! This app bypasses the need to first download these files onto a computer and upload them to an e-reader using a USB cord, making these e-readers an ideal stand-alone solutions for accessing library books on the go. This app may be found by searching for "OverDrive Media Console" in the NOOK Store from these devices. Once it is installed, open the app and choose the "Get Books" option. Next, choose your library ("Marathon County Public Library" or "Wisconsin Public Library Consortium") and input your 14-digit...

E-books Technology Wisconsin's Digital Library

December 22, 2011

Did you receive a new E-Reader this holiday season? Don't forget about the thousands of free e-books available from the Library! Not sure how to get started? Visit www.mcpl.us/overdrive for step-by-step instructions, or make an appointment for a free help session with a Library staff member! Walk-ins are especially encouraged at our Wausau Headquarters, Reference Desk (2nd floor), Monday-Thursday, 1:00-4:00 PM, and Monday-Tuesday, 4:30-5:30 PM. For other times and locations, please contact us ahead of time. (See below for what to bring.) We can also provide limited assistance via phone or email. More information: www.mcpl.us/overdrive Coming to the library for e-reader assistance...

E-books Technology Wisconsin's Digital Library

December 15, 2010

Thinking of buying an E-reader for yourself or a loved one? Consider getting a device that is compatible with the thousands of free e-books available from the Library via OverDrive! Click here for a compatibility guide. For more information and to browse the collection, visit www.mcpl.us/catalogs/overdrive.

E-books Wisconsin's Digital Library

December 15, 2010

Thinking of buying an E-Reader for yourself or a loved one? Consider getting a device that is compatible with the 1,000  free e-books available at the Library via OverDrive! Click here for a compatibility guide. For more information and to browse the collection, visit www.mcpl.us/catalogs/overdrive.  

E-books Wisconsin's Digital Library

December 14, 2009

You can now use OverDrive, the free digital media download resource, to download ebooks in two formats—Adobe PDF and EPUB format. You can download these ebooks to your computer (Windows or Mac) or to your Sony ebook reader.   Currently they cannot be downloaded to an Amazon Kindle or a Palm/Pocket PC device. New features let you rate titles on a scale of 1-5 stars and share your favorites via FaceBook and Twitter.  In addition, you can also use OverDrive to download music, videos, and audiobooks to your computer and transfer them to your portable device—all for free.   OverDrive is funded by Wisconsin public libraries and public library systems who participate in...

Wisconsin's Digital Library

January 24, 2008

Have you discovered the digital audio books, videos, and music that you can download and listen to or watch for FREE with your library card?  Check out the large collection of digital audio books, and the newer collections of downloadable video and music.  Pump up your exercise program with a Yoga video, and brush up on your Spanish by listening to Instant Immersion Spanish while you exercise.  Then relax and listen to a Mozart concerto, all for free with your valid library card..  Titles can be downloaded to your computer, some can be burned to a CD, or transferred to your portable device.  To access, go to the Library's home page and choose OverDrive (...

Wisconsin's Digital Library