Read Ohio Public Library eBooks on your Kindle (Mac Instructions)

The Ohio Public Library as well as many public library systems around the US have started putting eBooks for checkout on their websites.  Unfortunately for us, the Kindle does not support these types of files which generally come in a copy protected pdf, or in Mobipocket copy protected format.  Well thanks to the folks at Mobi2Kindle and specifically this post from Kindle Vixen it helped me figure out how to convert these files using the Ohio Public Library’s system.

Now the main reason they copy protect these books is to keep you from holding onto the book forever, or trading it with your friends.  The library usually allows you to keep the book for a couple of weeks, and then you have to check it out again and re-download the book.  The beauty of using Mobi2Kindle is that the DRM is preserved.  The book still expires in two weeks, so it is simply converting converting the format to the Kindle format, not breaking the DRM.

Kindle Vixen did a nice job in her post summing up the process, and the Mobi2Kindle guys Getting Started page tells you all about it, but since I have gone through the process with the Ohio Public Library, I wanted to explain it for my local readers.  This guide is Mac only but I’ll give Windows tools at the end.

1. Download the application Mobi2Kindle, open the disk image and install it on your Mac. Check out the Getting Started page on the Mobi2Kindle site if you have trouble.
2. Launch Mobi2Kindle When you run the program the first time, it will ask for your Kindle Serial number.  The serial number on your Kindle can be found on the back near the bottom.
3. You will get a valid MobiPocket ID number.  Keep track of this because you will need it later.
4. Now you can go out and download books from the Ohio Public Library’s eBook Project.  You have to have a library card from one of the participating libraries (the list can be found here).  In my case, the Mason Public Library is pretty close and as long as you are an Ohio resident, you are free to join.
5. Click on advanced search at the top of the page (below the search bar) and select Mobipocket under the format bar, then search.
6. Pick a book you like and add it to your cart.  When your done browsing, select “Checkout”
7. Select your Library, put in your library card number, and enter your pin.
8. Then you will be asked to put in your Mobipocket ID number.  Use the number provided by Mobi2Kindle.  Viola, your book is ready for download.  But we have to do a couple more things before we can read it.
9. Find the newly downloaded file with the extension .prc and drag it onto the Mobi2Kindle icon on your Dock.  A new file is created with the extension .azw.
10. Plug in your Kindle with the USB cable.
11. Open the Kindle icon that appears on your desktopand drop the file in the Documents folder on your Kindle

And there you go, you now have a full on eBook from the library on your Kindle.  The book will expire in two weeks (as the library intended) so you better get cracking.  The process may sound daunting, but after you register your Mobipocket ID with the library, downloading and converting are a breeze.

For all you Windows users our there, which are the majority of course, check out the Wiki over at MobileRead.  It is packet with tons of information and links to tools you can use to convert.