The Lee County Library System’s popular Download Depot is about to become available to iPod Users. When Downloadable audiobooks and videos first became available from the library and Overdrive, iPods couldn’t work with the copyright protected materials offered by the service. After iPod users from around the country asked their libraries, Overdrive and Apple for a solution, Overdrive and several publishers stepped in with a decision to make some titles compatible with iPods -- by dropping their copyright protections.

“We’ll be offering over 500 iPod-compatible titles to start, in addition to the nearly 6,000 (non-iPod-compatible) titles currently available,” said Deb Czarnik, Lee County Library System Manager for Technical Services.

“Not all publishers are easy about dropping copyright protections, and many new books are not yet available without copyright protection, so this initial offering of iPod-compatible downloads will include many classics, along with some current fiction and non-fiction titles” Czarnik explained.

It will take a short time for the iPod-compatible titles to be available. The Download Depot section of the Lee County Library System website is being updated with bold graphics and new instructions to help guide users to the correct file formats for their devices.

“Those with iPods or other devices that don’t support the copyright protected WMA files, should select the new MP3 format. This format is playable on a much broader selection of devices, including iPods, iPhones, any brand of MP3 player and even cell phones that can play MP3 files. If you have been using the Download Depot all along, then you may now select titles in WMA or MP3 format.” Czarnik advised.

There’s also a quick start step-by-step guide for new Download Depot users and a list of compatible devices on the Lee County Library System’s website. Select Download Depot.

Although the new MP3 format is compatible with iPods, Download Depot audio books cannot yet be downloaded with MAC operating systems. A Mac-compatible update to the Download Depot software will be available in a month or two. In the meantime, iPod users can download audio books through Windows-based PCs. Several Lee County Library System locations can help with free Windows-based Download stations that allow patrons to freely download their selected titles in either WMA or MP3 format.

For more information or to find the library Download Station nearest you, please call the library at 479-INFO (4636) or visit the Lee County Library System’s Download depot at www.www3.leegov.com/library and select Books, Movies & More: Digital Audio and Video.