Freading is an alternative ebook option offered by your local libraries in Alberta.
With Freading, there are no hold lists to contend with.
Tokens are provided to library customers which in turn can be exchanged for the right to borrow and download ebooks.

Freading can be accessed at the following web address:  http://yrl.freading.com
(you will need to login using your library card barcode number and password to select and download ebooks on Freading)


How is Freading different than OverDrive?

Tokens 

• Instead of having five downloads, Freading uses tokens as virtual currency for patrons to exchange for downloads.  
• There are three different token costs of a book, downloads cost 4, 2 or 1 token depending on the value assigned by the publisher.  In general, the token value is based on how new or popular a book is.
• Unused tokens roll over each week, a week being defined as a Monday to Sunday period of seven days, beginning at 12:01AM Monday, New York time, and going to midnight on Sunday. 
• There are a total of 1,157 tokens per week, split between all the libraries in the Yellowhead Region.  Patrons are allocated four tokens per week. Once the tokens are used up for the week, patrons will have to wait until the rollover period. 

Content

• YRL does not have staff purchasing or selecting material. Instead, patrons have access to all titles in the Freading catalogue. The publishers are limited, but the titles are for unlimited, simultaneous access -- that means no holds!

 
Loan Period

• The Adobe Digital Editions software will limit access to Freading ebooks for a 2 week initial period. Patrons can extend the loan period for one 2 week period by going back to the book display on the website and hitting the download button again. The token value will  decrease since the initial loan.  Many renewals are free.
• There are no 7- or 21-day loan period choices.

 
What can patrons use with Freading?

• Any computeror laptop running a Windows or Mac platform.
• The nook family of devices from Barnes & Noble.  
• The Apple iPad® and iPhone®.  The Freading eBook service has a free application in the Apple App Store which you can download.   You must use the general browser to access the library’s Freading site, then you download the eBook into the application.  Direct downloading from within the application is not possible.
• Most Android™ based tablets and phones. The Freading eBook Service has a free application in the Android app Market.
• TheKobo Ereader and Vox tablet.  The Freading App is in the Getjar App store.
• The Kindle Fire, but not other Kindle Devices. 
• All mobile device users will need an Adobe ID in order to activate their Freading app for use.

There are also apps available:
 
Apple App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/freading/id485015785?ls=1&mt=8
Google Play (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.libraryideas.freading&feature=search_result