Many OverDrive digital media distribution sites require users to install free software before they can enjoy audiobooks, eBooks, music, video, or games.

OverDrive® Media Console™
A free, easy-to-use application, OverDrive Media Console allows you to download and enjoy OverDrive audiobooks, music, and video on most Windows computers. Use OverDrive Media Console to navigate, play, and bookmark OverDrive media titles, and to manage and customize your media library. OverDrive Media Console grants you the added functionality to transfer media to supported portable devices and to burn CDs of audiobooks and music (where permitted by the publisher). Required for OverDrive WMA Audiobooks, OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks, OverDrive Music, and OverDrive Video.

Adobe® Digital Editions
Adobe Digital Editions is a simple and attractive way to read and manage DRM-protected Adobe eBooks and other digital publications. The free Adobe Digital Editions download is under 3MB and installs in less than two minutes with a broadband connection. Adobe Digital Editions is updated automatically, so you always have the latest version, allowing access to new features and security enhancements as they become available. Like Adobe® Reader®, Adobe Digital Editions can display Portable Document Format (PDF) eBooks, providing the same beautiful typeface you would see with a paper book. In addition, Adobe Digital Editions supports EPUB, an exciting eBook format which allows the text to reflow. This means you can resize the text or the screen to suit you and the text will wrap itself around in the available space. Adobe Digital Editions is required for reading Adobe eBooks in the EPUB format.

Adobe® Reader®
Adobe Reader is a free reader used to read DRM-protected PDF files. Adobe Reader combines a vivid reading experience with an intuitive interface, enabling you to read high-fidelity eBooks on your desktop, laptop, or tablet computer as well as many supported PDAs. Because Adobe Reader takes full advantage of the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), you can expect to enjoy the same beautiful typeface, images, and page layout you would see with a paper book. Adobe Reader or Adobe Digital Editions is required for reading Adobe PDF eBooks. Please note that Adobe Reader is not the same software as Adobe® Acrobat®.

Apple® iTunes®
Apple iTunes works with OverDrive Media Console to enable the transfer of MP3 audio content to Apple devices.

Mobipocket Reader
The Mobipocket Reader is a universal eBook Reader for most Windows computers (desktop/laptop/tablet) as well as Smartphones and most PDAs (Palm/Pocket PC/etc.). Featuring bookmarking to facilitate quick returns to noteworthy sections, full text searching, and adjustable font size and color, the Mobipocket Reader offers an enriched reading experience. Mobipocket Reader is required for reading Mobipocket eBooks.

Microsoft® Reader®
Microsoft Reader software allows you to read secure eBooks on most Windows computers and Pocket PCs. Microsoft Reader is a free software application designed to deliver an on-screen reading experience that approaches the convenience and quality of paper. It offers a clean, uncluttered layout; ample margins; proper spacing, leading, and kerning; plus powerful tools for marking, highlighting, and annotating your eBooks. Microsoft Reader is required for reading Microsoft eBooks.

Windows Media Player®
Windows Media Player works with OverDrive Media Console to enable the transfer of DRM-protected content to portable devices, and to burn DRM-protected files to CD (where permitted by the publisher).