Note: Even if you plan to do your reading on a mobile device, if more than one person is going to use a PC to check out e-books you must have separate user accounts in Windows.
Getting Started
1. To download the PC App, go to http://ebook.3m.com and download the PC App in the "At Home" section.
To download the Mobile App, Search your app store for the 3M Cloud Library, and install the free app. Android users: this will be listed as "Cloud Library" in your list of apps. 2. Open the app to set it up for your initial use (should only have to do this once). Answer each field!
a. Select State/County - pick AL from the menu.
b. Select Library - for Alabama, there is only one Cloud Library, but you must select it to continue.
c. User Name - tap here to enter your 14-digit Library Card Number. NO PIN OR PASSWORD REQUIRED!
e. On the Mobile Apps you must tap on End User License Agreement then tap Agree.
d. Tap the Login button to finalize your setup!
Overview of App Features
The 3M Cloud Library has 4 main pages, accessible through these buttons. Each section is described below.
Shelves - These are the display cases of the library.
To browse all of the books on a Shelf, click "list view”.
This brings you a page that is easy to scroll through of the books. Each book's checkout status is shown on the page. Note that you can change how the list is sorted. It defaults to sorting by title.
Categories - Categories allow you to browse the all of our ebooks by subject.
Search - The search is a simple one for now. Try a one-word search for best results. Note that you can sort the list of results.
Advanced search allows you to opt to only see books that are currently available for checkout. Sorting options are available.
My Books - This is your account screen. The My Books screen has an area that shows what books you are reading and the books that you have on hold.
Currently Reading - appears as a bookcase. It will show the books you have currently checked out. Clicking list view will show you more options for your checked out items.
List View - allows you to see the details on each book without opening each book to check.
Each book will be shown with options to continue Reading, including how many days you have left of the checkout period. If you are using either the Apple iOS App or the Android App there will be a Check In button for early return. (You can also check in at ebook.3m.com - go to the bottom of the screen and login in the "At The Library" section.) Use the back button to return to My Books.
The rest of your account information is shown below the Currently Reading area.
Holds - estimates how long of a wait you have on your books. For more about holds, see the section on Holds below.
Wish List - is an area to save books that the library does not have yet. If you stumble across a book that is suggested, but we do not have, you may add it to the wish list. If the library purchases that book you will be notified by the system.
Reading History preserves what you have read, and any ratings you have applied to those books.
Message Center will be a place that you can read notices and updates from the library, and notifications of items available on your holds or wish list (if you have not yet seen them).
Account Profile only shows that you are signed up with the Mobile Public Cloud Library, but it is also where you can "Change Library Identification" (iPad/iPhone) or "Log Out Account" (Android). Either of these will return you to the login page, where another person could sign in with their account. This will only be necessary if you share your mobile device with another person.
Check Out a Book!
When you have found a book you are interested in, click on the book's cover. This will pull up the Book Detail page. Note that you can view a full summary as well as similar books to the one you are interested in. Usually these are other books by the author. Click the green "checkout" button to check out this book. If the book is currently checked out, there will be a button to place a hold instead.
Immediately after clicking Checkout, the My Books page comes up. The book has been checked out to you for 14 days.
The new book will appear on in the Currently Reading list, and a blue bar will move across the bottom of the book cover. When this is complete, the book will open so you can begin reading immediately. Typically a book takes less than a minute to download.
Lending Periods and Limits
Checkout period is 14 days. They will automatically expire and there are NO LATE FEES.
Checkout limit is three. You can have 3 books checked out at once!
Holds limit is two. You can have up to 2 books on hold at a time
Holds grace period is 3 days. You have 72 hours to check out a book once it becomes available to you. After that time, it will pass to the next patron.
Reading a Book
Turning Pages: Tap on the right edge of the page, or swipe towards the left from the right edge to proceed through the book. To back up, do the same action from the left edge.
Access book Options by tapping the center of your page. This will bring up a menu across the top.
Close will return you to the My Books screen.
The i brings up the book details again, it also now contains button to return the book early if you are using either the Apple iOS App or the Android App.
The double A button shows options to change text size (make it larger or smaller) and turn on "night mode." This will turn the background black and the text white.
The magnifying glass allows you to search inside the book for a keyword.
The faint square box on the far right of the options menu is the bookmarks feature. Bookmarks may be set with additional notes you create.
Holds
When a hold is placed, the progress of a hold is shown on the My Books screen. It estimates the wait period for a book based on the number of people ahead of you in the list and the maximum checkout period of 14 days.
Notifications: the 3M Cloud Library will not email you when your hold is available as we do for MPL books. You must keep track of your holds. If you open your 3M Cloud Library app at least every other day you will be able to catch any book that comes available to you. A notification message will pop up when you open the Cloud Library app.
Returning a Book Early
Please return your book when you are finished so it can be used by another and you can check out more!
Due to publisher restrictions, you can no longer return books early on the PC app. But you can view your account and return ebooks on your PC at ebook.3m.com - go to the bottom of the screen and login using "At The Library". Login with your library card number, go to My Books and List View to select the book you want to return.
And you can still look at your account and return items on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. In My Books, there is a red check in button at the top of the screen - tap it and an X will appear on the cover of each book. Just tap the X to check in. Or you can do it in List View as always.
Multiple Books, Multiple Devices and Multiple Users
Reading Multiple Books at Once--The Cloud Library is supposed to save your place when you close a book. Some users are having trouble with going back & forth between books, as they read multiple titles at once. Please set a bookmark to be certain!
Reading on Multiple Devices--The Cloud Library is supposed to save your place in your book, so you can pick up where you left off on another device. Please realize that it will not be perfect. Devices do not have the same page size (more text fits on the screen of an iPad than an iPhone).
Set up your account on the other device as above. Open your account, and select your book. The book will need to download onto this new device.
When finished reading for the day, always be sure to close the book and return to the My Books screen. This should set your progress in the book. You could also set a bookmark manually to be certain. For more on bookmarks, see "Reading a Book."
Multiple Users on One PC – if more than one person is going to use a PC to check out e-books you must have separate user accounts in Window. Otherwise, all the ebooks checked out on that PC will be on your device and you will be subject to the limit of three checkouts. Go to Control Panel in Windows and Users to add another user.
Getting Started
1. To download the PC App, go to http://ebook.3m.com and download the PC App in the "At Home" section.
- Supported Operating Systems:
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP SP3
- Recommended configuration:
- CPU: Dual Core
- Memory: 2 GB
- Available Disk Space: Minimum 40 MB needed for installation.
- Internet Connection: Broadband (minimum 1.5 Mbps)
To download the Mobile App, Search your app store for the 3M Cloud Library, and install the free app. Android users: this will be listed as "Cloud Library" in your list of apps. 2. Open the app to set it up for your initial use (should only have to do this once). Answer each field!
a. Select State/County - pick AL from the menu.
b. Select Library - for Alabama, there is only one Cloud Library, but you must select it to continue.
c. User Name - tap here to enter your 14-digit Library Card Number. NO PIN OR PASSWORD REQUIRED!
e. On the Mobile Apps you must tap on End User License Agreement then tap Agree.
d. Tap the Login button to finalize your setup!
Overview of App Features
The 3M Cloud Library has 4 main pages, accessible through these buttons. Each section is described below.
Shelves - These are the display cases of the library.
To browse all of the books on a Shelf, click "list view”.
This brings you a page that is easy to scroll through of the books. Each book's checkout status is shown on the page. Note that you can change how the list is sorted. It defaults to sorting by title.
Categories - Categories allow you to browse the all of our ebooks by subject.
Search - The search is a simple one for now. Try a one-word search for best results. Note that you can sort the list of results.
Advanced search allows you to opt to only see books that are currently available for checkout. Sorting options are available.
My Books - This is your account screen. The My Books screen has an area that shows what books you are reading and the books that you have on hold.
Currently Reading - appears as a bookcase. It will show the books you have currently checked out. Clicking list view will show you more options for your checked out items.
List View - allows you to see the details on each book without opening each book to check.
Each book will be shown with options to continue Reading, including how many days you have left of the checkout period. If you are using either the Apple iOS App or the Android App there will be a Check In button for early return. (You can also check in at ebook.3m.com - go to the bottom of the screen and login in the "At The Library" section.) Use the back button to return to My Books.
The rest of your account information is shown below the Currently Reading area.
Holds - estimates how long of a wait you have on your books. For more about holds, see the section on Holds below.
Wish List - is an area to save books that the library does not have yet. If you stumble across a book that is suggested, but we do not have, you may add it to the wish list. If the library purchases that book you will be notified by the system.
Reading History preserves what you have read, and any ratings you have applied to those books.
Message Center will be a place that you can read notices and updates from the library, and notifications of items available on your holds or wish list (if you have not yet seen them).
Account Profile only shows that you are signed up with the Mobile Public Cloud Library, but it is also where you can "Change Library Identification" (iPad/iPhone) or "Log Out Account" (Android). Either of these will return you to the login page, where another person could sign in with their account. This will only be necessary if you share your mobile device with another person.
Check Out a Book!
When you have found a book you are interested in, click on the book's cover. This will pull up the Book Detail page. Note that you can view a full summary as well as similar books to the one you are interested in. Usually these are other books by the author. Click the green "checkout" button to check out this book. If the book is currently checked out, there will be a button to place a hold instead.
Immediately after clicking Checkout, the My Books page comes up. The book has been checked out to you for 14 days.
The new book will appear on in the Currently Reading list, and a blue bar will move across the bottom of the book cover. When this is complete, the book will open so you can begin reading immediately. Typically a book takes less than a minute to download.
Lending Periods and Limits
Checkout period is 14 days. They will automatically expire and there are NO LATE FEES.
Checkout limit is three. You can have 3 books checked out at once!
Holds limit is two. You can have up to 2 books on hold at a time
Holds grace period is 3 days. You have 72 hours to check out a book once it becomes available to you. After that time, it will pass to the next patron.
Reading a Book
Turning Pages: Tap on the right edge of the page, or swipe towards the left from the right edge to proceed through the book. To back up, do the same action from the left edge.
Access book Options by tapping the center of your page. This will bring up a menu across the top.
Close will return you to the My Books screen.
The i brings up the book details again, it also now contains button to return the book early if you are using either the Apple iOS App or the Android App.
The double A button shows options to change text size (make it larger or smaller) and turn on "night mode." This will turn the background black and the text white.
The magnifying glass allows you to search inside the book for a keyword.
The faint square box on the far right of the options menu is the bookmarks feature. Bookmarks may be set with additional notes you create.
Holds
When a hold is placed, the progress of a hold is shown on the My Books screen. It estimates the wait period for a book based on the number of people ahead of you in the list and the maximum checkout period of 14 days.
Notifications: the 3M Cloud Library will not email you when your hold is available as we do for MPL books. You must keep track of your holds. If you open your 3M Cloud Library app at least every other day you will be able to catch any book that comes available to you. A notification message will pop up when you open the Cloud Library app.
Returning a Book Early
Please return your book when you are finished so it can be used by another and you can check out more!
Due to publisher restrictions, you can no longer return books early on the PC app. But you can view your account and return ebooks on your PC at ebook.3m.com - go to the bottom of the screen and login using "At The Library". Login with your library card number, go to My Books and List View to select the book you want to return.
And you can still look at your account and return items on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. In My Books, there is a red check in button at the top of the screen - tap it and an X will appear on the cover of each book. Just tap the X to check in. Or you can do it in List View as always.
Multiple Books, Multiple Devices and Multiple Users
Reading Multiple Books at Once--The Cloud Library is supposed to save your place when you close a book. Some users are having trouble with going back & forth between books, as they read multiple titles at once. Please set a bookmark to be certain!
Reading on Multiple Devices--The Cloud Library is supposed to save your place in your book, so you can pick up where you left off on another device. Please realize that it will not be perfect. Devices do not have the same page size (more text fits on the screen of an iPad than an iPhone).
Set up your account on the other device as above. Open your account, and select your book. The book will need to download onto this new device.
When finished reading for the day, always be sure to close the book and return to the My Books screen. This should set your progress in the book. You could also set a bookmark manually to be certain. For more on bookmarks, see "Reading a Book."
Multiple Users on One PC – if more than one person is going to use a PC to check out e-books you must have separate user accounts in Window. Otherwise, all the ebooks checked out on that PC will be on your device and you will be subject to the limit of three checkouts. Go to Control Panel in Windows and Users to add another user.
