I am a big fan of libraries. And I love libraries even more now that I found out I can download MAGAZINES for FREE! to read on my iPad. Wait, Wait, it gets better...there is no limit on how many magazines you can download, the magazines don't go away and (sigh) past copies are also available. OMG!
My local library is the Lake County Library System in Florida. At my library the magazines are available through ZINIO. Currently there are 64 magazines...everything from Taste of Home to National Geographic, with Popular Mechanics and Good Housekeeping in between.
I browse the Lake County website from my desktop computer and only use my tablet for reading. So, these instructions are based on using a desktop web browser for Phase One and an iPad for Phase Two. Also, I do all my browsing and checking out magazines at home with a good Internet connection (not using a cell phone data connection). Other options may work, but this is how I roll.
You start by creating an account in ZINIO and linking it to your library card (Phase One), then you download and set up the ZINIO app on your tablet (Phase Two).
PHASE ONE
Let's create an account in ZINIO. I recommend you get to ZINIO from the Lake County Library website. At the bottom of the home page, click in the ZINIO area.
This will send you to a library ZINIO webpage. Click on the Zinio Website link in #1.
On the next webpage, click the "Create a New Account" on the top right. In the pop-up box, enter your Lake County library card number.
Next, you will create a ZINIO account to link to your library card. Type in first name, last name and email address. Type in the password you created and wrote down for your ZINIO account (that I recommended before we started). You will need this email address and password later. Click "Create Account". You now have a ZINIO account and it is connected to your library card. If you have any problems, check out this YouTube video.
While you are on the ZINIO webpage, let's checkout a few magazines. That way you will have some magazines to download on your tablet after you set up the app. Browse through the magazines, scrolling through the pages (#1). Once you find a magazine you want, click on the cover (#2).
This will take you to the webpage to checkout your magazine. Click on the Checkout button (#1). You can get back issues from here also (#2).
If you see the SUCCESS! you have completed your checkout. Click the "Keep Browsing" button or the "X" at the top of the box. You might be tempted to "Start Reading", but not this time. We are on a mission. Be strong and wait until you have your tablet set up. You can stop here or browse and check out more magazines. When you are done go on to Phase Two to download and setup the ZINIO app.
PHASE TWO
The hard part is over! Now you need to download the ZINIO app (ZINIO for library) to your tablet. After it is downloaded, you will need to setup the app to connect to your ZINIO account and library card. Follow the yellow dot.
- Click "Log In"
- Select Country (United States)
- Select State (Florida)
- Select Library (Lake Count Public Library)
- Enter the SAME email address and password you used for creating your Zinio account in Phase One.
- Click "Sync Library"
Viola...you should see your magazines. Click on the magazine cover to start reading.
BROWSING AND CHECKING OUT
You have successfully created your account and set up your tablet. Here are some helpful tips to checkout more magazines.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I recommend using a good Internet connection to download the magazines (not a cell phone data connection). If you see a cloud with a blue down arrow (below Mental Floss in the picture above), that means that you have checked out the magazine, but is is not downloaded to your device. I try to remember to download the magazines I have checked out as soon as possible. That way if I am out and want to read a magazine, I am not disappointed because I don't have an Internet connection. This may not make sense right now...but it will eventually.
I use my desktop Internet browser to go to the Lake County Library website. To get more magazines, clock in the ZINIO area at the bottom of the home page (same as in the Phase One instructions). Click on the ZINIO Website in #1 (again, just like you did originally). This time, click on the "Browse Magazines" and "Checkout" magazines like you did the first time. You can read the magazines directly from the browser or your tablet.
There may be a delay between when you checkout the magazine and when it shows up on your tablet. Be patient. Sometimes I close the Zinio app and reopen it.
HOW TO DELETE
I found out the hard way that the magazines eat up a lot of storage on my tablet. I recommend deleting the magazine when you have finished reading it. To delete, click on the "Edit" button on the top right (see the last picture). If you don't see the "Edit' button, click on the Date/Time till it shows up. An "X" in a red circle will appear the the top left of the magazine cover. Click that "X" and the magazine is deleted. The amount of storage on my device is displayed at the top (center). Click "Done' to get back.
THE REST OF THE STORY
ZINIO is a digital distributor of over 5,000 magazines. If you got directly to the main Zinio webpage (www.zinio.com), you can PAY for digital magazines and subscriptions. But if you go through the library, you get to the ZINIO for LIBRARIES webpages. Also, if you let your computer auto login, it is quick and easy every time.
Some libraries in Ohio use the NOOK app to distribute their digital magazines. Each library offers different magazines. And some libraries don't have this service available.
I have some good magazines to read. Good Housekeeping has some smoothie recipes (I bought a Ninja blender this week), Do It Yourself has some clever ideas for flea market finds and Prevention says I can get slim and strong in 10 minutes a day.
Enjoy!
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