How it Works

Go to the Freegal Music Site. Enter your Canton Library Borrower card number (must begin with the digits "21631") and your user PIN.  (If you have not changed your PIN it is "OCLN")   Search or browse the catalog for music tracks, review sound clips, and click download.  Be sure to save the file to your hard drive or other recordable media prior to playing the sound file.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the songs really free?

Music you download from Freegal Music is free in the sense that most things in your library are free to you as a patron of the library. The service is underwritten by the Canton Public Library and Friends of the Canton Public Library.


Why are there limits on the amount of downloads I am allowed? What does "limit exceeded" mean?

The limit is set so that a maximum number of users can have equal access to the songs in the Freegal Music Service. The ”limit exceeded” appears when you have used all of your downloads for the week.


How do I search for a song or artist?

Freegal Music is set up to browse, or to search for your favorite artists or songs. You can use the navigation across the top of the page to browse by genre, featured artists or newly added artists or use our quick A-Z search at the bottom of the home page. Searching by keyword at the top of the website allows you to search by artist name or song title. Expanded search options, such as a search for Composer, are under advanced search.


I'm having trouble finding a band in the Artist Search box.

Try looking under the letter "T," for instance, for bands that begin with the word "The" in their name. The keyword search can also help you find an artist. 


How do I download a song?

When you've found a song you want, click on the "Download Now" link next to your chosen song. At the prompt, select Save and choose where you want to save the song. If you're not presented with a prompt, try right-clicking the link and choosing the option to save the link (i.e. Save Target As, Save Link As, or Download Linked File, etc.). This will let you choose where to save your song.
Note: Anytime you click on the "Download Now" link, even if you decide to cancel or play it, the download will count towards your weekly allotment.


Can I download a whole album?

Songs are available on an individual basis only. You can choose, over time, to download all the songs on an album.


Why does the counter say I've downloaded 3 songs when I'm sure I haven't?

You may have started a download then changed your mind and canceled it. Once you click the "download now" button, it can't be reversed. It will count towards your download limit even if you cancel or choose "play" instead of "download." To avoid this, please use the song clips to ensure you are downloading a song you want in your music library. A download cannot be credited back to your account.


What is the song clip?

The song clip is a randomly chosen 30-second clip of a song, so you can decide whether or not you want to download it.


Is there a download manager to install on my computer?

No, Freegal Music uses your internet browser to download music, so there is no need to install anything on your computer. That's one of the benefits of the site.


How does the "Recent Downloads" functionality work?

At the top right corner of Freegal Music, you will see "Recent Downloads." Here you have the ability to re-download a previously downloaded song up to two more times within 2 weeks from the original download for reinstall purposes, in case your connection timed out. This re-download will not count against your download totals.


Is there Digital Rights Management (DRM) on these files?

No! These files are downloaded as MP3 files which are compatible with any MP3 Player or device. You can transfer the music to any computer, MP3 player or even burn it to a CD. Copyright laws apply for all music downloaded.


How do I burn music to a CD?

Each computer system is different. You can use iTunes, Windows Media Player or a third party software like Roxio. Simply follow the instructions found in the software for burning your CD.
 

Will the downloads work on the iPod or iPad? 

Yes. The easiest and best thing to do is to download the files to your desktop or your music folder. Import the song into iTunes by either dragging the song into the window or importing it from the menu. Presto, the song is now added into your library. Next time you synch up, you will see that song in your music library.

Can I download directly to my iphone or ipod touch?

Mobile devices such as the ipod touch and iphone do not store information in the same way that a computer stores it. Your phone will be able to play the songs, but there's no way for it to keep the downloaded information for future use. The best course of action is to log onto your Freegal account from your computer and visit the "Recent Downloads" page. Your Freegal downloads are stored there for up to two weeks. You can download these files to your iTunes account at no cost to your download cache during this period of time.