Public Library Zinio access now has back issues

[jehane]

I went to checkout a couple of my regular magazines from two public libraries that I belong to, to discover that there are now back issues available. Good, since I missed a week recently.

However both the search and categories seem to be broken, not to mention the categories changed so I had to page through until I found my magazines of choice.

[xendula]

I didn't even know libraries had Zinio!!

Running to check out my libraries...

[kevinp]

I just checked my library. Instead of seeing the latest covers, I see a generic picture showing "back issues available" on some of the magazines. Then when I tried to "check out" a magazine, it bombed out with a message that they're adding back issues and the service is unavailable now.

[RZetlin]

I noticed the change they made at the beginning of the month.

But the new changes are buggy.

- The categories filter does not work
- All the magazines are listed in alphabetic order, so you have scroll though each list of magazines one by one.

I just checked my library. Instead of seeing the latest covers, I see a generic picture showing "back issues available" on some of the magazines. Then when I tried to "check out" a magazine, it bombed out with a message that they're adding back issues and the service is unavailable now.

It happened to me as well, you have to try several times until the back issue magazine is checked out.

[Bookworm_Girl]

That's great news! I missed some issues recently of a weekly that I would like to read. Thanks for sharing!

[Debi]

I've also noticed that several magazines are no longer listed since the change at my library's site.

[spersephone]

I put in a support request a few days back, as in this upgrade they've also gone backwards. Issues are several issues behind rather than current, for some weekly magazines. Or a month behind for a monthly. It was working really well, so I hope they return it to current issues soon. Haven't received a response yet.

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by jehane

I went to checkout a couple of my regular magazines from two public libraries that I belong to, to discover that there are now back issues available.

Does your library charge money for the magazines, or are they free? And how big a choice of titles do you have?

My local library offers free Zinio subscriptions to about 20 magazines, but they're not exactly the highest-quality titles on the market. No Economist, no New Yorker, no New York Review of Books. In fact, most of them are names I've never heard of.

Mike

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Mike L

Does your library charge money for the magazines, or are they free? And how big a choice of titles do you have?

Mine doesn't charge anything (other than my taxes) and has 186 titles to choose from.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by Mike L

Does your library charge money for the magazines, or are they free? And how big a choice of titles do you have?
My local library offers free Zinio subscriptions to about 20 magazines, but they're not exactly the highest-quality titles on the market. No Economist, no New Yorker, no New York Review of Books. In fact, most of them are names I've never heard of.
Mike

Selection varies with each library. I recommend you submit a request to your local library with what you'd like to read.

[banjomike]

Bradford libraries have 86 titles, mostly leading titles, and no charges. It is a great service. Adding the back issues is brilliant although they only go back to April/May even on weeklies.

[jehane]

Originally Posted by Mike L

Does your library charge money for the magazines, or are they free? And how big a choice of titles do you have?

My local library offers free Zinio subscriptions to about 20 magazines, but they're not exactly the highest-quality titles on the market. No Economist, no New Yorker, no New York Review of Books. In fact, most of them are names I've never heard of.

Mike

Hi Mike

It's free at both my libraries, and they are in different countries, one in my previous location and the other in my current location. Both have a good selection, although for obvious reasons the US library doesn't have Australian titles, or as many UK ones. For example, I use the Australian library to get New Scientist. I can certainly get The Economist - it and New Scientist are my regular weeklies. Both libraries have a pretty good selection for my tastes (science and current affairs), and it looks like a pretty broad selection overall. About 146/321 titles respectively in the US and Aus libraries I belong to. The great thing is that there are no download limits or expiry dates - download whatever you want now, read at your leisure. Previously only the current issue was available, so you had to remember to download every week/month/issue, but now they've made back issues available. My only problem is finding the time to do all this reading! Perhaps you can request your choice of titles to your library? Best of luck.

[Mike L]

Thanks to those of you who replied to my question about the number of titles and whether they were free. We don't seem to be doing so well here with our limited range of free magazines, but at least it's a start. Bookwork Girl, I like your idea of submitting a request to the library. I'll consider doing that.

Although we don't do so well on the Zinio front, the library does supply a useful range of other free on-line services, including several high-quality reference resources that normally charge for access, plus several thousand audio books for loan, and a range of interactive language courses.

Mike

[banjomike]

Do people in the UK know that you can access the complete Oxford English Dictionary if your library subscribes? I don't know if that applies in foreign parts but it is good.

http://public.oed.com/how-to-subscri...ary-subscribe/

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by Mike L

Thanks to those of you who replied to my question about the number of titles and whether they were free. We don't seem to be doing so well here with our limited range of free magazines, but at least it's a start. Bookwork Girl, I like your idea of submitting a request to the library. I'll consider doing that.

Although we don't do so well on the Zinio front, the library does supply a useful range of other free on-line services, including several high-quality reference resources that normally charge for access, plus several thousand audio books for loan, and a range of interactive language courses.

Mike

You might also want to see if your library subscribes to Freegal, which provides free weekly music downloads.