Alachua County library discontinues ecard

octoberdana · 11-13-2011, 08:35 AM

Got an email that as of November 30th my ecard will no longer work. This is disappointing because my local library has HUGE wait times for ebooks and I often got must read items much faster through Alachua. And now with the Philadelphia Free Library raising thier costs it might be more than we can swing this year. So back to waiting lists of over 50 people for just about every book I want to read. I am thankful that I had Alachua for awhile and I hope eventually publishers get more reasonable with their ebook library lending requirements.

wandalynn · 11-13-2011, 09:25 AM

That's disappointing. The wait times at Philly Free are getting longer - even with their huge catalog. One less open library will probably make it even worse. Philly's enrollment fee had gone up to $35 when I renewed last spring - I hope it hasn't gone up even further!

issybird · 11-13-2011, 11:59 AM

Oh, no! I use Alachua for virtually all my elibrary books. My two local options have nothing worth reading. Alachua has been wonderful; good selection, relatively short waits. I don't mind paying $35 for Philly as it will be value received, but I hate the thought of those waiting lists.

This is bad news indeed. What with limited library options and agency pricing, I can see myself being forced back to pbooks. I still read them in any case, but I may have to start rationing my ebooks to situations where portability counts. Dang!

sadievan · 11-13-2011, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wandalynn

That's disappointing. The wait times at Philly Free are getting longer - even with their huge catalog. One less open library will probably make it even worse. Philly's enrollment fee had gone up to $35 when I renewed last spring - I hope it hasn't gone up even further!

Don't know if everyone is aware, but if you are over 65 you can get the Philly card free. I signed my husband up.

Carol

SeaBookGuy · 11-13-2011, 06:18 PM

I had thought the publishers were pushing to restrict access to Overdrive books to patrons in a library's geographical service area ONLY?

rdfry · 11-13-2011, 08:06 PM

This has nothing to do with that. you can still use their overdrive access, but now you have to go to the library and get a card and pay an out of state user fee.

abookreader · 11-14-2011, 07:21 AM

I don't belong to Philly but I know our wait lists are getting up there too.

I really don't find it too bad as long as I check the site at least daily for new additions. That way I'm near the top of the list for nearly any book I want.

Andrew H. · 11-14-2011, 09:55 AM

I wonder if there's any local backlash in any of these communities. I know if my local library permitted basically everyone to use its e-books, I would object.

wvcherrybomb · 11-14-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

I wonder if there's any local backlash in any of these communities. I know if my local library permitted basically everyone to use its e-books, I would object.

Alachua is my local library and I had no idea until this thread that non-locals were using it. I figured neighboring counties, since they offer nothing, but surprised to hear about out of state users.

anijh · 11-14-2011, 11:34 AM

I'm a FL resident so I won't be affected too much. Anyone living in Florida can get an Alachua County library card free of charge. I'll make plans to stop by the library the next time I'm in that area.

ucfgrad93 · 11-14-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

I wonder if there's any local backlash in any of these communities. I know if my local library permitted basically everyone to use its e-books, I would object.

Agreed. Local libraries should just be for the local residents.

simplyparticular · 11-14-2011, 01:20 PM

Hmmm, I have their e-card and didn't get an email. I signed up when someone posted the details back in the spring.

I think I've checked out 5 books in that time (compared to the 60+ I've checked out from my 2 local/regional libraries). One of the things I liked about Alachua was that they made the effort to purchase ALL of a series. My libraries seem to cherry pick :P

And I can definitely understand local residents being upset if hold times got long. I did just check out a backlist title by a popular author who has a new book out, and didn't see a huge wait on any of her books at Alachua, compared to a huge wait at eNYPL and Buffalo, so I'm not sure they're getting a heavy traffic volume, anyway.

SeaBookGuy · 11-14-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

One of the things I liked about Alachua was that they made the effort to purchase ALL of a series. My libraries seem to cherry pick

Have you requested the rest of the series (if available)?

luqmaninbmore · 11-15-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

Agreed. Local libraries should just be for the local residents.

If the users are paying for the card, what's the problem? If its an issue of the service not being valued properly (i.e. membership is too cheap), that can be taken care of.

luqmaninbmore · 11-15-2011, 01:49 PM

.....

11-13-2011, 08:35 AM	#1
octoberdana Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Touch, Kindle Touch	Alachua County library discontinues ecard Got an email that as of November 30th my ecard will no longer work. This is disappointing because my local library has HUGE wait times for ebooks and I often got must read items much faster through Alachua. And now with the Philadelphia Free Library raising thier costs it might be more than we can swing this year. So back to waiting lists of over 50 people for just about every book I want to read. I am thankful that I had Alachua for awhile and I hope eventually publishers get more reasonable with their ebook library lending requirements.

11-14-2011, 11:34 AM	#10
anijh Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 2126 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Florida Device: Nook 1e, Kindle Fire, and multiple iDevices	I'm a FL resident so I won't be affected too much. Anyone living in Florida can get an Alachua County library card free of charge. I'll make plans to stop by the library the next time I'm in that area. Last edited by anijh; 11-14-2011 at 12:32 PM.

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11-13-2011, 09:25 AM	#2
wandalynn Addict Posts: 348 Karma: 805324 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Baja Arizona Device: nook, Aluratek Libre	That's disappointing. The wait times at Philly Free are getting longer - even with their huge catalog. One less open library will probably make it even worse. Philly's enrollment fee had gone up to $35 when I renewed last spring - I hope it hasn't gone up even further!

11-13-2011, 11:59 AM	#3
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 20,210 Karma: 222235366 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5	Oh, no! I use Alachua for virtually all my elibrary books. My two local options have nothing worth reading. Alachua has been wonderful; good selection, relatively short waits. I don't mind paying $35 for Philly as it will be value received, but I hate the thought of those waiting lists. This is bad news indeed. What with limited library options and agency pricing, I can see myself being forced back to pbooks. I still read them in any case, but I may have to start rationing my ebooks to situations where portability counts. Dang!

11-13-2011, 06:18 PM	#5
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I had thought the publishers were pushing to restrict access to Overdrive books to patrons in a library's geographical service area ONLY?

11-13-2011, 08:06 PM	#6
rdfry loving the books Posts: 374 Karma: 18825402 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: DFW Device: Rooted Nook, Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, Galaxy Note 5, 2 Fire 7s Note 8	This has nothing to do with that. you can still use their overdrive access, but now you have to go to the library and get a card and pay an out of state user fee.

11-14-2011, 07:21 AM	#7
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	I don't belong to Philly but I know our wait lists are getting up there too. I really don't find it too bad as long as I check the site at least daily for new additions. That way I'm near the top of the list for nearly any book I want.

11-14-2011, 09:55 AM	#8
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	I wonder if there's any local backlash in any of these communities. I know if my local library permitted basically everyone to use its e-books, I would object.

11-14-2011, 01:20 PM	#12
simplyparticular Guru Posts: 610 Karma: 1395952 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Device: Oasis 3 & GlowLight 4	Hmmm, I have their e-card and didn't get an email. I signed up when someone posted the details back in the spring. I think I've checked out 5 books in that time (compared to the 60+ I've checked out from my 2 local/regional libraries). One of the things I liked about Alachua was that they made the effort to purchase ALL of a series. My libraries seem to cherry pick :P And I can definitely understand local residents being upset if hold times got long. I did just check out a backlist title by a popular author who has a new book out, and didn't see a huge wait on any of her books at Alachua, compared to a huge wait at eNYPL and Buffalo, so I'm not sure they're getting a heavy traffic volume, anyway.

11-15-2011, 01:49 PM	#15
luqmaninbmore Da'i Posts: 1,144 Karma: 1217499 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet	.....

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