New here with a question - Library books?

Laurathereader · 09-02-2010, 02:04 PM

Hi guys,

I just got my first Kindle a couple of weeks ago, I have a graphite DX. This is also my first eReader. It was a gift and I have been lovingly it. I would love it even more if there was a way that I could get library books on it? Is this possible or can you only do that with other ereaders?

Thanks,
Laura

TheKindleWorm · 09-02-2010, 02:27 PM

No unfortunately Kindles just do not work with library books.

I used to have a Sony ereader and that did work with library books that were based on the overdrive system which I think covers most/all of the elibraries I know of.

Amazon do provide plenty of free books however (modern as well as old) and they are normally listed on here at mobileread.

Hope you enjoy your new ereader

neilmarr · 09-02-2010, 04:09 PM

Good to have your new company, Laura. The problem is that Kindle works only in Mobi format. Libraries tend to lend in ePub and/or PDF. You can't legally convert a library book to another format because they carry a Digital Rights Management padlock. Kindle (I'll cause a riot here) has many drawbacks that other reading devices don't have, and too many red-herring bells and whistles. Best wishes. Neil

flandroid · 09-02-2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

You can't legally convert a library book to another format because they carry a Digital Rights Management padlock.

This is not necessarily true.

I know library books are subject to different 'strings,' but I would feel pretty safe legally and morally if I broke the DRM but still deleted the file from my device (and library on the PC) after the loan period expired.

Mcsmith · 09-02-2010, 11:12 PM

I have to agree with breaking the library book DRM thing. If you read and then delete the book after the given time limit I don't think it should be problem. I borrow and reborrow books from the library, hard copy and ebook, isn't that what a library is for? There are people who never return hard copy and I don't see too many of them in court.

speakingtohe · 09-02-2010, 11:33 PM

My library (BC) has quite a number of mobi books on it.
Haven't tried it but I would think they would work.
Ordered Kindle 3 yesterday so will know eventually

Leep · 09-02-2010, 11:33 PM

As discussed above, library ebooks can and are used on a Kindle providing you use easily found python scripts to circumvent the drm, and then use Calibre to change the ebook format to mobi. Many people do feel comfortable doing this, reading the book and then deleting it to honor the library policy of "loaning" ebooks.

Alas, the mobi format ebooks from the library also require manipulation to remove or adjust the drm so that the ebook be read on the Kindle. Even though Amazon ebooks are mobi, they are not quite the same as mobi library books.

cheers

daffy4u · 09-02-2010, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Kindle (I'll cause a riot here) has many drawbacks that other reading devices don't have, and too many red-herring bells and whistles. Best wishes. Neil

I think you're overstating the "too many drawbacks" based on your personal needs/wants for an ebook reader. If the Kindle had "too many drawbacks" it wouldn't be as popular as it is.

SkyDream · 09-03-2010, 04:23 AM

Most people buy a Sony as a second reader to access libraries ebooks.

TheKindleWorm · 09-03-2010, 05:20 AM

Before anyone thinks of buying an ereader for library books, I'd advise them to do a good check of what library books they can get because some elibraries are really not great with what they offer. In my case the selection isn't great enough to be that bothered about right now. In many cases you may have to wait weeks to check out a book you really want to read. There are limitations that's all I'm saying.

Francesco · 09-04-2010, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyDream

Most people buy a Sony as a second reader to access libraries ebooks.

According to whom?

Tiersten · 09-05-2010, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyDream

Most people buy a Sony as a second reader to access libraries ebooks.

You'd have to go through a very large number of library book loans to warrant buying a second eBook reader just for that. If library books are important to you then you either buy a device like the Sony that supports it or use the workarounds available for the Kindle.

Jabby · 09-05-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyDream

Most people buy a Sony as a second reader to access libraries ebooks.

Or the Jetbook or Jetbook Lite and I suspect others.

Regards - John

simplyparticular · 09-05-2010, 10:38 AM

No matter how you slice it, it isn't EASY to get library books on a Kindle.

For the OP, check your local library. Is the collection decent? Do they carry Mobipocket along with ePub/PDF ?

If they carry Mobi, there are scripts that will set the Mobi so your Kindle can read it.
If they only carry ePub and PDF, you'll need scripts to strip the DRM and you'll need Calibre to convert ePub--> Mobi.

If your library has a good selection and short wait lists like mine, it might be worth it to buy the second reader off eBay that can read ePub. The Sony PRS-300, Cybook Opus, Aluratek and Jetbook models all sell for around $100 - that's only 10-12 library books.

I've read 52 library books since May, and I'm in the middle of 3 more. I've toyed with the idea of the Kindle 3 (until the new Sony's were announced), but I'll keep an ePub reader around no matter what I do in the future.

DiapDealer · 09-05-2010, 11:22 AM

Quote:

No matter how you slice it, it isn't EASY to get library books on a Kindle.

Everything's relative. I find it quite easy.

09-02-2010, 02:04 PM	#1
Laurathereader Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle DX	New here with a question - Library books? Hi guys, I just got my first Kindle a couple of weeks ago, I have a graphite DX. This is also my first eReader. It was a gift and I have been lovingly it. I would love it even more if there was a way that I could get library books on it? Is this possible or can you only do that with other ereaders? Thanks, Laura

09-02-2010, 11:33 PM	#7
Leep Guru Posts: 739 Karma: 1018859 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Near Seattle Device: kindle1, K3, K3G (thanks MR), iTouch, Kindle Touch	As discussed above, library ebooks can and are used on a Kindle providing you use easily found python scripts to circumvent the drm, and then use Calibre to change the ebook format to mobi. Many people do feel comfortable doing this, reading the book and then deleting it to honor the library policy of "loaning" ebooks. Alas, the mobi format ebooks from the library also require manipulation to remove or adjust the drm so that the ebook be read on the Kindle. Even though Amazon ebooks are mobi, they are not quite the same as mobi library books. cheers Last edited by Leep; 09-02-2010 at 11:36 PM.

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09-02-2010, 02:27 PM	#2
TheKindleWorm Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 177868 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Anglia UK Device: Kindle 3G, iPhone 3G, iPod 4G, PB 360, Sony 600 sold, Kindle 2i sold	No unfortunately Kindles just do not work with library books. I used to have a Sony ereader and that did work with library books that were based on the overdrive system which I think covers most/all of the elibraries I know of. Amazon do provide plenty of free books however (modern as well as old) and they are normally listed on here at mobileread. Hope you enjoy your new ereader

09-02-2010, 04:09 PM	#3
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Good to have your new company, Laura. The problem is that Kindle works only in Mobi format. Libraries tend to lend in ePub and/or PDF. You can't legally convert a library book to another format because they carry a Digital Rights Management padlock. Kindle (I'll cause a riot here) has many drawbacks that other reading devices don't have, and too many red-herring bells and whistles. Best wishes. Neil

09-02-2010, 11:12 PM	#5
Mcsmith Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canberra, Australia Device: Kindle, iPad	I have to agree with breaking the library book DRM thing. If you read and then delete the book after the given time limit I don't think it should be problem. I borrow and reborrow books from the library, hard copy and ebook, isn't that what a library is for? There are people who never return hard copy and I don't see too many of them in court.

09-02-2010, 11:33 PM	#6
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	My library (BC) has quite a number of mobi books on it. Haven't tried it but I would think they would work. Ordered Kindle 3 yesterday so will know eventually

09-03-2010, 04:23 AM	#9
SkyDream Wizard Posts: 1,377 Karma: 9400 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Europe Device: PRS-650, iPod touch 4G, iPad 3	Most people buy a Sony as a second reader to access libraries ebooks.

09-03-2010, 05:20 AM	#10
TheKindleWorm Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 177868 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Anglia UK Device: Kindle 3G, iPhone 3G, iPod 4G, PB 360, Sony 600 sold, Kindle 2i sold	Before anyone thinks of buying an ereader for library books, I'd advise them to do a good check of what library books they can get because some elibraries are really not great with what they offer. In my case the selection isn't great enough to be that bothered about right now. In many cases you may have to wait weeks to check out a book you really want to read. There are limitations that's all I'm saying.

09-05-2010, 10:38 AM	#14
simplyparticular Guru Posts: 610 Karma: 1395952 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Device: Oasis 3 & GlowLight 4	No matter how you slice it, it isn't EASY to get library books on a Kindle. For the OP, check your local library. Is the collection decent? Do they carry Mobipocket along with ePub/PDF ? If they carry Mobi, there are scripts that will set the Mobi so your Kindle can read it. If they only carry ePub and PDF, you'll need scripts to strip the DRM and you'll need Calibre to convert ePub--> Mobi. If your library has a good selection and short wait lists like mine, it might be worth it to buy the second reader off eBay that can read ePub. The Sony PRS-300, Cybook Opus, Aluratek and Jetbook models all sell for around $100 - that's only 10-12 library books. I've read 52 library books since May, and I'm in the middle of 3 more. I've toyed with the idea of the Kindle 3 (until the new Sony's were announced), but I'll keep an ePub reader around no matter what I do in the future.

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