Your Library's E-book Results --- The Rankings!

[speakingtohe]

British Columbia Library system has 7313 ebooks
4150 fiction of which
1493 literature
688 Mysteries
1096 Romance
etc. etc.
Not gigantic but seem to be growing fast

[ATDrake]

BC has been adding a lot recently. Over 700 new ePubs since the last time I checked in the previous questionnaire thread, and what seems to be a heartening increase in the proportion of easily accessible mp3 audiobooks to the much harder to use WMA ones.

Alas, only 1 new Mobi book.

There was an article on the CBC about it over the weekend: E-books boost use of Lower Mainland Librairies.

Apparently, a lot of new people have been signing up for cards, which is a nice trend.

We recently had the provincial government try to drastically cut library funding on the grounds that people don't use it, so I'm pleased with anything which makes them eat their words. Not that they actually ever listen to their actual constituents, much less fact-based reality, but whatever.

[patrickt]

I'm neither a librarian nor a systems analyst but why should on-line libraries be restricted geographically. Why should there be a co-op where library users from dozens of cities all share the same on-line resources?

[Xenophon]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'm neither a librarian nor a systems analyst but why should on-line libraries be restricted geographically. Why should there be a co-op where library users from dozens of cities all share the same on-line resources?

There certainly can be (and even ARE) such co-ops. The fundamental issue, however, is funding. The on-line services from U.S. libraries are generally available for "free" to people who are in the geographical areas they serve, because those are the taxpayers whose taxes support the library. Follow the money.

Xenophon

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'm neither a librarian nor a systems analyst but why should on-line libraries be restricted geographically. Why should there be a co-op where library users from dozens of cities all share the same on-line resources?

The library's licensing agreements with their downloading services prohibit out-of-state residents from applying for a library card.

[soothsayer]

New York City actually has 3 library systems, the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Library, and Queens Library. Queens Library is the largest library (by circulation) in the united states, and the fifth largest library in the world; their key strength lies in their foreign language (popular fiction) books and media collection. Their digital collection is powered by Overdrive, and their chinese collection is powered by Apabi. actually apabi books can't be downloaded to an ereader so this doesn't really count does it?

check out their digital collection. http://www.queenslibrary.org/ they also have some of the latest comic ebooks, e.g., "x-men: first class", and graphic novels.

btw, I have library cards for NYPL, brooklyn library, and queens library.

[Fbone]

Thanks, soothsayer for the info. Queens Borough Library does have 1433 ebooks available. While the other 2 NYC libraries have more the 3 combined make an impressive collection. You're fortunate to have access to all of them.

[Fbone]

I updated the list. Great to see despite budget cuts 1438 titles were added to the list.

Seattle Public Library (all branches) will be closed Aug 30th to Sept 5th due to budget cuts. No titles were added but Overdrive access will be available during the closure.

Also, great to see several UK libraries start Overdrive service in July.

[K8Ereader]

Norfolk Library and Information services UK
Fiction 1412
Non-fiction 487
Children's fiction 300

I can now borrow 6 titles at any one time.
New titles are appearing a few per month, but has only been up since Spring.
Nearly all E-pub, few pdf. Waiting lists not too long.

[bjones6416]

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System went live with Overdrive this morning! Woo-hoo!

It looks like 229 Adobe EPUB titles and 12 Adobe PDF titles are available.

Overdrive website for Atlanta

[Fbone]

Great to hear Atlanta and Norfolk. Get your requests in before the wait list starts.

[JSWolf]

Add in ...

Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing (CLAMS) at 669 eBooks and growing.

[graycyn]

Pendleton Public Library - Oregon
Overdrive system (I think it is shared with other libraries in eastern OR, but I'm not sure.)

As of this evening 8-18-2010:

830 Children's ebooks
2298 non-fiction ebooks
4740 fiction ebooks

Total = 7868

I think our library is doing good as we are a smallish town, population around 17,000. eBook lending was only added this year! Before, it was only audiobooks, which I don't like.

(Edit: I didn't count audiobook figures in the above, just the ebooks, which are either EPUB or PDF format.)

At any rate, gotta go READ, just downloaded a library book tonight that I had been waiting for!

[corona]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'm neither a librarian nor a systems analyst but why should on-line libraries be restricted geographically. Why should there be a co-op where library users from dozens of cities all share the same on-line resources?

Because it's a really good idea and a way to share resources! (I mean, that's a reason why they _shouldn't_ be restricted, at least within the same general political jurisdiction. In the specific case of British Columbia, it also means that patrons of public libraries in the more remote rural areas have access to the same e-book collection as patrons of the big-city libraries.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by graycyn

Pendleton Public Library - Oregon
Overdrive system (I think it is shared with other libraries in eastern OR, but I'm not sure.)

As of this evening 8-18-2010:

830 Children's ebooks
2298 non-fiction ebooks
4740 fiction ebooks

Total = 7868

I think our library is doing good as we are a smallish town, population around 17,000. eBook lending was only added this year! Before, it was only audiobooks, which I don't like.

(Edit: I didn't count audiobook figures in the above, just the ebooks, which are either EPUB or PDF format.)

At any rate, gotta go READ, just downloaded a library book tonight that I had been waiting for!

Your library is part of ODLC (Oregon Digital Library Consortium) and it made the list.