Quote:
Originally Posted by zoran
How does it work in your area? Do you have to come physically
and get some kind of medium?
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It varies from library to library.
I am a member of 3 different libraries in Australia.
The Yarra Plenty which is located somewhere in Victoria - a couple of thousand kilometres from where I live. I have never set foot inside one of their branches and in fact I'm not even sure where they are. I applied online and was posted a reply with a library card and password etc. If I ever wanted to borrow a pbook I would need to show ID but I have been sucessfully borrowing ebooks for several months.
I am also a member (and have been for 20 years) of my local library - Sunshine Coast. I used to physically go there to borrow pbooks but haven't been there since I got my Kobo. They sent me an email telling me that they now had ebooks (very small collection so far) and I was immediately able to start borrowing using my existing library card number and pin. Probably at some point in the past 20 years I needed to prove who I was. They post me new cards every couple of years.
I also recently joined the Brisbane Library the large major city 100 km from where I live. According to someone on the phone I was entitled to reciprocal membership with my local library card but when when I went there to get my library card (had to go in person and show ID) I wasn't able to join until I explained that I regularly worked in Brisbane City - luckily my company has 2 offices there. I didn't need to prove that I worked in Brisbane they just took my word for it.
I understand that it is also possible to join the Free Library of Philadelphia which contrary to it's name costs $15 to join (I think it's probably free if you live in Philadelphia which is quite reasonable!
) Apparently it is available to those outside the US as well. Again it is possible to join online.