[delphin]

Nearly all libraries use a service called 'Overdrive' to manage their E-Book checkouts.

Overdrive, in turn, currently uses Adobe's ADE (Adobe Digital Editions) with Adobe's ADEPT DRM (Digital Rights Management).

ADE is like the familiar Acrobat reader you probably already have on your PC, but is a separate Adobe software product.

Like Acrobat, Adobe's ADE reader software is FREE, so technically, if you have any kind of netbook, laptop, or PC or Mac, you can just install Adobe's free ADE reader and start checking out and reading books right now on your PC.

(this is a good way to get familiar with Overdrive before you even buy a portable reader)

As far as which portable eBook reader you should buy goes; you have literally dozens of good choices . . .

The Sony PRS-350, PRS-650, and PRS-950 are all excellent choices if you can find one on sale somewhere at a good price. (check out the PRS-350 at Best Buy for $119)

ALL of Barnes and Nobles Nooks also work perfectly with free library books from Overdrive. (The New Nook Simple Touch is very nice, and is $139 at any B&N or online)

The original Kobo, and new Kobo Touch also work great with Overdrive books. (you can probably find an original Kobo for less than $80, and the new Kobo Touch is currently $119)

Many other off-brand readers like the Aluratek Libre, and Jetbooks will also work, as long as you make sure that they are compatible with Adobe ADE EPUB format (look for ADEPT DRM support, some models will only support Non-DRM EPUB).

Be aware that the market is EXTREMELY competitive now, with manufactures slashing prices everyday, so although some of the off-brand readers will indeed work quite nicely, unless you can find one at a HUGE DISCOUNT, they may not be worth bothering with.

Lots of the 'me too' off-brand readers are indeed usable with Overdrive, but some of these guys apparently haven't got the message yet that, in today's market, they need to be HALF what the B&N or Sony's sell for NOW (not half what they cost 2 years ago).

For example, I have seen some sellers list the Aluratek Libre for $149 with a straight face, when a brand new Nook STR sells for $139, and the Sony PRS-350 is selling now for $119 at Best Buy.

The Libre is not a bad reader, and would probably be a fine deal on clearance at something like $60, but with newer much better quality mainstream readers like the Sony PRS-350 and B&N Nook STR selling for much lower prices, a Libre at $149 is just a sucker bet.

On the other hand, if you can find something like the Jetbook or Aluratek Libre at a lower price (something in the 50 to 60 dollar range) then they might be a good alternative if you don't want to spend too much money.

Personally though, I would recommend that you consider spending just a bit more, and check out the Sony PRS-350, because it's really hard to beat it's blend of size, reliability, and user friendly touch screen interface.

Technically the PRS-350's screen is an inch smaller than some other readers, but don't let this fool you. Remember, that's an inch 'diagonally' which is only a fraction of an inch horizontally and vertically, and the PRS-350's screen actually has a higher DPI (dots-per-inch) ratio so it's razor sharp and very easy to read.

But thanks to the slightly smaller screen, Sony was able to keep the weight of the PRS-350 down to only about 5 ounces (compared to a half pound for a typical 6 inch reader, and a pound or more for the Nook Color and iPad); and unlike the others, the PRS-350 is something you can actually slip into a pocket and read on the go.