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I don’t consider this a very serious problem, all things considered. Granted, I rarely attempt to renew; I just try like heck to finish before the loan expires (motivation). If I miss, I just get back in line at some point to borrow it again.
Yes, it does mean you have to put your Kindle down, and use some other device (computer browser, or Overdrive/Libby app running on phone/tablet) to get it added back to your Kindle library. But it is same if borrowing for the first time (In the distant past, I was able to use Experimental Browser to access library’s OverDrive portal and borrow stuff, but after proving to myself that it could be done, albeit painfully, I have not tried it since.)
I’m not sure it is any better on a Kobo eReader, even with OverDrive integration built in (both owned by Rakuten of course). I don’t have one and the details in the User Guide are minimal. Once you configure Overdrive/library credentials, it looks like you have to visit Kobo Store and browse and check books there to see if they can be borrowed: no way to browse the library’s collection directly. Then after it downloads, you can filter library view to see what you have borrowed. Does not seem you can even return books from the eReader, they just expire and vanish. Also not clear if you can borrow using web/Libby/Overdrive and pick it up on your Kobo eReader (or Kobo apps) wirelessly; there’s no mention of it so I assume not. So from the little I can glean it seems an inferior user experience, maybe not even as good as the Sony had (if I remember you could browse library collection directly). But I would be curious to hear from someone who has first hand experience with it.
I’m very happy with the way Overdrive service supports Kindle platform, and hope it continues even though Rakuten and Amazon are competitors.
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