Amazon & OverDrive for libraries to be an exclusive?

crane3 · 09-10-2015, 04:39 PM

I received a notice reserved ebook is available & so logged in on my Nexus 7 & "checked out" the book. Went to get the book & the only selections were "Kindle" or "OverDrive Read", no epub!!!!!!

Logged out & used the Samsung to get the book; not able to login to the library; same with going back to the Nexus 7.

Was able to login using my computer & got the "Kindle" format book; it linked me to Amazon for downloading & even tho I selected downloading to the Fire, an explanation says that I will be getting the book on my computer & to use usb to get it to the Fire. VERY strange.

Have sent email to the "contact" at the library about the problem with login & especially the removal of epub for availability for Android devices; there wasn't even an option of getting the book onto an OverDrive app (whatever that thing does). Will probably go & complain personally after reading the book & the 100+ heat wave is over.

This may be just a typical IT incompetence of my Sacramento county's people. Or perhaps it is a sign of things to come? Hope not. Hope Amazon doesn't have its finger there.

AnemicOak · 09-10-2015, 05:11 PM

Hmmm, I've seen ePub with no Kindle option, but I don't recall ever seeing the reverse.

The need to transfer via USB must mean it's a Penguin book? I know they have/had that as a requirement for Kindle books.

Do you mind sharing the title of the book? I'd like to see what it says at my local libraries OD site.

Nate the great · 09-10-2015, 05:24 PM

This is very likely a bug.

Can you post a link to the book in question?

JSWolf · 09-10-2015, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

This is very likely a bug.

Can you post a link to the book in question?

The last time I saw a Kindle option and no ePub option, the Kindle eBook turned out to be in Topaz format.

Blossom · 09-10-2015, 05:44 PM

This is happening at one of my libraries too. No epub, only Kindle and no it's not a topaz they are indie books mostly I noticed them on.

JSWolf · 09-10-2015, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

This is happening at one of my libraries too. No epub, only Kindle and no it's not a topaz they are indie books mostly I noticed them on.

Are they Amazon exclusive eBooks? If so, that would explain why no ePub.

FizzyWater · 09-10-2015, 07:28 PM

I thought there were some ebooks that are sold at Amazon only. It could be Overdrive is starting to offer those. When I search for new books in my Overdrive libraries, I always filter by ePub. I don't know if there's a way to search for Kindle only.

tubemonkey · 09-10-2015, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I thought there were some ebooks that are sold at Amazon only. It could be Overdrive is starting to offer those. When I search for new books in my Overdrive libraries, I always filter by ePub. I don't know if there's a way to search for Kindle only.

Your library's OverDrive home page --> Advanced Search --> All Formats --> Kindle Book --> Search

FizzyWater · 09-10-2015, 08:19 PM

But that wouldn't tell me Kindle *only* - it would tell me only that the book's formats include Kindle format.

ETA: Interesting. I went to the CLEVNET library and searched by Kindle book. It brought up 82,300 books. In the left-hand menu, it lists format totals for all the books and EPub count was 78,719. So there are more than 3,000 books in the CLEVNET library available as Kindle, but not ePub.

tubemonkey · 09-10-2015, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

But that wouldn't tell me Kindle *only* - it would tell me only that the book's formats include Kindle format.

Gotcha, I see what you're after now; and I don't know of any way to filter those out.

crane3 · 09-10-2015, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Hmmm, I've seen ePub with no Kindle option, but I don't recall ever seeing the reverse.

The need to transfer via USB must mean it's a Penguin book? I know they have/had that as a requirement for Kindle books.

Do you mind sharing the title of the book? I'd like to see what it says at my local libraries OD site.

The book is "Natural Ordermage (saga of recluce Book 14).azw3" written by L. E. Modesitt. I have some of his books & don't believe that the ebooks are DRM'ed as it is a TOR published book.

Don't know if this is just the 1st shot where the library is "leasing" books from Amazon since I was redirected to Amazon to get the book? Perhaps someone decided that it is easier to have Amazon keep track of books instead of the library!?

It is interesting that I now have 2 copies of the book: on the tablet & the computer. However, haven't checked to see if I really have it in the Fire's directory somewhere. So when I return the book, does both copies disappear of just the one on the Fire 8.9?

edit: forgot to say what happens to people without an Amazon account? must read online?

Cinisajoy · 09-10-2015, 09:35 PM

azw3 is an Amazon format.
Not sure about the Amazon account question.

AnemicOak · 09-10-2015, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crane3

The book is "Natural Ordermage (saga of recluce Book 14).azw3" written by L. E. Modesitt. I have some of his books & don't believe that the ebooks are DRM'ed as it is a TOR published book.

Unfortunately my library doesn't even have it in their 96,000+ book inventory.

I notice though that other libraries have both Kindle & ePub so perhaps it's a glitch with your particular library?
http://jefferson.lib.overdrive.com/2...4-CD4EEEA53E70

The OD site also says ePub should be an available format...
https://www.overdrive.com/media/5128...ural-ordermage

Quote:

Don't know if this is just the 1st shot where the library is "leasing" books from Amazon since I was redirected to Amazon to get the book? Perhaps someone decided that it is easier to have Amazon keep track of books instead of the library!?

All Kindle checkouts redirect to Amazon to finish the process.

Quote:

edit: forgot to say what happens to people without an Amazon account? must read online?

I suppose that or they have to get an Amazon account.

tubemonkey · 09-10-2015, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crane3

The book is "Natural Ordermage (saga of recluce Book 14).azw3" written by L. E. Modesitt. I have some of his books & don't believe that the ebooks are DRM'ed as it is a TOR published book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Unfortunately my library doesn't even have it in their 96,000+ book inventory.

I notice though that other libraries have both Kindle & ePub so perhaps it's a glitch with your particular library?

It's also available in both Kindle and ePub at King County and Seattle.

Froide · 09-10-2015, 11:17 PM

At Free Library of Philadelphia, one can download Natural Ordermage as either a Kindle Book or an EPUB eBook.

09-10-2015, 04:39 PM	#1
crane3 Guru Posts: 608 Karma: 5007204 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Calif Device: Fire hdx 8.9, Tab S2, Tab S5e, Aura ONE	Amazon & OverDrive for libraries to be an exclusive? I received a notice reserved ebook is available & so logged in on my Nexus 7 & "checked out" the book. Went to get the book & the only selections were "Kindle" or "OverDrive Read", no epub!!!!!! Logged out & used the Samsung to get the book; not able to login to the library; same with going back to the Nexus 7. Was able to login using my computer & got the "Kindle" format book; it linked me to Amazon for downloading & even tho I selected downloading to the Fire, an explanation says that I will be getting the book on my computer & to use usb to get it to the Fire. VERY strange. Have sent email to the "contact" at the library about the problem with login & especially the removal of epub for availability for Android devices; there wasn't even an option of getting the book onto an OverDrive app (whatever that thing does). Will probably go & complain personally after reading the book & the 100+ heat wave is over. This may be just a typical IT incompetence of my Sacramento county's people. Or perhaps it is a sign of things to come? Hope not. Hope Amazon doesn't have its finger there.

09-10-2015, 08:19 PM	#9
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	But that wouldn't tell me Kindle only - it would tell me only that the book's formats include Kindle format. ETA: Interesting. I went to the CLEVNET library and searched by Kindle book. It brought up 82,300 books. In the left-hand menu, it lists format totals for all the books and EPub count was 78,719. So there are more than 3,000 books in the CLEVNET library available as Kindle, but not ePub. Last edited by FizzyWater; 09-10-2015 at 08:23 PM.

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09-10-2015, 05:11 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Hmmm, I've seen ePub with no Kindle option, but I don't recall ever seeing the reverse. The need to transfer via USB must mean it's a Penguin book? I know they have/had that as a requirement for Kindle books. Do you mind sharing the title of the book? I'd like to see what it says at my local libraries OD site.

09-10-2015, 05:24 PM	#3
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	This is very likely a bug. Can you post a link to the book in question?

09-10-2015, 05:44 PM	#5
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	This is happening at one of my libraries too. No epub, only Kindle and no it's not a topaz they are indie books mostly I noticed them on.

09-10-2015, 07:28 PM	#7
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I thought there were some ebooks that are sold at Amazon only. It could be Overdrive is starting to offer those. When I search for new books in my Overdrive libraries, I always filter by ePub. I don't know if there's a way to search for Kindle only.

09-10-2015, 09:35 PM	#12
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	azw3 is an Amazon format. Not sure about the Amazon account question.

09-10-2015, 11:17 PM	#15
Froide Wizard Posts: 1,898 Karma: 9851695 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Noo Yawk Device: Samsung Galaxy and Windows devices. RIP: Palm & Nook devices.	At Free Library of Philadelphia, one can download Natural Ordermage as either a Kindle Book or an EPUB eBook.

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