Why no mad rush to Int'l e-lending libs?

1611mac · 11-07-2011, 11:54 AM

I recently joined one of the "widely accessible" lending libraries as mentioned in the MobileRead Wiki. Since this lib allows you to signup online (and thus instantly accessible worldwide) I figured my books of interest would be checked out and that "waiting lines" would be long.

To my surprise, right there in front of me were two classic Robert Heinlein books just waiting to be borrowed. One copy of each owned by library, and that copy available! I immediately grabbed both. (One is already returned, halfway thru the other.)

How can this be in an international market? One copy of a highly desired book available for the whole world and it's not checked out?

Was I extremely lucky or is this normal? Compare this with a popular auction site where a single highly desired item can get dozens of bids..... Why no rush to these free libraries?
.
.
.

ATDrake · 11-07-2011, 12:04 PM

Possibly, the regular patrons of the library simply have different tastes and are eagerly awaiting their hold #89 of 534 on a Stieg Larsson book.

Or given that the main reason why people go to the internationally available libraries is if their own local ones don't lend ebooks/have poor selection, it takes a certain amount of ebook savvy to even know to apply, and anyone who knows that much about ebooks and wants to read Robert Heinlein has probably bought a chunk of his books DRM-free from Baen already.

HomeInMyShoes · 11-07-2011, 12:56 PM

I've been reading a lot of paper books from my library and I've found that anything pre-2005 is pretty much always available or just out with no holds on it. I love my library and the fact that more books are published every year than I'll ever read in fifty lifetimes. Now sifting through that pile to fine ones worthwhile to read can be a bit of a challenge, but there's always something available.

Let's see:
Robert Heinlein "Stranger in a Strange Land": 1 hold on two copies
Robert Heinlein "Starship Troopers": available
Stieg Larsson "The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest": 21 holds on three copies

1611mac · 11-07-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

-snip-

Let's see:
Robert Heinlein "Stranger in a Strange Land": 1 hold on two copies
Robert Heinlein "Starship Troopers": available
Stieg Larsson "The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest": 21 holds on three copies

Very interesting.....

Sadly, I have no library close by that lends ebooks. Closest one is some 50 miles away.

1611mac · 11-07-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Possibly, the regular patrons of the library simply have different tastes and are eagerly awaiting their hold #89 of 534 on a Stieg Larsson book.
-snip-

So there's not 5-6 other ebook users in the entire world who are out of the mainstream as I am????

Wow! I'm unique!

ATDrake · 11-07-2011, 01:22 PM

At least it means that if not that many other people are checking them out, you have a decent chance of borrowing the books you want within this decade?

On the other hand, if not that many other people are checking them out, then maybe the library stops getting in other titles by those authors and puts that money towards another half-dozen copies of Larsson instead, to meet the demand.

elemenoP · 11-07-2011, 01:30 PM

You know what, I was like you when I first joined the library ebook system. I found really fantastic older books in their collection, with no wait times. Books I had been wanting to read for years. Then I read all those books. Now I wait for new releases to be added to the collection like everyone else.

eP

1611mac · 11-07-2011, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

You know what, I was like you when I first joined the library ebook system. I found really fantastic older books in their collection, with no wait times. Books I had been wanting to read for years. Then I read all those books. Now I wait for new releases to be added to the collection like everyone else.

eP

I'm just surprised. I thought that since the library ebooks were free I might go back and revisit some of the characters and themes in the books I read when I was younger. As mentioned above.... I guess not many of us older folk (in my late 50's) use ebooks... especially from a lending lib.

caleb72 · 11-07-2011, 08:44 PM

Many people just buy. Both in paperback and in ebook formats I've never bothered with libraries.

I'm only just now thinking about e-Libraries because I want to find ebook versions of some of my paperbacks to read without having to pay. Before that, I never considered a library membership at all.

1611mac · 11-08-2011, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caleb72

Many people just buy. Both in paperback and in ebook formats I've never bothered with libraries.

I'm only just now thinking about e-Libraries because I want to find ebook versions of some of my paperbacks to read without having to pay. Before that, I never considered a library membership at all.

I agree... but again... this library is available to the world.... not just a city or county. My guess would have been that a FEW people in the world would be interested in the material. Especially with all the stats about ebooks selling so well.

HarryT · 11-08-2011, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1611mac

I agree... but again... this library is available to the world.... not just a city or county. My guess would have been that a FEW people in the world would be interested in the material. Especially with all the stats about ebooks selling so well.

Mr. Heinlein's books are available so cheaply at Baen that it's really not worth the hassle of gettings them from the library.

tubemonkey · 11-08-2011, 04:25 AM

Heinlein's books aren't that popular with the library crowd. One of the largest ebook libraries in the world, Seattle Public Library (over 32,000 ebooks), only has one of his books in their entire collection. They have one copy of Red Planet and it's checked out, with only one person on the waiting list.

ScalyFreak · 11-08-2011, 11:00 AM

Or it might be a lack of awareness of these libraries. I had no idea they existed. They're in the MR wiki?

1611mac · 11-08-2011, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Or it might be a lack of awareness of these libraries. I had no idea they existed. They're in the MR wiki?

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/EBook_Lending_Libraries

Dopedangel · 11-08-2011, 11:53 AM

I think their are 2 reasons
1) its easier to google and download a book then having to register to an online library and then to check if it has the book in its collection or not.
2) Eink readers are not that common outside the US

11-07-2011, 11:54 AM	#1
1611mac eWanderer Posts: 523 Karma: 1441998 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: iMac,iPad3,iPhone5-Kindle Fire,Touch,PaperWhite	Why no mad rush to Int'l e-lending libs? I recently joined one of the "widely accessible" lending libraries as mentioned in the MobileRead Wiki. Since this lib allows you to signup online (and thus instantly accessible worldwide) I figured my books of interest would be checked out and that "waiting lines" would be long. To my surprise, right there in front of me were two classic Robert Heinlein books just waiting to be borrowed. One copy of each owned by library, and that copy available! I immediately grabbed both. (One is already returned, halfway thru the other.) How can this be in an international market? One copy of a highly desired book available for the whole world and it's not checked out? Was I extremely lucky or is this normal? Compare this with a popular auction site where a single highly desired item can get dozens of bids..... Why no rush to these free libraries? . . . Last edited by 1611mac; 11-07-2011 at 11:55 AM. Reason: spelling

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
copy between libs, keep custom fields	drMerry	Library Management	1	05-24-2011 06:56 PM
Kindle DX Int'l for experiments...	ArdjanB	Kindle Developer's Corner	3	04-15-2011 01:57 PM
DR800 non-stripped libs? pleeease?	dima_tr	iRex Developer's Corner	0	10-20-2010 08:14 AM
Ended Kindle 2 Int'l	AintLDS	Flea Market	5	02-12-2010 09:53 PM
iLiad Possible to add libs to iLiad SDK?	ericshliao	iRex Developer's Corner	0	12-25-2007 04:37 AM

11-07-2011, 12:04 PM	#2
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Possibly, the regular patrons of the library simply have different tastes and are eagerly awaiting their hold #89 of 534 on a Stieg Larsson book. Or given that the main reason why people go to the internationally available libraries is if their own local ones don't lend ebooks/have poor selection, it takes a certain amount of ebook savvy to even know to apply, and anyone who knows that much about ebooks and wants to read Robert Heinlein has probably bought a chunk of his books DRM-free from Baen already.

11-07-2011, 12:56 PM	#3
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	I've been reading a lot of paper books from my library and I've found that anything pre-2005 is pretty much always available or just out with no holds on it. I love my library and the fact that more books are published every year than I'll ever read in fifty lifetimes. Now sifting through that pile to fine ones worthwhile to read can be a bit of a challenge, but there's always something available. Let's see: Robert Heinlein "Stranger in a Strange Land": 1 hold on two copies Robert Heinlein "Starship Troopers": available Stieg Larsson "The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest": 21 holds on three copies

11-07-2011, 01:22 PM	#6
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	At least it means that if not that many other people are checking them out, you have a decent chance of borrowing the books you want within this decade? On the other hand, if not that many other people are checking them out, then maybe the library stops getting in other titles by those authors and puts that money towards another half-dozen copies of Larsson instead, to meet the demand.

11-07-2011, 01:30 PM	#7
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	You know what, I was like you when I first joined the library ebook system. I found really fantastic older books in their collection, with no wait times. Books I had been wanting to read for years. Then I read all those books. Now I wait for new releases to be added to the collection like everyone else. eP

11-07-2011, 08:44 PM	#9
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Many people just buy. Both in paperback and in ebook formats I've never bothered with libraries. I'm only just now thinking about e-Libraries because I want to find ebook versions of some of my paperbacks to read without having to pay. Before that, I never considered a library membership at all.

11-08-2011, 04:25 AM	#12
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Heinlein's books aren't that popular with the library crowd. One of the largest ebook libraries in the world, Seattle Public Library (over 32,000 ebooks), only has one of his books in their entire collection. They have one copy of Red Planet and it's checked out, with only one person on the waiting list.

11-08-2011, 11:00 AM	#13
ScalyFreak Sith Wannabe Posts: 2,034 Karma: 8017430 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: I'm not sure... it's kind of dark. Device: Galaxy Note 4, Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Fire HD, Aluratek Libre	Or it might be a lack of awareness of these libraries. I had no idea they existed. They're in the MR wiki?

11-08-2011, 11:53 AM	#15
Dopedangel Wizard Posts: 1,791 Karma: 30548723 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore Device: Boyue	I think their are 2 reasons 1) its easier to google and download a book then having to register to an online library and then to check if it has the book in its collection or not. 2) Eink readers are not that common outside the US

Advert

Advert