public library content

rcrh · 07-30-2009, 10:42 AM

Since the Sony readers can use the DRM'd epub format and some public libraries have starting making books available in this format I looked into the local library in the Charlotte area. That exercise turned out to be a huge disappointment. They use two different systems (overdrive & something else), most of the titles can only be read online, and searching for titles is almost impossible.

But then it dawned on my that I'm looking for "ebooks" and "edistribution". Shouldn't that mean that I should be able to get access to a public library anywhere?

With that thought in mind I want to turn to this community and ask: What city has the best public library collection of downloadable ebooks?

go!

daisy76 · 07-30-2009, 11:02 AM

Here is a link for a previous post that really helped me out.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=27631&page=2

JSWolf · 07-30-2009, 11:03 AM

rcrh, where is it you live? Not all libraries allow members outside of the area. Most in fact are that way.

doreenjoy · 07-30-2009, 04:05 PM

I believe Overdrive allows you to read the books on your device. The SFPL books are all through Overdrive.

dordale · 07-30-2009, 04:24 PM

Doreenjoy is right--overdrive books as long as they are ePub (preferable) or PDF (okay most of the time) are readable on your reader. Overdrive also offers mobipocket books which won't work on the 505's.

Overdrive has a good search engine at http://search.overdrive.com/ which allows you to locate libraries in your area. In order to download e-books from a library, you'll need a library card. Most libraries list the requirements in order to get one of their cards, and in most (all?) cases they have some sort of residency requirements. I believe there are a few libraries who will offer cards to non-residents for a fee. I know the New York Public Library used to do this for $100/year. (I have one that will be expiring soon.) But they have recently stopped offering these.

Good luck!

dordale

doreenjoy · 07-30-2009, 04:25 PM

SFPL is open to all residents of California. You can check the Wiki for more information on accessing public library e-book collections.

tench · 07-30-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

I looked into the local library in the Charlotte area

I'm not sure if your library is the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, but if it is then you should be able to read the Overdrive ebooks on your reader. Unfortunately, a search for all Adobe PDF ebooks shows that PLCMC only currently has 121 of them. (PLCMC doesn't have any epub books at all.) With a collection that small, maybe the library only adds a specific ebook when it is requested by a patron? It wouldn't hurt to ask...

macgirlmichelle · 08-04-2009, 02:38 PM

I have sent an email request to the Charlotte/Mecklenburg contact, but have yet to get a response. The next time I'm in the branch, I'll try to talk to a real person. I have a feeling it all comes back to the color green and lack of it

.

macgirlmichelle · 08-11-2009, 11:30 AM

Good news for us Charlotte folks! I used the online form to submit a request for an Adobe ebook on Overdrive, and they emailed back within a few days, and the book was there on Overdrive for me to download. Easy peasy!! She indicated that I was one of the first to even ask for this, so if more of us ask, I am sure we'll soon see growth in their catalog offering.

tench · 08-11-2009, 12:48 PM

I'm so jealous macgirlmichelle! That sounds like amazing service.

PennyPie · 08-11-2009, 12:59 PM

Overdrive, headquartered here in Cleveland OH, has a Digital Bookmobile, which is touring the US promoting it's books to libraries. Here's a link to their bookmobile site where you can get their tour schedule:

http://www.digitalbookmobile.com/default.aspx

If it comes to your area, you should check it out!

On their pages is a section for Libraries to contact them:

http://www.overdrive.com/products/dlr/advantage.asp

Ya'll should urge your local libraries to take advantage of their service, as most libraries require residency to get library cards.

I'm very pleased with our own Cuyahoga County Library and it's selection of current eBook titles.

Penny

frank10 · 09-16-2009, 11:58 AM

Maybe someone can straighten me out. My prs-500 will read pdfs, but they really need to be reflowed in most cases to be readable. Is there some way to reflow these protected pdf downloaded files?

BeccaAnn · 09-16-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Ya'll should urge your local libraries to take advantage of their service, as most libraries require residency to get library cards.

I'm very pleased with our own Cuyahoga County Library and it's selection of current eBook titles.

Penny

I wish it were that easy. I've talked to my local library about it but until they can come up with at least $20,000 to get started, I'm doomed to only get dead tree books from my local library. Also, the closest library to me with Overdrive only has audiobooks. Sometimes it really stinks to live in the middle of nowhere.

dordale · 09-16-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank10

Maybe someone can straighten me out. My prs-500 will read pdfs, but they really need to be reflowed in most cases to be readable. Is there some way to reflow these protected pdf downloaded files?

I'm pretty sure that the 500 won't work with DRM'ed PDF files. Also, the 500 doesn't have true "reflow" capabilities. This was added to the 505 with the firmware update, but was never added to the 500.

dordale

07-30-2009, 10:42 AM	#1
rcrh Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	public library content Since the Sony readers can use the DRM'd epub format and some public libraries have starting making books available in this format I looked into the local library in the Charlotte area. That exercise turned out to be a huge disappointment. They use two different systems (overdrive & something else), most of the titles can only be read online, and searching for titles is almost impossible. But then it dawned on my that I'm looking for "ebooks" and "edistribution". Shouldn't that mean that I should be able to get access to a public library anywhere? With that thought in mind I want to turn to this community and ask: What city has the best public library collection of downloadable ebooks? go!

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07-30-2009, 11:02 AM	#2
daisy76 Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Sony Ereader	Here is a link for a previous post that really helped me out. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=27631&page=2

07-30-2009, 11:03 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	rcrh, where is it you live? Not all libraries allow members outside of the area. Most in fact are that way.

07-30-2009, 04:05 PM	#4
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	I believe Overdrive allows you to read the books on your device. The SFPL books are all through Overdrive.

07-30-2009, 04:24 PM	#5
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	Doreenjoy is right--overdrive books as long as they are ePub (preferable) or PDF (okay most of the time) are readable on your reader. Overdrive also offers mobipocket books which won't work on the 505's. Overdrive has a good search engine at http://search.overdrive.com/ which allows you to locate libraries in your area. In order to download e-books from a library, you'll need a library card. Most libraries list the requirements in order to get one of their cards, and in most (all?) cases they have some sort of residency requirements. I believe there are a few libraries who will offer cards to non-residents for a fee. I know the New York Public Library used to do this for $100/year. (I have one that will be expiring soon.) But they have recently stopped offering these. Good luck! dordale

07-30-2009, 04:25 PM	#6
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	SFPL is open to all residents of California. You can check the Wiki for more information on accessing public library e-book collections.

08-04-2009, 02:38 PM	#8
macgirlmichelle Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony 505	I have sent an email request to the Charlotte/Mecklenburg contact, but have yet to get a response. The next time I'm in the branch, I'll try to talk to a real person. I have a feeling it all comes back to the color green and lack of it .

08-11-2009, 11:30 AM	#9
macgirlmichelle Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony 505	Good news for us Charlotte folks! I used the online form to submit a request for an Adobe ebook on Overdrive, and they emailed back within a few days, and the book was there on Overdrive for me to download. Easy peasy!! She indicated that I was one of the first to even ask for this, so if more of us ask, I am sure we'll soon see growth in their catalog offering.

08-11-2009, 12:48 PM	#10
tench Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 5666 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	I'm so jealous macgirlmichelle! That sounds like amazing service.

08-11-2009, 12:59 PM	#11
PennyPie Cocoa & Toast...mmmmmm... Posts: 275 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio Device: Sony PRS-700, iPhone	Overdrive, headquartered here in Cleveland OH, has a Digital Bookmobile, which is touring the US promoting it's books to libraries. Here's a link to their bookmobile site where you can get their tour schedule: http://www.digitalbookmobile.com/default.aspx If it comes to your area, you should check it out! On their pages is a section for Libraries to contact them: http://www.overdrive.com/products/dlr/advantage.asp Ya'll should urge your local libraries to take advantage of their service, as most libraries require residency to get library cards. I'm very pleased with our own Cuyahoga County Library and it's selection of current eBook titles. Penny

09-16-2009, 11:58 AM	#12
frank10 Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: psp-500	Maybe someone can straighten me out. My prs-500 will read pdfs, but they really need to be reflowed in most cases to be readable. Is there some way to reflow these protected pdf downloaded files?