Your Library's E-book Results --- The Rankings!

[KarenH]

Wow, thanks for the information!

I feel very fortunate to have access to Seattle's library system, it's great!

One more to add to the list: Oregon Digital Library Consortium - 6003 ePUB titles, and 1043 PDF. I know there is some overlap between the two formats, but the majority of titles seem to be limited to one format or the other.

[Marcy]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Surrey, UK : 411
Can't get too excited about ebook borrowing yet.

Henderson, NV ---> 49!

But I'm still excited. It's a start and better than the zero we previously had. And they are almost all popular best-sellers as opposed to obscure books.

-Marcy

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

This is a fabulous amount of work. Thank you.

My only reminder would be that numbers aren't everything. Every library's selection is slightly different, and so is their traffic. I have cards for both Buffalo and New York.

You're welcome. Yes, numbers can be deceptive and that's why I try to count unique titles. I figure 30 titles (one format) is better than 10 (3 formats). And I noticed many libraries had large non-fiction books which may not appeal to everyone. Also, saw lots of romances but I figure it shows the libraries are willing to utilize new technology and open to suggested titles when requested.

Originally Posted by texasnightowl

Any DC area residents?

So, let's say I'm considering the non-resident Washington D.C. library card option...which location is typically most convenient for someone coming from out of town? I don't know whether I would take the train up (6 hrs but puts me at Union Station) or drive (4.5 or 5 hrs but have to deal with traffic and not knowing where I'm going!). I'd be coming up I-95 from North Carolina... Any suggestions?

Sorry, I must correct Washington DC's numbers. I forgot to adjust for multiple formats. DC library has many mobi versions. Another option is the Virginia Beach library, if it's closer, they have 4999 titles with 4365 being fiction for $35 annual fee walk-in only. I'll have to add VB to the list.

Originally Posted by KarenH

Wow, thanks for the information!

I feel very fortunate to have access to Seattle's library system, it's great!

One more to add to the list: Oregon Digital Library Consortium - 6003 ePUB titles, and 1043 PDF. I know there is some overlap between the two formats, but the majority of titles seem to be limited to one format or the other.

Washington County Oregon is part of the Consortium. I listed it as a poster uses it here.
Seattle has a nice set-up. Many of their new titles are offered in multiple formats too. I had to adjust their numbers down considerably. For mobi users it's very good.

[silverraven]

Charlotte (NC) ..................... $45 [322 titles]

Yikes!

Three guesses where I live! For such a large area we have a very very small online collection. With the amount of taxes we pay, wonder where that money is going?? Obviously not for books.
S

[Fbone]

Updated already. I was surprised how many e-books were available in some smaller cities. And yet large ones had few or no ebooks at all. Atlanta hasnt started Overdrive yet but is planned. And North Carolina evidently has severe budget problem and has relatively few on offer.

Want to add that most libraries offer non-residents a library card with annual fee. Downside is that you have to be present with acceptable ID. If you go vacation regularly to the same area you may inquire about joining if they have a large and growing collection of e-books. Some fees are modest.

[Tinks]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I was surprised how many e-books were available in some smaller cities. And yet large ones had few or no ebooks at all.

I know. One of the cities I have a library card in has only one library, but they have 1421 ebooks in Overdrive. Yet another city that I have a library card with has multiple libraries, but doesn't even have Overdrive. They have Netlibrary which is horrible.

[texasnightowl]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Sorry, I must correct Washington DC's numbers. I forgot to adjust for multiple formats. DC library has many mobi versions. Another option is the Virginia Beach library, if it's closer, they have 4999 titles with 4365 being fiction for $35 annual fee walk-in only. I'll have to add VB to the list.

Hmm..interesting, thanks. Might be a weekend trip coming up.

Yeah, my library only has 154 titles, but that is 154 more than they had last week! It'll be interesting to see how quickly they add titles. Is it common for most libraries with a decent collection to add books weekly or monthly?

[zooby]

Glasgow - 0

[SteveK]

The Tennessee statewide system has 5,239 titles in PDF, 1,361 titles in EPUB, 6,880 audiobooks in WMA and 669 audiobooks in MP3 format. I remember barely a year ago when they first started adding EPUB books and they had around 75 or so. I had more EPUB books in my collection than they did! Obviously that statement is no longer true.

Fortunately, my local library is part of the statewide system, which is called Regional Ebook and Audiobook Download System (READS), which I thought was a rather clever name. I don't believe they accept non-resident applications, but if you live in Tennessee you might want to check if your library participates.

SteveK

[phenomshel]

Dixon, IL - 2 Does this equal hall of shame??

[carld]

Interesting note, if you live in anywhere in Ohio you can apply for a Columbus Metropolitan Library card. If you apply online the card is only good for online resources.

Columbus Metropolitan Library

Edit: I got the card, but found out you still need to stop in at one of the branch libraries to validate the card .... kinda meh... when you live 100+ miles away.

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by PG4003

Wow, thanks so much for posting this. I've just recently sent my $15 to the Philadelphia library, I wondered if there were others who allowed non-residents to apply. That $125 for Orange County is a little steep, they must not want very many people to apply for that!

Isn't unheard of. I've been checking into this since I live in an area without a library, so trying to sign up for ones that accept out of area members. NYPL I know used to be $100 a year. St Charles County Missouri is $80 and St Louis County Missouri is $50.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by SteveK

The Tennessee statewide system has 5,239 titles in PDF, 1,361 titles in EPUB, 6,880 audiobooks in WMA and 669 audiobooks in MP3 format. I remember barely a year ago when they first started adding EPUB books and they had around 75 or so. I had more EPUB books in my collection than they did! Obviously that statement is no longer true.

Fortunately, my local library is part of the statewide system, which is called Regional Ebook and Audiobook Download System (READS), which I thought was a rather clever name. I don't believe they accept non-resident applications, but if you live in Tennessee you might want to check if your library participates.

SteveK

Thanks, Steve. Earlier I had looked at Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga and none of them are part of READS. Only Nashville has e-books and a good amount with 2143 titles.
I looked at Gatlinburg and they are part of READS with 6532 unique titles so I'll have to somehow add READS to my list.

[Alexander Turcic]

This is some excellent information. Fbone, would you mind adding it to the Wiki or if one of us added it to it? We have a page dedicated to e-book lending libraries:

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

[texasnightowl]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

This is some excellent information. Fbone, would you mind adding it to the Wiki or if one of us added it to it? We have a page dedicated to e-book lending libraries:

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

Fbone and Alexander...I'd be willing to help with this also. I just created an account for the wiki the other day to add the NC - Wake County entry to the list.