library books and expirations

[HarleyB]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

There should be a name, like Moore's Law or Murphy's Law, for the phenomenom of "no matter how far apart I stagger my ebook holds, they will all come in at the same time."

We could call it "elemenoP's Law."

eP

I had 6 books on my waitlist. I was 1st on the list for a couple but 3rd or 4th for most of them. I had been waiting since last year for some of them as I remember being 10th when I originally waitlisted them - at up to 21 days per borrower that's a long time. Then I went away for 10 days.
Incredibly 5 of the books became available while I was away from my computer and therefore unable to download them.

Of course now that I am back home I am back on the waitlist for them all over again.

[ReneeMR]

Sure would be nice if there was an option to bypass the book, but stay at the front of the line for next time it becomes available.

[abookreader]

Originally Posted by FF2

Okay, I have read enough - strip the drm and read the book. I have to guess you pay your taxes. Those taxes support your library. They purchased the book and it can be loaned out to anyone. Only you cannot read it.

I'm glad somebody else was brave enough to say it.

Look, you are jumping through a whole bunch of hoops to try and circumvent the time restriction. If you're going to circumvent the time restriction anyway --- which is a whole other moralistic argument that we could probably generate 4 pages of opinion on -- then just liberate the book, read it, and delete your copies when you are through.

A whole lot less of a headache - no?

[Catlady]

My library gives me three days to check out a book after I've received notification of its availability. Is there a way to indicate "never mind, I don't want it now" before the three days are up, short of checking it out and immediately returning it? That way the book wouldn't be out of circulation for those extra three days.

[SeaBookGuy]

I had thought I'd read that Overdrive freezes your account if you return a book within 48 hours of checkout?

I'm confused about "not wanting it now"? Do you mean, I don't want it at all anymore - in which case, why not remove it from your hold request queue? Or, you want to read it, but another time?

[ReneeMR]

Originally Posted by Catlady

My library gives me three days to check out a book after I've received notification of its availability. Is there a way to indicate "never mind, I don't want it now" before the three days are up, short of checking it out and immediately returning it? That way the book wouldn't be out of circulation for those extra three days.

You can add it to your cart and then remove it before checking out.

[Sydney's Mom]

Just add it to your cart, and go away. After 30 minutes, it will go to the next person and the wait list (happened to me). I went back to the end of the line.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I had thought I'd read that Overdrive freezes your account if you return a book within 48 hours of checkout?

I'm confused about "not wanting it now"? Do you mean, I don't want it at all anymore - in which case, why not remove it from your hold request queue? Or, you want to read it, but another time?

I mean when several holds all come in at once and I know I can't read them all, so I want to let one or two of them go to the next person on the waiting list. Currently I just let them expire, but that means they're sitting in limbo for three days for no reason, when there are others waiting for the books.

Never heard about Overdrive freezing the account, but that would be completely insane. If a book sounds interesting but you start to read it and find out you hate it and want to return it, why should you be penalized? And anyway, it's certainly possible to read a book in 48 hours, so why keep it longer if you're done?

[Catlady]

Thanks, ReneeMR and Sydney's Mom--that's perfect!

[FF2]

Originally Posted by abookreader

I'm glad somebody else was brave enough to say it.

Look, you are jumping through a whole bunch of hoops to try and circumvent the time restriction. If you're going to circumvent the time restriction anyway --- which is a whole other moralistic argument that we could probably generate 4 pages of opinion on -- then just liberate the book, read it, and delete your copies when you are through.

A whole lot less of a headache - no?

I followed the thread for a few days and finally just had had it and decided to take the drm-bull by the horns. I know some slow readers (not the machine but the person) and they'd need more time to read and enjoy a book. These hoops are getting in the way of reading. While stripping should be a last resort, at least, it does not deprive other library borrowers of the book.

[Asawi]

Overdrive can freeze the account temporarily if you make many early returns in a short time. An early return now and then, say one or two in a day shouldn't be a problem.

[sufue]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I had thought I'd read that Overdrive freezes your account if you return a book within 48 hours of checkout?

I have done this a few times (LA County Public Library), when I've discovered the book isn't really what I thought.

And, no, my account, from that library at least, has not been frozen.

[dixieknits]

I have a Jetbook and my son-in law has the Sony 300. Neither of these have built-in clocks , so the library books never expire. I delete each as I finish. Yes sometimes, I'll be on a wait list with no books for weeks, then 4 come all at once.
The little Sony, pocketreader is now being clearanced out of most big stores and the Jetbook is always availabe from online sources, Newegg, Amazon etc.
It seems a much simpler, even legal solution than messing with pythons (yuk hate them) and stripping tools.. and still be able to finish a great book without wating 3 more weeks for a new subscripition.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I had thought I'd read that Overdrive freezes your account if you return a book within 48 hours of checkout?

No, I've returned books in less time than that-- when the opening didn't interest me, or when I've finished it in a few hours. Never had my account locked.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by Asawi

Overdrive can freeze the account temporarily if you make many early returns in a short time. An early return now and then, say one or two in a day shouldn't be a problem.

I return most of my books early and never had a problem. I consider early returns a courtesy to other patrons on the waiting list. I have returned 8 books or so at a time, no problem.

Perhaps this is a function of how libraries customize it...all I can say is Md. and DC have never frozen me.