Amazon to launch Library Lending

[Boston]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I think if libraries see a sharp spike in wait times, they'll probably institute shorter loan periods for popular / new releases; say 7 days. I don't see them buying more copies because their budgets are already strained.

-or- reduce the number of books that can be checked out at once.

Many libraries allow you to check out/hold up to 10 titles at a time.

Our local library network only allows 3 and as a result, it seems that the wait lists are much shorter than the libraries allowing more.

[JeremyR]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I think if libraries see a sharp spike in wait times, they'll probably institute shorter loan periods for popular / new releases; say 7 days. I don't see them buying more copies because their budgets are already strained.

They could always cut back on the DVDs and video games...

[Astrakan]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I didn't know for the longest time because I just used the "delete" key on the keyboard in ADE, not the ridiculously hidden drop down menu.

You learn something new every day. I had no idea you could use the delete key for that. I don't see what's so ridiculously hidden about that menu though... that button is right there next to every cover image in your library.

And if you're using the Overdrive app (phone, rooted Nook, tablet, whatever) and you don't have ADE installed, then you can't return early at all, as far as I know.

Ah, well this is definitely a shortcoming they should fix.

[ProfCrash]

Well, technically, your Nook Color isn't suppose to be rooted so there is nothing for them to fix.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by Astrakan

You learn something new every day. I had no idea you could use the delete key for that. I don't see what's so ridiculously hidden about that menu though... that button is right there next to every cover image in your library.


Ah, well this is definitely a shortcoming they should fix.

The triangle only shows up when the book is selected or highlighted, and then only in the upper left hand corner (i.e., away from where your eyes are focused on the title) and only in a gray that is slightly lighter than the surrounding black background and gray "glow" indicating that the book is selected.

If all you use ADE for is to drag-and-drop the library book onto your device really quick, then you can (and many people do) use ADE for months or even years before noticing that the "triangle" is some kind of hidden menu and not, you know, an "arrow" showing that the book is selected.

I'm no slouch with computers and it took an OpenLibrary.org FAQ to make me realize the triangle was there at all. My mother still has to call me every time she wants to return a library book to ask where the menu option is hidden. It's not what I would call intuitive - even typing this us and checking ADE, it looks like a "hey, this is selected!" notification to me, and nothing more.

What would be more intuitive to me would be if you could get at that option by right-clicking the book, but that just brings up a generic "settings..." dialog. Ah, adobe products.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Well, technically, your Nook Color isn't suppose to be rooted so there is nothing for them to fix.

If this is in response to the Overdrive issue, then it has nothing to do with the NC being rooted or not. ANY android tablet running the Overdrive app has the same issue - you can't return library books via the app. "Rooting" is irrelevant.

[Ron.]

I was excited about this till I checked with my library and found out they have 139 ebooks :P

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by Ron.

I was excited about this till I checked with my library and found out they have 139 ebooks :P

Hopefully, more users (Kindle or otherwise), will also check into it and your library system will notice that there is a demand. Plus, if you start checking out some of those 139, that will get their attention as well. You may also want to see if there is a statewide program that will give you access to more books.

[Ron.]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Hopefully, more users (Kindle or otherwise), will also check into it and your library system will notice that there is a demand. Plus, if you start checking out some of those 139, that will get their attention as well. You may also want to see if there is a statewide program that will give you access to more books.

It's a new library they just opened in August 2010, they are going to try and team up with the library down the street from me. Hopefully that goes through, The problem is the library a block from me is the only one in my township and I am not allowed to sign up to an out of township library, of course it has no ebooks

[anamardoll]

I strongly recommend contacting your library and expressing your interest. Librarians are super-nice, but they aren't mind-readers - they won't know there's a demand for ebooks unless someone tells them.

[Ron.]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I strongly recommend contacting your library and expressing your interest. Librarians are super-nice, but they aren't mind-readers - they won't know there's a demand for ebooks unless someone tells them.

I plan on it, it has been a Holiday here so they have not been open since Thursday. I will also suggest teaming up with the other Library to be a good idea

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I strongly recommend contacting your library and expressing your interest. Librarians are super-nice, but they aren't mind-readers - they won't know there's a demand for ebooks unless someone tells them.

Originally Posted by Ron.

I plan on it, it has been a Holiday here so they have not been open since Thursday. I will also suggest teaming up with the other Library to be a good idea

Excellent!!! Best of luck Ron. I know what it feels like to live where there is a "less than adequate" library.
My husband and I lived in a small Texas town for about a year this was before e-books), and there was practically nothing in the local library. More than half of the shelves were empty. When we were leaving, we stopped by there and donated a few boxes of books to them.

[Ron.]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Excellent!!! Best of luck Ron. I know what it feels like to live where there is a "less than adequate" library.
My husband and I lived in a small Texas town for about a year this was before e-books), and there was practically nothing in the local library. More than half of the shelves were empty. When we were leaving, we stopped by there and donated a few boxes of books to them.

Pre Kindle I used to buy books on half.com and when I was done reading them I would donate them to the library, They have a decent selection and anything they don't have they can get on inter-library loan. They just haven't went with ebooks yet

[kjk]

Interesting debate in comments here over whether this means Amazon will support PDF/ePub, or if Overdrive(or Amazon) will provide Kindle format books: http://www.pigsgourdsandwikis.com/20....html#comments

Your existing collection of downloadable eBooks will be available to Kindle customers. As you add new eBooks to your collection, those titles will also be available in Kindle format for lending to Kindle and Kindle reading apps. Your library will not need to purchase any additional units to have Kindle compatibility. This will work for your existing copies and units.

I think its still unclear based on that statement.

[carld]

I don't see any way that Amazon is going to pay Adobe's DRM fees. I just don't see that happening, so I'm pretty firmly in the no-ePub camp.

Edit: Also any conversion would first entail stripping Adobe's DRM from the existing ePubs. There is no way on God's green earth that Adobe is going to allow that.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by carld

I don't see any way that Amazon is going to pay Adobe's DRM fees. I just don't see that happening, so I'm pretty firmly in the no-ePub camp.

Edit: Also any conversion would first entail stripping Adobe's DRM from the existing ePubs. There is no way on God's green earth that Adobe is going to allow that.

+1

Also, the quoted statement says "available in Kindle format" which to me indicates azw mobi.

If it said "available in a Kindle-compatible format" I'd think maybe it might be something else.