I Miss Chicago Public Library

[Sydney's Mom]

On Monday, I checked out an e-book from the Chicago Public Library. On Tuesday, I tried to do the same, and found out that as of Tuesday, ebooks were restricted to residents of Chicago. Tonight, I recieved an email that a book I had put on hold was ready for check out. Unfortunately, holds were not cancelled, and they last for 5 days, so the next person on the list will not get the book until late Wednesday evening.

I really enjoyed the CPL website. The help desk was very helpful - whenever I had a question (when are the new books coming out, did you order X) they always answered me within 20 minutes. Today, when I emailed the help desk and said how much I appreciated them and the use of the CPL website for the last year or so, they emailed me back to thank me within 20 minutes!

Since I don't go to bookstores anymore (the really nice Borders near my house is now a Mens Warehouse), I used the CPL ebook site to learn about new books. Reamde, IQ84, Out of Oz. My local ebook site doesn't have the same broad collection that CPL has.

My husband promised we would move back to the city when he retired (he works in the burbs, while I work downtown), but by that time, there may not be any publishers still selling to libraries!

When I was a kid, I loved, loved, loved libraries. Then I quit going to libraries for pleasure reading. Since I got an ereader, I discovered libraries again, and really think digital is the future of the library. I think CPL really does it right.

I really, really miss CPL.

[carld]

I feel for you Sydney's Mom. It looks like things are only going to get more restrictive from here on, which is really unfortunate. There may still be some out of state libraries that you could join for a fee, though I think some of those have stopped doing that too.

[FizzyWater]

Don't you have any Chicago-city friends who don't read who'd be willing to let you use their library card number?

[bgalbrecht]

The Hennepin County library just did that also. They've got 24000 ebooks in their catalog, compared to just 4,000 for my library system, and my library system doesn't order ebook titles in my favorite genre. Unfortunately, ebooks don't get moved around the metro area like paper books, so I can understand why they're not doing reciprocal privileges.

[Fbone]

They don't allow people who work in the city to use the Chicago library either?

[Apache]

Originally Posted by Fbone

They don't allow people who work in the city to use the Chicago library either?

I was going to suggest you use your work address to get a Chicago City Library Card.
Apache

[Vic333]

Yep, the The Hennepin County library is now city residents only as of the first of the year. It's cheaper for them I suppose, so I don't blame them. But, I am still getting notices for books that I can't check out. Arg! And I can't even log in to clear out my requests, so I know I have more frustrating notices to look forward to in the future.

[Sydney's Mom]

I asked someone I worked with - told him I would pay him $50 for his library card (he doesn't use it). He said it would cost a $1000 contribution to CPL - I told him I could buy all the books I wanted for that!

But I understand where he is coming from. I don't pay for CPL. And I imagine a majority of ebook requests were coming from the suburbs, where people might have the $$ to buy an ereader. I hope that changes.

At least I still have Mobilread!!!!

[geertm]

The publishers have forced Overdrive to restrict the number of books available to libraries that do not limit access to their ebooks to people from their own area.
See the following article for more information:
http://librarianinblack.net/libraria...overdrive.html

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by geertm

The publishers have forced Overdrive to restrict the number of books available to libraries that do not limit access to their ebooks to people from their own area.
See the following article for more information:
http://librarianinblack.net/libraria...overdrive.html

I would like to blame the publishers for this one, but Chicago is having budget issues, like everywhere else, and recently laid off 185 librarians. It was the librarians who suggested cutting down the ebook audience to limit their work. I certainly understand - libraries are funded through property tax, and consequently I don't support the CPL. If the library has fewer resources, they should go to the ressidents that pay for them.

But I still miss CPL!

[Shopaholic]

Sydney's Mom please check with them to see if they allow you to get a library card because you work in the city. It's like that in Ontario, Canada and is my understanding it's like that with other locations as well. I don't know them all obviously though & perhaps Chicago is different.

It's worth checking out. Our libraries ask that you bring in a paystub showing your work address or a business card with the work address on it then you're good to go. If you work in the city then you are contributing to that city through payroll taxes.

I just looked at the site & it doesn't seem like they offer cards for people that work in the city. Interesting! But they do offer use of the CPL if you have a card from a reciprocal library. Maybe you could look into that.

http://www.chipublib.org/howto/library_card.php

Here's the link to the list of reciprocal libraries and maybe yours is on there. +++ fingers crossed for you.

http://www.chipublib.org/aboutcpl/cp...ocalborrow.php

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

Sydney's Mom please check with them to see if they allow you to get a library card because you work in the city. It's like that in Ontario, Canada and is my understanding it's like that with other locations as well. I don't know them all obviously though & perhaps Chicago is different.

It's worth checking out. Our libraries ask that you bring in a paystub showing your work address or a business card with the work address on it then you're good to go. If you work in the city then you are contributing to that city through payroll taxes.

I just looked at the site & it doesn't seem like they offer cards for people that work in the city. Interesting! But they do offer use of the CPL if you have a card from a reciprocal library. Maybe you could look into that.

http://www.chipublib.org/howto/library_card.php

Here's the link to the list of reciprocal libraries and maybe yours is on there. +++ fingers crossed for you.

http://www.chipublib.org/aboutcpl/cp...ocalborrow.php

Thanks, Shopaholic, but there is no city tax in Chicago. Libraries get revenue from property tax, and since I don't own any property in Chicago, I can't get a resident card. I already have a reciprocal card - that is what they decided no longer works for ebooks.

I appreciate all the help, but I understand why I can't use CPL, and I am sure a lot of other Mobilreaders are dissapointed with this trend (I see Minn went the same way). Since publishers hate ebooks at libraries even more than pbooks, I am concerned about the future of libraries as we move closer and closer to a completely digital age. Of course we won't get there for some time, but it is coming.

This is just a love letter to Chicago Public Library. Anyone who is a resident should get a library book and look at their ebook offerings - they are great!

[pyomn]

I think CPL really does it right.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I asked someone I worked with - told him I would pay him $50 for his library card (he doesn't use it). He said it would cost a $1000 contribution to CPL - I told him I could buy all the books I wanted for that!

For $100 you can purchase your own Chicago library card.

[Filark]

Originally Posted by geertm

The publishers have forced Overdrive to restrict the number of books available to libraries that do not limit access to their ebooks to people from their own area.
See the following article for more information:
http://librarianinblack.net/libraria...overdrive.html

Thank you for this link -- very interesting! Essentially the whole ebooks industry continues to be in a state of flux. I only hope libraries and the public they serve come out ahead in the end.

Fbone, how can Sydney's Mom (or anyone??) purchase a CPL card? Where id you get that information?