Where can I get DRM e-library software?

i8abug · 05-30-2012, 01:27 PM

Hi,

I'm looking for a way to lend technical ebooks in my office. I looked into Calibre but it does not handle DRM books and checking them in/out. Is there some piece of software I can buy that will control the lending of ebooks in a way that does not violate DRM?

Thanks

Joykins · 05-30-2012, 01:30 PM

Buy an e-reader. Load the books onto it. Pass the e-reader around. Or of people are reading them on machines, allow those people access to the machines. There isn't a way outside of the libraries (Overdrive, 3M) and the 1-time "lend to a friend" done by nook and kindle with selected books that I know to manage lending with DRM.

Also, if they are purchased on Amazon/B&N, you could have all the e-readers registered to the same account with the book. You can have up to 6 devices usually linked to the same account. Similar with Adobe ADE; probably Sony and Kobo too but I'm not as sure about that.

i8abug · 05-30-2012, 01:42 PM

Getting an e-reading is definitely not a bad idea but I was hoping for something that we didn't have to pass around. It would be nice if employees could read books on their own devices. Any ideas for ebook hosting software? I think public libraries use this so I'm wondering if we can too.

susan_cassidy · 05-30-2012, 01:52 PM

Public libraries have elaborate software on their servers. Non-trivial to implement, and different for Kindles and other devices. DRM requires licensing agreements, too, with either Amazon or Adobe. If the books already have DRM, there is no getting around that - it is going to be linked to one device or account (depending on the DRM scheme used).

tubemonkey · 05-30-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i8abug

Any ideas for ebook hosting software? I think public libraries use this so I'm wondering if we can too.

Libraries do use such services; but they have to pay subscription fees, in addition to buying the books. Try contacting 3M Cloud Library or OverDrive and see if they can offer something for you at a reasonable price.

tubemonkey · 05-30-2012, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i8abug

Getting an e-reading is definitely not a bad idea but I was hoping for something that we didn't have to pass around. It would be nice if employees could read books on their own devices.

Which format are these books in? Where did you buy them? Do your employees have company issued smartphones, tablets? or do they have access to ereaders, tablets, smartphones?

AnemicOak · 05-30-2012, 02:58 PM

The server software OverDrive uses for libraries is Adobe Content Server 4. It's quite expensive, about $6,000 to license plus about $2,000 a year fee plus a per DRM transaction fee, but I suppose could be an option for you. However you'd have to get the individual publishers to sell you the books so you could put them on your content server.

Kind of like what Douglas County Colorado did instead of contracting with OverDrive...
http://www.libraries.wright.edu/nosh...book-solution/

CRussel · 05-30-2012, 03:11 PM

Actually, I can think of a fairly simple way to do this. Buy the books, and then strip the DRM from them. (google Apprentice Alf) This makes them device/user independent. Now, put the files into virtually any source control system and let people check them out, and check back in when they're done. This does require that the people treat it properly, since once the DRM is removed, there's no real way to enforce good behaviour. But honestly, if you can't trust your employees for this, especially if the policy is clear, then you have far bigger problems.

pidgeon92 · 05-30-2012, 03:15 PM

I am all for stripping DRM for personal use, but to share books in a business setting? I'd think long and hard before doing that.

Joykins · 05-30-2012, 03:35 PM

I think my company uses Safari books online rather than try to do internal lending.

And yes, I would totally avoid stripping DRM in a business setting. The company could be liable.

QuantumIguana · 05-30-2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joykins

I think my company uses Safari books online rather than try to do internal lending.

And yes, I would totally avoid stripping DRM in a business setting. The company could be liable.

That does seem like a good solution. Stripping DRM has legal risks, and other solutions are just too complex to be worthwhile.

i8abug · 05-30-2012, 04:05 PM

hmm, interesting responses. Thanks everyone.
I don't think DRM stripping is going to be an option.
My company probably can afford 3M Cloud Library or Overdrive, but even with that software, I think the books you can put in is limited. But it might be an option for the future. It is a pretty big investment early.
Which leaves Safari books online. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of technical books here. If we can legally share an account, or if there is some sort of bulk corporate pricing, I think this could be a good solution. Thanks for the suggestion.

05-30-2012, 01:27 PM	#1
i8abug Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2012 Device: none	Where can I get DRM e-library software? Hi, I'm looking for a way to lend technical ebooks in my office. I looked into Calibre but it does not handle DRM books and checking them in/out. Is there some piece of software I can buy that will control the lending of ebooks in a way that does not violate DRM? Thanks

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05-30-2012, 01:30 PM	#2
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,609 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	Buy an e-reader. Load the books onto it. Pass the e-reader around. Or of people are reading them on machines, allow those people access to the machines. There isn't a way outside of the libraries (Overdrive, 3M) and the 1-time "lend to a friend" done by nook and kindle with selected books that I know to manage lending with DRM. Also, if they are purchased on Amazon/B&N, you could have all the e-readers registered to the same account with the book. You can have up to 6 devices usually linked to the same account. Similar with Adobe ADE; probably Sony and Kobo too but I'm not as sure about that.

05-30-2012, 01:42 PM	#3
i8abug Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2012 Device: none	Getting an e-reading is definitely not a bad idea but I was hoping for something that we didn't have to pass around. It would be nice if employees could read books on their own devices. Any ideas for ebook hosting software? I think public libraries use this so I'm wondering if we can too.

05-30-2012, 01:52 PM	#4
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Public libraries have elaborate software on their servers. Non-trivial to implement, and different for Kindles and other devices. DRM requires licensing agreements, too, with either Amazon or Adobe. If the books already have DRM, there is no getting around that - it is going to be linked to one device or account (depending on the DRM scheme used).

05-30-2012, 02:58 PM	#7
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	The server software OverDrive uses for libraries is Adobe Content Server 4. It's quite expensive, about $6,000 to license plus about $2,000 a year fee plus a per DRM transaction fee, but I suppose could be an option for you. However you'd have to get the individual publishers to sell you the books so you could put them on your content server. Kind of like what Douglas County Colorado did instead of contracting with OverDrive... http://www.libraries.wright.edu/nosh...book-solution/

05-30-2012, 03:11 PM	#8
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,282 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	Actually, I can think of a fairly simple way to do this. Buy the books, and then strip the DRM from them. (google Apprentice Alf) This makes them device/user independent. Now, put the files into virtually any source control system and let people check them out, and check back in when they're done. This does require that the people treat it properly, since once the DRM is removed, there's no real way to enforce good behaviour. But honestly, if you can't trust your employees for this, especially if the policy is clear, then you have far bigger problems.

05-30-2012, 03:15 PM	#9
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I am all for stripping DRM for personal use, but to share books in a business setting? I'd think long and hard before doing that.

05-30-2012, 03:35 PM	#10
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,609 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I think my company uses Safari books online rather than try to do internal lending. And yes, I would totally avoid stripping DRM in a business setting. The company could be liable.

05-30-2012, 04:05 PM	#12
i8abug Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2012 Device: none	hmm, interesting responses. Thanks everyone. I don't think DRM stripping is going to be an option. My company probably can afford 3M Cloud Library or Overdrive, but even with that software, I think the books you can put in is limited. But it might be an option for the future. It is a pretty big investment early. Which leaves Safari books online. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of technical books here. If we can legally share an account, or if there is some sort of bulk corporate pricing, I think this could be a good solution. Thanks for the suggestion.