More changes coming to Scribd in March 2016

[Joykins]

They are promising "substantial" previews. Since I sample books before committing to read one, I need to see if that's something I would want to do.

[hedwig]

I cancelled my subscription when they culled the romance selection as this is the backbone of my reading. I'm definitely one of those gluttonous readers who ruined their business model.

I'm actually grateful to Scribd because their actions encouraged me to look into getting library cards and I'm now getting the majority of my books from the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Houston Public Library (both of which offer paid library cards to non-residents and overseas patrons).

[Joykins]

In an edit, or update, Scribd claims that they will have not only the "monthly reads" and the "selects" but also 150,000 "unlimited" titles as well. I assume these will cheap/free/public domain items, but who knows? According to their facebook page the new Sesame Street books are included in the unlimited category, which will be nice for three-year-olds and their parents. They seem to indicate also that books you've already read will remain readable in perpetuity (as long as they're not removed from the catalog and as long as you continue to subscribe) here, although I'm not sure I'm reading it right:

Originally Posted by Scribd

The library as you know it isn't changing, and just to be clear we're talking about your all those favorite books you've been adding to your to-do listof things to read! We want to make sure this transition is as seamless as possible for folks, which is why you'll still have access to any books you're currently reading, or have read in the past. If that means you have ~150 of your favorite Zombie Space Robot novels there, so be it!

For books that are currently stored to your device, you'll need to make sure you have full access to it before reading. If you have books stored to your device through the app that you've never read, then you may be asked to use a Monthly Read or Audiobook Credit on it once our changes go live. This only applies to books you have never read or accessed previously.

We would hate to get in between anyone and the end of a good book, so if you find for any reason you weren't able to finish a title in time or you're having trouble accessing certain titles in March just give our support team a shout and we'll be happy to help!

[tempest@de]

Originally Posted by hedwig

I cancelled my subscription when they culled the romance selection as this is the backbone of my reading. I'm definitely one of those gluttonous readers who ruined their business model.

I'm actually grateful to Scribd because their actions encouraged me to look into getting library cards and I'm now getting the majority of my books from the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Houston Public Library (both of which offer paid library cards to non-residents and overseas patrons).

Is it possible to see the books that are available in this libraries without having a library card?

I also used scribd and canceled a few months ago, I’ve been reading the books that I have in caliber and buying only the ones that are from my favorite authors, I looked at some libraries but those didn’t have the option for overseas patrons, I would like to check the list of books to see if it’s worth becoming a member, I would gladly pay the membership fee if I could borrow at least 1 book per week.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by tempest@de

Is it possible to see the books that are available in this libraries without having a library card?

Yes, generally. Go to any libraries OverDrive site (assuming they use OD) and you can search and browse to your hearts content.

Here are a couple of examples...
Brooklyn Public Library
Free Library of Philadelphia
Houston Public Library

[tempest@de]

Thanks AnemicOak, just checked them and I think I will try to become a member of the Brooklyn library, let’s see how it goes, in the site they only mention out of state residents, so I’m not sure they still accept overseas members, but I’ll try.

[AnemicOak]

Scribd, After Pivoting, Adds 6,000 Macmillan Titles

Scribd, which recently changed its business model, is adding more than 6,000 titles from Macmillan to its subscription e-book service. The addition of the Macmillan titles come on the heels of Scribd's move to a hybrid subscription model.

Among the titles being added are Matthew Quick’s Silver Lininngs Playbook and Richard Price’s Lush life. Nonfiction titles include Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat and George Packer’s Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...an-titles.html

[taosaur]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Scribd, After Pivoting, Adds 6,000 Macmillan Titles

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...an-titles.html

Rats jumping onto a sinking ship? It's almost as if the publisher recognizes it has nothing to lose by gaining readers, but only if their lawyers have signed off on the publicity.

[Bookworm_Girl]

The Scribd app has been updated now to enforce the new limits. The Scribd Select options are pretty good, but there aren't that many of them.

[weateallthepies]

Did anyone else get the "three additional monthly reads" promised in the email. I've just checked and my account shows only 3 monthly reads, I had assumed there would be 6 for the first month if I were getting three additional ones.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by weateallthepies

Did anyone else get the "three additional monthly reads" promised in the email. I've just checked and my account shows only 3 monthly reads, I had assumed there would be 6 for the first month if I were getting three additional ones.

No. I noticed the same thing.

[weateallthepies]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

No. I noticed the same thing.

I got this helpful reply from my email to them:

Sorry about the confusion. To clarify, the 3 Monthly Reads are provided to you at the start of this service, after which time you will then receive three new Reads once your subscription renews!

So my additional three monthly reads is the same as anyone else who cares to sign up for the service? I think they need to look up the word additional.

Oh well, I'm probably going to cancel it soon anyway but assuming they understood my question that seems slightly ridiculous to me.

EDIT: I guess it depends on your subscrition date but since my payment went on the 20th, it doesn't really feel like an additional anything.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by weateallthepies

I got this helpful reply from my email to them:

So my additional three monthly reads is the same as anyone else who cares to sign up for the service? I think they need to look up the word additional.

Oh well, I'm probably going to cancel it soon anyway but assuming they understood my question that seems slightly ridiculous to me.

EDIT: I guess it depends on your subscrition date but since my payment went on the 20th, it doesn't really feel like an additional anything.

Yes, I had thought it meant we would start with 6 credits too (3 for March + 3 extra). I guess how much benefit you get depends on your monthly renewal date. At least mine is at the beginning of April. I feel for you! Also I had 3 books that I was reading that the FAQs implied wouldn't go away. So I have to use my 3 March credits just to finish the books already in-progress.

The Scribd Selects are supposed to go for 2 weeks after the month they are available. I noticed that the one I started reading says it expires in mid-May rather than mid-April.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

The Scribd app has been updated now to enforce the new limits. The Scribd Select options are pretty good, but there aren't that many of them.

As I predicted, they are good quality but also longer books which will eat up your time trying to read.

There is a separate unlimited collection, but I'm not sure what is in it because you can't search on it. You can filter on it but only within your own library, and when you pull up a book you can see which one it is (the unlimited ones will not have the "start for free" i.e. free sample button). I have a few books in my library that are still unlimited, so I'll probably finish those up before quitting, anyway.

As for the "three extra" credits, I looked at my account, I got three the other day and am due for three more on April 2, so I guess that makes the six.

I was in the middle of a book during the transition and I lost my access to the book, which was not supposed to happen. I put in a support ticket and they gave me another credit so I could finish reading it.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Also I had 3 books that I was reading that the FAQs implied wouldn't go away. So I have to use my 3 March credits just to finish the books already in-progress.

Put in a support ticket and list the titles. They should give you credits to finish them. You were supposed to be able to finish any book you were reading.