Thinking of getting a Kindle, Can I really get library books for it?

bam451 · 04-10-2010, 09:03 PM

I keep reading that it is possible to get check out library books for a Kindle. Is this true? Is it really hard?

desertgrandma · 04-10-2010, 09:44 PM

Can it be done? Yes. Is it hard? No.....not if you find a good guru to help.

1) Your library of choice (where ever you have a library card ) must carry mobipocket format ebooks, and have a selection that pleases you.

2) You must download and run "kindlefix.py" script on your computer, after you download the library book, so that your kindle can 'read' it.

3) You simply then load the book to your kindle, using the USB cord, and after the load period is over, (whatever your library's loan period is) the book "closes" just as if you left it on your computer. You can then delete it, because its no longer readable.

We are no longer able, thanks to Amazon, to provide detailed instructions on how to do this, but some searching should provide results. Good luck.

bam451 · 04-11-2010, 12:33 AM

How is the quality once the books go through this process?

RobbieClarken · 04-11-2010, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bam451

How is the quality once the books go through this process?

The quality is unaffected - I believe the script just re-encrypts the eBook with your Kindle's PID key.

You can also remove Digital Rights Management from ePub ebooks, convert them to MOBI and delete the ebooks manually when your loan expires. I don't think doing this is wrong since libraries rely on a similar "honesty system" when they deliver audiobooks as DRM-free MP3s or WMAs that can be converted to a DRM-free format for iPods or burnt to CDs which you must destroy when the loan expires.

SensualPoet · 04-11-2010, 10:15 AM

This turned out to be ridiculously easy -- snagging the Kindle pid, installing Overdrive to borrow the book (this is a requirement of your library), removing the DRM with a one dialog box entry (input name, output name), converting to mobi, dropping onto the Kindle.

It sounds way more complicated than it is.

If there is a caveat ... it's that many libraries have a pretty sorry collection of library e-books at the moment.

emai7s2 · 05-03-2010, 04:06 AM

Adobe Digital Editions support, which is a frequent requirement for supporting ebook downloads from public libraries, seems to be an increasingly common feature on many ebook readers (Irex, PocketBook, Kobo, etc.). See: http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/devices/

Does Amazon plan to offer ADE support for the Kindle at some point? I know there are some kludges around that allow the Kindle to access library books in mobi format, but I am interested in official out-of-the-box ADE support.

AnemicOak · 05-03-2010, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emai7s2

Does Amazon plan to offer ADE support for the Kindle at some point? I know there are some kludges around that allow the Kindle to access library books in mobi format, but I am interested in official out-of-the-box ADE support.

It's always possible, but kinda doubtful at this point. Amazon has very few reasons to want to open up the Kindle so that you can buy books from everyone else and that's what adding ADE support would do. It'd be nice, but at this point I just don't see it (unless they start really losing vs. the Nook and others that do support it).

pboss · 05-03-2010, 11:31 AM

epub is coming but it will most likely not be with ADE support. Amazon takes a loss on a lot of its ebooks to have the lowest or matching pricing. The offset of that is the profit on Kindles. Why would they give that up?

pilotbob · 05-03-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pboss

epub is coming but it will most likely not be with ADE support.

Where is this announced?

BOb

AnemicOak · 05-03-2010, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pboss

epub is coming but it will most likely not be with ADE support.

Source???

Quote:

Amazon takes a loss on a lot of its ebooks to have the lowest or matching pricing.

With agency pricing for a lot of the titles they used to take a loss on it's not the same as it was. Even then it was really only a small number of titles (mainly current bestsellers) that they were taking a loss on (and still are on some Random House titles). Most/all back catalog titles weren't loss leaders.

tomsem · 05-03-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pboss

epub is coming but it will most likely not be with ADE support. Amazon takes a loss on a lot of its ebooks to have the lowest or matching pricing. The offset of that is the profit on Kindles. Why would they give that up?

Amazon takes a loss on some titles, but we can be sure they more than make up for it on others. Kindle4iPad is another profit center, not a loss leader. Otherwise there would be no Kindle4iPad (which is free). They may make some money on Kindle devices, but that's pretty much a one-time proposition. A successful business needs steady streams of sales, and that is what ebook sales do for Amazon. The agency model has actually made it possible for them to make money on bestsellers.

There's no need for native ePub support for Kindle, unless it supports Adobe DRM, and I just don't see that happening. I would prefer that they just add support for ePub to the list of formats that the conversion service supports. It is easy enough to convert non-DRM ePub as it is, and ePub as a format doesn't offer much advantage over mobi (better at tables, probably). Putting more software on the device for such a small benefit is not worth it.

DixieGal · 05-03-2010, 01:54 PM

Do yourself a favor and get a Sony. It works without conversion.

tomsem · 05-03-2010, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Do yourself a favor and get a Sony. It works without conversion.

Yes, there are several sub $200 e-ink readers, including Sony PRS300 (sold at amazon.com). If our local library offered ebook lending, and was open more than 20 hours a week, I would get one just for this purpose.

chilady1 · 05-04-2010, 01:19 PM

Well you can get a Sony, however, I have been reading library books on my Kindle for over a year. I am not a technical person by any means, however, with the indirect help of many on these boards, I was able to piece together the means by which to do this. It was a little struggle, again, because I am not technical, but if I can do it, I swear anyone can do it.

I might also add that I do not manipulate the date stamp of the book - just the ability to convert it and get it into my Kindle. After 14 or 21 days, depending on the time allowed for checkout, the book simply disappears. It is wonderful, because I have had to cut back significantly on purchasing books and this allows me a viable option of reading new books. I don't feel as though I am doing anything illegal, if I did, I would not do this.

I thank the many folks here on MobileRead that helped without giving direct information. When I asked questions, they answered them the best they could again, without giving direct information. I love it!!!!! and I love my Kindle!!! Once I get the updated 2.5 bin, I will really be set. 1000 books on my Kindle need some organization. Good Luck!

TallMomof2 · 05-04-2010, 01:46 PM

There are several choices if you want to load library ebooks and not mess with removing DRM. The Nook, the various Sony readers, the Kobo Reader, and the Aluratek Libre come to mind. Each has its merits. Just be aware that maybe 1/3 of the library ebooks (based on my experience with my library) are available in ePub. The rest of the title are mostly MobiPocket with a smattering of PDFs.

Personally, I took the time to learn how to remove the DRM (for personal use only) and I'm careful to delete the library books after I've read them. (Library ebooks can be checked out for 7 or 14 days.) That way I am not locked into one platform or device.

04-10-2010, 09:03 PM	#1
bam451 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: none	Thinking of getting a Kindle, Can I really get library books for it? I keep reading that it is possible to get check out library books for a Kindle. Is this true? Is it really hard?

04-11-2010, 10:15 AM	#5
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	This turned out to be ridiculously easy -- snagging the Kindle pid, installing Overdrive to borrow the book (this is a requirement of your library), removing the DRM with a one dialog box entry (input name, output name), converting to mobi, dropping onto the Kindle. It sounds way more complicated than it is. If there is a caveat ... it's that many libraries have a pretty sorry collection of library e-books at the moment. Last edited by SensualPoet; 04-11-2010 at 10:18 AM.

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04-10-2010, 09:44 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Can it be done? Yes. Is it hard? No.....not if you find a good guru to help. 1) Your library of choice (where ever you have a library card ) must carry mobipocket format ebooks, and have a selection that pleases you. 2) You must download and run "kindlefix.py" script on your computer, after you download the library book, so that your kindle can 'read' it. 3) You simply then load the book to your kindle, using the USB cord, and after the load period is over, (whatever your library's loan period is) the book "closes" just as if you left it on your computer. You can then delete it, because its no longer readable. We are no longer able, thanks to Amazon, to provide detailed instructions on how to do this, but some searching should provide results. Good luck.

04-11-2010, 12:33 AM	#3
bam451 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: none	How is the quality once the books go through this process?

05-03-2010, 04:06 AM	#6
emai7s2 Connoisseur Posts: 97 Karma: 128170 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Palm & PPC	Adobe Digital Editions support, which is a frequent requirement for supporting ebook downloads from public libraries, seems to be an increasingly common feature on many ebook readers (Irex, PocketBook, Kobo, etc.). See: http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/devices/ Does Amazon plan to offer ADE support for the Kindle at some point? I know there are some kludges around that allow the Kindle to access library books in mobi format, but I am interested in official out-of-the-box ADE support.

05-03-2010, 11:31 AM	#8
pboss Evangelist Posts: 408 Karma: 646 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	epub is coming but it will most likely not be with ADE support. Amazon takes a loss on a lot of its ebooks to have the lowest or matching pricing. The offset of that is the profit on Kindles. Why would they give that up?

05-03-2010, 01:54 PM	#12
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Do yourself a favor and get a Sony. It works without conversion.

05-04-2010, 01:19 PM	#14
chilady1 I devour books! Posts: 789 Karma: 1285226 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad Air, Kindle 3/Kobo Aura HD, iPhone 6	Well you can get a Sony, however, I have been reading library books on my Kindle for over a year. I am not a technical person by any means, however, with the indirect help of many on these boards, I was able to piece together the means by which to do this. It was a little struggle, again, because I am not technical, but if I can do it, I swear anyone can do it. I might also add that I do not manipulate the date stamp of the book - just the ability to convert it and get it into my Kindle. After 14 or 21 days, depending on the time allowed for checkout, the book simply disappears. It is wonderful, because I have had to cut back significantly on purchasing books and this allows me a viable option of reading new books. I don't feel as though I am doing anything illegal, if I did, I would not do this. I thank the many folks here on MobileRead that helped without giving direct information. When I asked questions, they answered them the best they could again, without giving direct information. I love it!!!!! and I love my Kindle!!! Once I get the updated 2.5 bin, I will really be set. 1000 books on my Kindle need some organization. Good Luck!

05-04-2010, 01:46 PM	#15
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	There are several choices if you want to load library ebooks and not mess with removing DRM. The Nook, the various Sony readers, the Kobo Reader, and the Aluratek Libre come to mind. Each has its merits. Just be aware that maybe 1/3 of the library ebooks (based on my experience with my library) are available in ePub. The rest of the title are mostly MobiPocket with a smattering of PDFs. Personally, I took the time to learn how to remove the DRM (for personal use only) and I'm careful to delete the library books after I've read them. (Library ebooks can be checked out for 7 or 14 days.) That way I am not locked into one platform or device.