Overdrive Library allowing online signup?

[HarryT]

The Singapore Public Library is no longer available to non-residents.

[Asawi]

Removed post. Harry had already said what I was about to, but I didn't see it.

[xendula]

I found this great list a few days ago:
http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/201...ing-overdrive/

(see article for links)

If there aren’t any options where you live, there a few libraries that offer cards to out-of-state residents for an annual fee.

Libraries that offer library cards for non-residents

The Brooklyn Public Library has a wide selection of ebooks, however library cards for non-residents will set you back $50 a year.

The Free Library of Philadelphia is another option. They offer library cards to non-residents for $35 a year.

The Fairfax County Library in Virginia offers a library card to non-residents for $27 a year.

The Houston Public Library in Texas offers a library card to non-residents for $20 for six months or $40 a year.

Another option is the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in North Carolina. They offer library cards to non-residents for $45 per year, $35 for adults 62 years and older.

The Monroe County Library in New York offers cards to non-residents for $45 per year.

More libraries with non-resident cards can be found here »

The libraries above all have a decent selection of titles to choose from, but make sure they have what you’re looking for and double-check to see how long the wait is before shelling out any dough.

[HarryT]

I believe that with most of these you have to physically visit the library to register.

[John F]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I believe that with most of these you have to physically visit the library to register.

I checked the first three quoted by xendula, and it appears you don't have to visit the library (everything can be done online, but if you like, you can apply in person).

YMMV

[IcecreamLtDan]

I can't speak for the other ones, but The Free Library of Philadelphia allows you to do everything online. Additionally, if you are a veteran or active duty, there is no charge, which is how I got it. I believe there are other options to get it free of charge as well, but I don't recall so I would check first.

[timofonic]

Sorry for necroposting...

Is this still possible to do? Can I sign a USA or other country library and pay the yearly fee to access OverDrive books?

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by timofonic

Sorry for necroposting...

Is this still possible to do? Can I sign a USA or other country library and pay the yearly fee to access OverDrive books?

Free Library of Philadelphia and Orange County (Florida), both in USA, allow non-local customers paying a yearly fee.

[nabsltd]

The MobileRead Wiki has a list of libraries that you don't have to appear in person or be a resident to get a card that gives you access to downloadable ebooks.

My experience is that Brooklyn Public Library is really on the ball with this...you sign up online, get your card number in an e-mail, and pay the fee online. You can be checking out books in less than 2 days from when you first sign up.

Orange County, OTOH, seems to have no connection between the computers that authorize library cards and their website. So, you sign up, and in 7-10 business days, you'll get a library card in the mail. Then, you use that to log into their site, pay the fee online, then wait until a human being gets the notice that you have paid the fee and flags your account as OK for borrowing ebooks. It took 20 days from the day I filled out the online form (which, BTW, requires you to fill in the Florida Driver's License number field, even if you don't live in FL...just put "none") until I could check out books online.

If you sign up for these two, you cover a lot of the books available through Overdrive.

[drjenkins]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

Free Library of Philadelphia and Orange County (Florida), both in USA, allow non-local customers paying a yearly fee.

When I enrolled with Free Library of Philadelphia as a non-local customer there was no fee since I am retired military. There may be other criteria for non-fee enrollment at these and other libraries.

If you belong to a local library without Overdrive, see what other libraries have reciprocal agreements with your library. You might have access to a library with Overdrive and don't realize it.

[Froide]

Sorry to bear bad news, but The Free Library of Philadelphia [FLP] blogged the following on July 15, 2013:

Free Library Updates Library Card and Fine Policies
By Michelle S.
Mon, July 15, 2013

Beginning on Tuesday, July 16, the Free Library will be implementing a variety of changes to its cardholder and fine policies. Children under 12 years old will no longer be charged late fees for overdue materials—though they will still be responsible for returning all items before checking out more. Children will also be able to check out a total of 20 items and renew their materials up to 10 times, an increase over the previous limit of three renewals. In addition to these improvements for young library-goers, the Free Library is standardizing its late fees on all adult and teen materials to 25 cents per item, per day. Adult and teen readers will also be able to enjoy the increased renewal rate of 10 times per item.

In addition, several other library card changes will also go into effect on Tuesday. All Pennsylvania residents will now be able to obtain a library card free of charge, and the fee for an out-of-state card will increase from $35 to $50. Also, veterans, members of the military, and senior citizens who do not otherwise qualify for a free card will no longer be eligible for one.

The library policies of BiblioTech, the all-digital library of Bexar County, TX, have also become more restrictive. See Library Policies: Registering for a Library Card.

At FLP, adult cards don't expire, so it appears we nonresident cardholders have been grandfathered. In contrast, BiblioTech library cards expire after five years, at which time we nonresident cardholders won't be eligible to renew.