joining usa libraries from outside of USA ?

[Terisa de morgan]

I was thinking the same.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

The answer to your question is in your question. I assume holds are not much use unless you can check them out once you've reserved them?

I saw that too, but nowhere does it say you can check them out online. Implied doesn't necessarily mean for certain. Maybe someone who has one of these cards can verify it.

[piperclassique]

Don't just go by the numbers. Tastes differ in books as in all else. Personally, I prefer the selection in Devon public libraries to that in Philadelphia. Browse first before signing up would be my advice.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

Don't just go by the numbers. Tastes differ in books as in all else. Personally, I prefer the selection in Devon public libraries to that in Philadelphia. Browse first before signing up would be my advice.

Most definitely! Libraries vary in their content and a smaller library might have more desirable content than that of a larger one.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

Don't just go by the numbers. Tastes differ in books as in all else. Personally, I prefer the selection in Devon public libraries to that in Philadelphia. Browse first before signing up would be my advice.

Beggars can't be choosers. When you don't live in USA, you have very few options.

[piperclassique]

Beggars can't be choosers. When you don't live in USA, you have very few options.

True, but I choose the option of not reading books that are not to my taste. Life is too short for that. However, I have friends in the UK who are prepared to let me visit in a virtual way to join their local library. I didn't beg to join Phlidadelphia library, I paid. Not begging, that.

I find that I can get plenty of reading by looking at the deals and freebies here without spending much at all. I can of course join a library here in France, but again, the books generally are not to my liking.

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by danicca

That's new. Orange should work, if there is enough books which interest you to justify the cost.

orange ???

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

Don't just go by the numbers. Tastes differ in books as in all else. Personally, I prefer the selection in Devon public libraries to that in Philadelphia. Browse first before signing up would be my advice.

I've done my homework:

for Laurel K. Hamilton there are ~30 books in her 2 most popular series.

UK libraries have none of them , except for some strange reason my local has volumes 6 & & only of the merry gentry series but cannot order the rest of the series, so they say..

USA libraries have full sets & to buy them in uk at £5 per book would cost me far more than a years' subscription.
[£5 x 30 ,just for this one author compared with say £35 for a 1 year subscription & I'd get through all of them in a year, no problem]
I have already read most of them once ( in pirate form), I'd like to do a proper & legal re-read if I can find an affordable route

Philadelphia also have some ( not all ) of the Ian Rankin Inspector Rebus books whereas UK libraries have none - even though he's a UK author. I blame his greedy publishers who are probably blocking all UK loans

PS please lets not start an off-topic debate on the quality of Ms Hamilton's later books, there's enough of those on the web already - just take the above as an example of the economics.

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I saw that too, but nowhere does it say you can check them out online. Implied doesn't necessarily mean for certain. Maybe someone who has one of these cards can verify it.

the overdrive software - which supports holds, checkouts , renewals, wish lists...appears identical at all the library sites I've inspected.
the only customisations appear to be with how many books, holds etc you can have at any one time.
With my local site, I can place a hold, I then get am email when it's available & I then have 72 hours to check it out before it goes back on the "shelves". it would be absolute nonsense to offer ebooks without offering online checkout & returns

so it is going to be the same everywhere, you need a card number & PIN (from the library)an email address, and a PC or device that is set up for Adobe DRM, then you are good to go

PS you can search here for participating libraries
http://www.overdrive.com/libraries/public-libraries/
https://search.overdrive.com/

[danicca]

It works for me. Terisa mentioned it, it's orange county library. And I forgot how many Anita Blake books there are.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by cybmole

the overdrive software - which supports holds, checkouts , renewals, wish lists...appears identical at all the library sites I've inspected.

That library has three different ebook providers - Axis 360, Freading, and OverDrive - and based on the ambiguity of their statement, it would be wise to see which ones a non-resident card would have access to; if any.

[blueinfj]

OCLS (Orange) is my favourite library, as I (as a non-resident) not only have access to Overdrive ebooks and audiobooks, but also Axis (Baker-Taylor), OneClick Digital (Recorded Books) and Freading. Lots to choose from :-)

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by blueinfj

OCLS (Orange) is my favourite library, as I (as a non-resident) not only have access to Overdrive ebooks and audiobooks, but also Axis (Baker-Taylor), OneClick Digital (Recorded Books) and Freading. Lots to choose from :-)

Thanks for the confirmation.

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

That library has three different ebook providers - Axis 360, Freading, and OverDrive - and based on the ambiguity of their statement, it would be wise to see which ones a non-resident card would have access to; if any.

so much pessimism - are they really gonna take your money for an overseas card & then say BTW - you have to show up in person to checkout any of our e-books

PS the OLCS option is expensive at $125 - but on their fee paying card application page it does say:
"I hereby apply for the privilege to check out materials...." is that good enough for you or are you still skeptical ?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by cybmole

so much pessimism - are they really gonna take your money for an overseas card & then say BTW - you have to show up in person to checkout any of our e-books

PS the OLCS option is expensive at $125 - but on their fee paying card application page it does say:
"I hereby apply for the privilege to check out materials...." is that good enough for you or are you still skeptical ?

It's not pessimism; it's based on reality. Their statement was ambiguous. All I wanted was confirmation that they allowed digital checkouts and blueinfj provided that.

As to whether a library will take your out-of-state money and then require you to show up in person to check out books - it does happen.

Hennepin County Library offers a non-resident card for $60 and won't allow checkout of downloadable content. So here's a library that will take your money and then require you to show up in person.

Nonresident fee cards
Individuals who are not Minnesota residents or Minnesota residents whose public library is not a member of one of the regional public library systems may obtain a Hennepin County Library card for an annual fee ($60). Fee-based cards allow patrons to borrow physical materials, but do not allow the checkout of downloadable content or remote access to subscription databases. Read more.