How have eBooks changed your borrowing from library? - Page 3

Joykins · 04-04-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Why impose an artificial limitation on reading books

What sort of world do we live in?

One with copyright and DRM, I suppose. There are "always available" books you can get from Gutenberg via the library also.

astra · 04-04-2011, 03:14 PM

I cannot express the depth of my disappointment.
I thought elibraries would be the ultimate solution for book reading.
No need to go to the library personally. No queues for 1 printed copy.

Oh my. All these months since I learned about elibraries I have been entertaining the idea that soon UK libraries will have fully operational elibraries and all ebook problems will be over. No need to buy books anymore, no need to worry about DRM or peruse darknet.
How wrong was I. They have a file in their hands that thousands of people can read at the same time and they invent yet another hurdle. An artificial deficit.

George Carlin is right.
The planet is fine....

ebusinesstutor · 04-04-2011, 03:22 PM

One of my main reasons for using libraries was to read magazine. Ones I like to read, but that are not ones that I would buy a subscription for. (I do buy subscriptions for ones I use for work, or my most "obsessive" hobbies.)

But now my library is cutting way back on magazine subscriptions. I am on the board of directors of our local astronomy society, so to keep some astronomy magazines in at our local library, I offered to bring them my magazines I subscribe to if they would put them on the shelves.

I thought this could be a great option if they had people "adopt" a magazine subscription on topics they were interested in.

Turns out they can't as everything is centralized.

So now I get them online. I would find it useful if the library could get online magazine subscriptions I could read on my tablet.

graycyn · 04-04-2011, 03:39 PM

I loved my library before ebooks and I love it now that I have an e-reader. I've always been a big library user.

I am borrowing more ebooks now, but I also borrow paper books still as well. I go to the library to use the WiFi to download book purchases and to browse the shelves and also check out the rotating local artist displays, which are quite good! Sometimes I go do research, or read magazines.

To me an library that also does ebooks is the best of both worlds. I do more ebooks in winter when it is icy and snowy out, it's just more convenient. But when the weather turns warm again, I love visiting my library in person.

Catlady · 04-04-2011, 04:14 PM

I'm just thinking about the queues for borrowing library books. With the HarperCollins model of only 26 checkouts, shouldn't there be no reason for a queue? Shouldn't all the checkouts be allowable at the same time, if there are library patrons all wanting the same book?

(Not supporting that model, just thinking aloud.)

Joykins · 04-04-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

I cannot express the depth of my disappointment.
I thought elibraries would be the ultimate solution for book reading.
No need to go to the library personally. No queues for 1 printed copy.

There are usually no wait lists for unpopular or older books. I've been perusing an extensive backlist with no waits.

KenJackson · 04-04-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

I cannot express the depth of my disappointment.
... They have a file in their hands that thousands of people can read at the same time and they invent yet another hurdle. An artificial deficit.

I appreciate the frustration, but this system protects your interests too, after all. That is, assuming you still want good authors to spend a year or more thoroughly researching the topic to write a good book, fiction or non-fiction.

Just imagine if libraries only had to buy one copy of any book and then they could loan it out to all comers for unlimited periods. What would be the point in anyone buying it? In fact, libraries could take turns buying books and borrow them from each other. How could any author support himself in that system? How could we maintain any quality in literature?

If cost is the primary influence for your selection, there are plenty of free books around. They aren't the hot best-sellers of course, because hot best-sellers wouldn't be written if they didn't generate revenue for the people who put in the time and sweat to produce them.

tomsem · 04-04-2011, 08:55 PM

It has been many years since I borrowed print books from a library. I used to practically live in libraries, and was fortunate to be near some extraordinary libraries, but over time have found myself living in places where libraries did not have collections that fulfilled my interests, while online purchasing offered a compelling and convenient alternative (thanks to Amazon). Since getting an ereader I have all but stopped purchasing print books in favor of ebooks.

In recent months, no thanks to Amazon, I've been borrowing ebooks from one of 3 libraries that I have access to (none of which are particularly convenient for me to visit in person). The selection and availability is not great, but there's enough there to comprise a significant part of my 'diet' of late.

I don't think it is realistic to expect public libraries to compete with paid alternatives when it comes to selection, availability and convenience (or for publishers to allow them to do so). At most, they can fill some gaps with respect to what is legally available online for free, and curate a digital collection and range of services that their community values enough to support with their tax dollars.

Hamlet53 · 04-05-2011, 01:49 PM

Since I have obtained my ebook reader my library use has not really been altered except in the case for public domain titles. These I will know obtain from sources like Mobileread, where in the past I would check out paper versions form the library.

I love my Sony 950 for the ability to have stored in one compact and easy to carry device every book (presuming availability as an ebook) that I am currently reading, or expect to read soon. Other advantages include the ability to easily highlight text and add notes, something impossible to do with paper books checked out from the library (and also something I am reluctant to do in books I own). I also like (in fact need for mass market paperback books) the ability to increase font size to a readable level for ebooks.

So for any particular book I would like to read my priority is (assuming availability) ebook from Mobilereads > ebook from library > paper book from library > purchase ebook > purchase paper book. The exceptions are for books with important graphic or image content, then I avoid ebook format.

Latinandgreek · 04-05-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filark

The library is and has been my go-to place for anything I want to read! For years I put books on hold online and then picked them up when they came in. Now I do the same thing with ebooks, but without the drive.

If the library doesn't have what I want I will buy the ebook, or wait, or browse the library ebook collection and find something else that looks intriguing.

I would have checked more than 3 choices in category 3 if I could have.

I do the same thing, to this day: I place the books that I can't find as ebooks (and there are still quite a few of them) on hold and pick them up at my local library, although I browse the library for books as well.

I, too, would have checked more than 3 choices in category 3 (I would have checked 6, I think). I do still go to the library about once a week.

Elfwreck · 04-05-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

I cannot express the depth of my disappointment.
I thought elibraries would be the ultimate solution for book reading.
No need to go to the library personally. No queues for 1 printed copy.

The only things the ebook libraries have fixed is the need to physically visit the library, and worries about damage to or losing the book. It's still 1 loan at a time per book purchased by the library.

I can tolerate this; I like it more than publishers charging $500 per book for a "library edition" to allow it to be loaned to any number of people at once.

Until the HarperCollins fiasco, library ebooks had another advantage over pbooks: they didn't wear out, so the library knew that they'd have today's bestsellers around in 20 years. (We'll pretend that, contrary to all current evidence, any form of DRM will last 20 years. I suspect that if the DRM servers go down, the library would have the right to crack the DRM to make an archival copy.)

Sydney's Mom · 04-05-2011, 02:25 PM

Before ebooks, I borrowed out of print and new bestsellers, and bought the rest. I'm kinda a picky person, and a book with yellow pages and "spots" was not what I wanted to read. Obviously, that is not a problem with ebooks, and the libraries are catching up with previous series releases. For example, Lisa Gardner, whose book "Beatiful Lies," a freebie from Amazon, is my current author. I had to get a number of the books in hardcover from my library, but as I work through the series, they are adding more of her books in another series. I did buy a couple books in the current series, because they were under $10 (I don't see the reason to pay $12 for an eight year old book).

I pay around $400/year for my library. I do everything digitally-I do not use the research function or the building. But I am fortunate, in that I have a computer and high-speed internet. I remember when I was a kid, how much of a sanctuary the library was. We didn't have money to buy books. I want the library to continue to be a sanctuary for those less fortunate, and they will want to use computers and read things digitally.

Sydney's Mom · 04-06-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minspargal

I have always been a big library user and now i still read the same amount of books per week but using their e-book system, saves gas, time and money and i can even check out an e-book at midnight or holidays. I'm in hog heaven!

Same for me. I have loved libraries since I was a kid, and although I quit for a number of years because buying was easier and cleaner, ebooks from the library are the best of all worlds!

shanghaichica · 04-06-2011, 01:24 PM

I haven't really used the library for over 10 years and this hasn't changed since getting my reader.

WilliamD · 04-06-2011, 02:25 PM

I admit to being a compulsive reader and read several books every week. I use my e-reader to revisit the long out of copyright classics I read when I was much younger and to find others I should have read. I rely on my library for new fiction. I do purchase hard copy books, new and used, but only those I'm reasonably sure I will reread.

I'm relatively new to the e-book world (I have a Color Nook) and I have purchased no ebooks from the usual suspects including B&N, though I've downloaded many. I have, however, been looking for authors offering out of print books directly and expect as that library grows I will purchase, especially science fiction, in the belief that purchasing direct will eventually influence price in a positive way. I explored downloading ebooks from the library, but believe the restrictions put on the libraries by the publishers render the service essentially useless.

View Poll Results: Please check 1 choice from Sections 1 and 2 and three choices from Section 3
Sec. 1: BEFORE my device, I borrowed library books at least once a week.	29	22.14%
Sec. 1: BEFORE my device, I borrowed library books at least 1 to 3 times a month	25	19.08%
Sec. 1: BEFORE my device, I borrowed library books at least 1 to 6 times a year	31	23.66%
Sec. 1: BEFORE my device, I borrowed library books never or almost never	42	32.06%
Sec. 2: NOW that I read eBooks, I borrow library books/eBooks at least once a week.	35	26.72%
Sec. 2: NOW that I read eBooks, I now borrow library books/eBooks at least 1 to 3 times a month	40	30.53%
Sec. 2: NOW that I read eBooks, I now borrow library books/eBooks at least 1 to 6 times a year	11	8.40%
Sec. 2: NOW that I read eBooks, I now borrow library books/eBooks never or almost never.	36	27.48%
Sec. 3:I would borrow from libraries, eBook versions of brand new, most popular/bestselling print books	65	49.62%
Sec. 3:I would borrow from libraries, eBook versions of brand new, but not bestselling, print books	62	47.33%
Sec. 3: I would borrow from libraries, eBook versions of good print books published in the last 40 years	72	54.96%
Sec. 3: I would borrow from libraries, eBook versions of reference resources	28	21.37%
Sec. 3: I would borrow from libraries, eBook versions of good non-fiction	54	41.22%
Sec. 3: I would borrow from libraries, enhanced eBooks with multimedia content and Web links	3	2.29%
Sec. 3: I would borrow from libraries, eBooks by independent publishers with no print versions (or print on demand)	23	17.56%
Sec. 3: I would borrow from libraries, eBook versions of public domain, free print classics	7	5.34%
Sec. 3: I would borrow from libraries, eDocuments from the Web, e.g., articles, fanfiction, reports, Master's thesis.	9	6.87%
Sec. 3: I would borrow from libraries, eBooks in languages I can't get otherwise.	10	7.63%
Sec. 3: I would borrow eBooks and eDocuments written by community members for other people in the community.	7	5.34%
Sec. 3: I would borrow from libraries, Community eDocuments, e.g., bus schedules, lists of community events, etc.	7	5.34%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 131. You may not vote on this poll

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04-04-2011, 03:14 PM	#32
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I cannot express the depth of my disappointment. I thought elibraries would be the ultimate solution for book reading. No need to go to the library personally. No queues for 1 printed copy. Oh my. All these months since I learned about elibraries I have been entertaining the idea that soon UK libraries will have fully operational elibraries and all ebook problems will be over. No need to buy books anymore, no need to worry about DRM or peruse darknet. How wrong was I. They have a file in their hands that thousands of people can read at the same time and they invent yet another hurdle. An artificial deficit. George Carlin is right. The planet is fine....

04-04-2011, 03:22 PM	#33
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	One of my main reasons for using libraries was to read magazine. Ones I like to read, but that are not ones that I would buy a subscription for. (I do buy subscriptions for ones I use for work, or my most "obsessive" hobbies.) But now my library is cutting way back on magazine subscriptions. I am on the board of directors of our local astronomy society, so to keep some astronomy magazines in at our local library, I offered to bring them my magazines I subscribe to if they would put them on the shelves. I thought this could be a great option if they had people "adopt" a magazine subscription on topics they were interested in. Turns out they can't as everything is centralized. So now I get them online. I would find it useful if the library could get online magazine subscriptions I could read on my tablet.

04-04-2011, 03:39 PM	#34
graycyn Wizard Posts: 1,591 Karma: 11722446 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NE Oregon Device: Kobo Sage, Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma, Kindle Oasis 2	I loved my library before ebooks and I love it now that I have an e-reader. I've always been a big library user. I am borrowing more ebooks now, but I also borrow paper books still as well. I go to the library to use the WiFi to download book purchases and to browse the shelves and also check out the rotating local artist displays, which are quite good! Sometimes I go do research, or read magazines. To me an library that also does ebooks is the best of both worlds. I do more ebooks in winter when it is icy and snowy out, it's just more convenient. But when the weather turns warm again, I love visiting my library in person.

04-04-2011, 04:14 PM	#35
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I'm just thinking about the queues for borrowing library books. With the HarperCollins model of only 26 checkouts, shouldn't there be no reason for a queue? Shouldn't all the checkouts be allowable at the same time, if there are library patrons all wanting the same book? (Not supporting that model, just thinking aloud.)

04-04-2011, 08:55 PM	#38
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,939 Karma: 27060151 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	It has been many years since I borrowed print books from a library. I used to practically live in libraries, and was fortunate to be near some extraordinary libraries, but over time have found myself living in places where libraries did not have collections that fulfilled my interests, while online purchasing offered a compelling and convenient alternative (thanks to Amazon). Since getting an ereader I have all but stopped purchasing print books in favor of ebooks. In recent months, no thanks to Amazon, I've been borrowing ebooks from one of 3 libraries that I have access to (none of which are particularly convenient for me to visit in person). The selection and availability is not great, but there's enough there to comprise a significant part of my 'diet' of late. I don't think it is realistic to expect public libraries to compete with paid alternatives when it comes to selection, availability and convenience (or for publishers to allow them to do so). At most, they can fill some gaps with respect to what is legally available online for free, and curate a digital collection and range of services that their community values enough to support with their tax dollars.

04-05-2011, 01:49 PM	#39
Hamlet53 Nameless Being	Since I have obtained my ebook reader my library use has not really been altered except in the case for public domain titles. These I will know obtain from sources like Mobileread, where in the past I would check out paper versions form the library. I love my Sony 950 for the ability to have stored in one compact and easy to carry device every book (presuming availability as an ebook) that I am currently reading, or expect to read soon. Other advantages include the ability to easily highlight text and add notes, something impossible to do with paper books checked out from the library (and also something I am reluctant to do in books I own). I also like (in fact need for mass market paperback books) the ability to increase font size to a readable level for ebooks. So for any particular book I would like to read my priority is (assuming availability) ebook from Mobilereads > ebook from library > paper book from library > purchase ebook > purchase paper book. The exceptions are for books with important graphic or image content, then I avoid ebook format.

04-05-2011, 02:25 PM	#42
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	Before ebooks, I borrowed out of print and new bestsellers, and bought the rest. I'm kinda a picky person, and a book with yellow pages and "spots" was not what I wanted to read. Obviously, that is not a problem with ebooks, and the libraries are catching up with previous series releases. For example, Lisa Gardner, whose book "Beatiful Lies," a freebie from Amazon, is my current author. I had to get a number of the books in hardcover from my library, but as I work through the series, they are adding more of her books in another series. I did buy a couple books in the current series, because they were under $10 (I don't see the reason to pay $12 for an eight year old book). I pay around $400/year for my library. I do everything digitally-I do not use the research function or the building. But I am fortunate, in that I have a computer and high-speed internet. I remember when I was a kid, how much of a sanctuary the library was. We didn't have money to buy books. I want the library to continue to be a sanctuary for those less fortunate, and they will want to use computers and read things digitally.

04-06-2011, 01:24 PM	#44
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	I haven't really used the library for over 10 years and this hasn't changed since getting my reader.

04-06-2011, 02:25 PM	#45
WilliamD Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Central Oregon Device: Nook Color	I admit to being a compulsive reader and read several books every week. I use my e-reader to revisit the long out of copyright classics I read when I was much younger and to find others I should have read. I rely on my library for new fiction. I do purchase hard copy books, new and used, but only those I'm reasonably sure I will reread. I'm relatively new to the e-book world (I have a Color Nook) and I have purchased no ebooks from the usual suspects including B&N, though I've downloaded many. I have, however, been looking for authors offering out of print books directly and expect as that library grows I will purchase, especially science fiction, in the belief that purchasing direct will eventually influence price in a positive way. I explored downloading ebooks from the library, but believe the restrictions put on the libraries by the publishers render the service essentially useless.

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