Your local library and e-books - Page 5

Kumabjorn · 08-07-2013, 10:10 AM

For those of you who want a comparison. In Sweden we have a national e-book depository that all libraries can access. The local library then decides how many books over a certain time period you may borrow. If you live in a town with a healthy budget you might get four books in a week, in other perhaps only two. Books are always available, no waiting time as long as you stay within your allotment. If you were an avid reader and lived close to the surrounding towns' borders you might be blessed with lending cards from multiple libraries (or if you have a big family you have access to multiple cards), hence being able to, hrmm, extend your lending privileges.

tompe · 08-07-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

For those of you who want a comparison. In Sweden we have a national e-book depository that all libraries can access. The local library then decides how many books over a certain time period you may borrow. If you live in a town with a healthy budget you might get four books in a week, in other perhaps only two. Books are always available, no waiting time as long as you stay within your allotment. If you were an avid reader and lived close to the surrounding towns' borders you might be blessed with lending cards from multiple libraries (or if you have a big family you have access to multiple cards), hence being able to, hrmm, extend your lending privileges.

And it cost the library 20 SEK ($6) for each book somebody borrow which is insane. Some libraries have introduced restrictions such as not beeing allowed to borrow books on certain weekdays.

WilsonSmith · 08-17-2013, 02:38 AM

I strongly believe that these two concepts are completely different but if the local library can be bonded with the e-books, then nothing can be prime than this. What an idea I would say,l because I have not even though of this before. I have my own personal library and i am sure the e-books will add on essence to it.

faithbw · 08-17-2013, 11:13 AM

I belong to one library and two library consortiums in NW Ohio. The library allows up to 10 books to be borrowed from Overdrive for up to three weeks. Both consortiums also allow up to 10 books to be borrowed at one time from Overdrive. One consortium allows books to be borrowed for up to three weeks while the other has a two week borrowing period. Honestly, I never borrow more than one or two e-books because there usually aren't a lot of books available that I'm actually interested in. Also, the consortiums usually have much overlap between their e-book collections. I'm not sure how many e-books each library has but it obviously isn't as much as their physical library collections.

Anabana · 08-17-2013, 07:14 PM

I belong to 3 library systems - San Diego County Library (my local), San Diego Public Library (City of SD) applied online and had to pick up card in person, and Free Library of Philadelphia - all done online, which IS free to me as a senior even though I live in a different state. They offer free cards to seniors and active military service. So I have an abundance of ebooks and audiobooks available. IIRC, all 3 offer up to 21 day check-out. My local is 10 on hold and 10 check-outs, I think it's the same on the other 2. My local also has a large number of 'always available'. So far I haven't come across anything that I couldn't return early. Since I have 2 ereaders without Wifi, I always return the books as soon as I check to be sure they are downloaded correctly. Then, I just do not connect the reader(s) to the computer until I've finished the books. Maybe not the 'correct' way, but it allows me to read at my leisure and makes the book available to others even sooner.

AndrewH · 08-20-2013, 11:52 PM

I belong to the Fort Vancouver Regional Library which allows 5 ebooks to be checked out at a time, for up to 21 days. Since I live in the Portland metropolitan area, I can sign up with any of the Portland libraries and access the Oregon Digital Library Consortium and check out 6 books for up to 21 days. I'm signed up with one branch near where I work.

I think I could sign up with at least three more nearby branches (each in a different county), presumably each with its own Overdrive login for 18 more checkouts, but that'd feel like I was abusing the system.

kyteflyer · 08-26-2013, 06:36 PM

I belong to only one library, and they refuse to use Overdrive, instead, choosing some nobody-ever-heard-of-it system (actually they wrote it themselves... and it shows... no polish) with very few books and mostly geared to people doing Literature at University. Why that is, I cannot imagine. The only good thing, I guess, is that I can get books in epub format and into my Kobo or PRS-650, or I can use Bluefire on the iDevices. No other Adobe enabled app will work. 14 days is the longest borrowing period (its a month with dead tree books) and I have only found 3 books that I wanted to read. Done and dusted. I suppose I should check in again sometime to see if they have got anything else in there apart from their usual.

BearMountainBooks · 08-26-2013, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

I belong to only one library, and they refuse to use Overdrive, instead, choosing some nobody-ever-heard-of-it system (actually they wrote it themselves... and it shows... no polish) with very few books and mostly geared to people doing Literature at University. Why that is, I cannot imagine. The only good thing, I guess, is that I can get books in epub format and into my Kobo or PRS-650, or I can use Bluefire on the iDevices. No other Adobe enabled app will work. 14 days is the longest borrowing period (its a month with dead tree books) and I have only found 3 books that I wanted to read. Done and dusted. I suppose I should check in again sometime to see if they have got anything else in there apart from their usual.

If I understand it correctly, Overdrive and the software package required to run it is licensed to libraries--in other words it costs money. The books also cost money. My library resisted for a long time and had no-name packages too. They finally went together with 3 other libraries and got overdrive and some books.

tubemonkey · 08-26-2013, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

If I understand it correctly, Overdrive and the software package required to run it is licensed to libraries--in other words it costs money. The books also cost money. My library resisted for a long time and had no-name packages too. They finally went together with 3 other libraries and got overdrive and some books.

For smaller libraries, consortiums are the best way to go. I'd like to see more libraries go that route in order to expand this service to smaller population areas.

FizzyWater · 08-26-2013, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

For smaller libraries, consortiums are the best way to go. I'd like to see more libraries go that route in order to expand this service to smaller population areas.

If I remember correctly, at least one of the publishers won't allow its books at the consortiums. I wish I could remember when I saw that.

Not to say that consortiums are a bad choice, but that there might be a reason why some libraries hesitate to make that choice.

Lady Blue · 08-27-2013, 09:38 AM

I have membership access to two library consortiums and a third individual neighboring local library. Between these three library options and the free books offered by Sony Reader Store and Amazon for Kindle (not to mention mobileread, Project Gutenberg, ManyBooks.net, etc.), I really have little need to buy any books (though I still do occasionally). I may be looked down upon because I’m not directly supporting authors through purchasing regularly, but when so many other good legal options are available, the choice is a no-brainer. I have never downloaded a pirated book or had any interest in ever doing so. I just don’t see the point.

My local library allows you to borrow up to 10 books at a time for up to 21 days, have 10 books on hold, and a countless number on a wish list.

The library consortiums each allow up to 5 books to be borrowed at a time for 7 or 14 days, 5 books on hold, and 5 books on a wish list (I don’t understand having a limit on the wish list).

At all the libraries the e-books can be returned early while audiobooks cannot.

I have always frequented libraries, but now I don’t have to drive there. I’m in book heaven. What’s not to love.

08-26-2013, 06:36 PM	#67
kyteflyer Wizard Posts: 1,844 Karma: 9547754 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle, Australia Device: iPhone 12 Mini	I belong to only one library, and they refuse to use Overdrive, instead, choosing some nobody-ever-heard-of-it system (actually they wrote it themselves... and it shows... no polish) with very few books and mostly geared to people doing Literature at University. Why that is, I cannot imagine. The only good thing, I guess, is that I can get books in epub format and into my Kobo or PRS-650, or I can use Bluefire on the iDevices. No other Adobe enabled app will work. 14 days is the longest borrowing period (its a month with dead tree books) and I have only found 3 books that I wanted to read. Done and dusted. I suppose I should check in again sometime to see if they have got anything else in there apart from their usual. Last edited by kyteflyer; 08-26-2013 at 06:41 PM.

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08-07-2013, 10:10 AM	#61
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	For those of you who want a comparison. In Sweden we have a national e-book depository that all libraries can access. The local library then decides how many books over a certain time period you may borrow. If you live in a town with a healthy budget you might get four books in a week, in other perhaps only two. Books are always available, no waiting time as long as you stay within your allotment. If you were an avid reader and lived close to the surrounding towns' borders you might be blessed with lending cards from multiple libraries (or if you have a big family you have access to multiple cards), hence being able to, hrmm, extend your lending privileges.

08-17-2013, 02:38 AM	#63
WilsonSmith Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Device: none	I strongly believe that these two concepts are completely different but if the local library can be bonded with the e-books, then nothing can be prime than this. What an idea I would say,l because I have not even though of this before. I have my own personal library and i am sure the e-books will add on essence to it.

08-17-2013, 11:13 AM	#64
faithbw Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 1526148 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: A place where the sun always shines Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Mini 2	I belong to one library and two library consortiums in NW Ohio. The library allows up to 10 books to be borrowed from Overdrive for up to three weeks. Both consortiums also allow up to 10 books to be borrowed at one time from Overdrive. One consortium allows books to be borrowed for up to three weeks while the other has a two week borrowing period. Honestly, I never borrow more than one or two e-books because there usually aren't a lot of books available that I'm actually interested in. Also, the consortiums usually have much overlap between their e-book collections. I'm not sure how many e-books each library has but it obviously isn't as much as their physical library collections.

08-17-2013, 07:14 PM	#65
Anabana Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 2735606 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Fire 7" & 10"; 11"(?)-12" Lenovo laptop	I belong to 3 library systems - San Diego County Library (my local), San Diego Public Library (City of SD) applied online and had to pick up card in person, and Free Library of Philadelphia - all done online, which IS free to me as a senior even though I live in a different state. They offer free cards to seniors and active military service. So I have an abundance of ebooks and audiobooks available. IIRC, all 3 offer up to 21 day check-out. My local is 10 on hold and 10 check-outs, I think it's the same on the other 2. My local also has a large number of 'always available'. So far I haven't come across anything that I couldn't return early. Since I have 2 ereaders without Wifi, I always return the books as soon as I check to be sure they are downloaded correctly. Then, I just do not connect the reader(s) to the computer until I've finished the books. Maybe not the 'correct' way, but it allows me to read at my leisure and makes the book available to others even sooner.

08-20-2013, 11:52 PM	#66
AndrewH Fanatic Posts: 553 Karma: 1234566 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, WA Device: Sony PRS-T1, & Kobo Mini	I belong to the Fort Vancouver Regional Library which allows 5 ebooks to be checked out at a time, for up to 21 days. Since I live in the Portland metropolitan area, I can sign up with any of the Portland libraries and access the Oregon Digital Library Consortium and check out 6 books for up to 21 days. I'm signed up with one branch near where I work. I think I could sign up with at least three more nearby branches (each in a different county), presumably each with its own Overdrive login for 18 more checkouts, but that'd feel like I was abusing the system.

08-27-2013, 09:38 AM	#71
Lady Blue the snarky blue one Posts: 6,001 Karma: 3877825 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: deep in the heart Device: PRS500, 505 & 600, PRST1 & T2, Kindle PW, Moto Razr, Galaxy Tab 2-10"	I have membership access to two library consortiums and a third individual neighboring local library. Between these three library options and the free books offered by Sony Reader Store and Amazon for Kindle (not to mention mobileread, Project Gutenberg, ManyBooks.net, etc.), I really have little need to buy any books (though I still do occasionally). I may be looked down upon because I’m not directly supporting authors through purchasing regularly, but when so many other good legal options are available, the choice is a no-brainer. I have never downloaded a pirated book or had any interest in ever doing so. I just don’t see the point. My local library allows you to borrow up to 10 books at a time for up to 21 days, have 10 books on hold, and a countless number on a wish list. The library consortiums each allow up to 5 books to be borrowed at a time for 7 or 14 days, 5 books on hold, and 5 books on a wish list (I don’t understand having a limit on the wish list). At all the libraries the e-books can be returned early while audiobooks cannot. I have always frequented libraries, but now I don’t have to drive there. I’m in book heaven. What’s not to love.

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