Library books

jduvall · 03-31-2010, 05:33 PM

I hope this is the right place.

Lately I've been surfing my library's 'ebooks' and I am very disappointed.

It seems like most of the books are either project gut. or are all non-fiction. From what I understand librarys like the new york public have HUGE fiction ebook selections, so is it just my library is behind the times (Fort worth public)

Edit: They do how ever have a goodish selection of audio books if you are into that

Ravensknight · 03-31-2010, 05:35 PM

my library has nothing but audio and some tech manuals for things I've never even heard of. I need to speak "sternly" to them about it :-D

TallMomof2 · 03-31-2010, 05:37 PM

Well, my library has mostly fiction and audio books. The non-fiction selection is poor. I believe that each library system can choose what type of ebooks to lend. It's most likely a matter of cost and local demand.

jduvall · 03-31-2010, 05:47 PM

Maybe if I went and bugged them each and every day we could get some fiction in there haha

ficbot · 03-31-2010, 06:25 PM

My library has an okay-sized collection but a lot of the fiction is romance and vampire stuff, followed by mysteries. Not a lot of general fiction.

Sydney's Mom · 03-31-2010, 07:31 PM

Chicago Public Library has mostly romance and general fiction. Only popular nonfiction.

HorridRedDog · 03-31-2010, 09:16 PM

My loacl library isn't much better but here is a solution of sorts.

INFO
The Free Philadelphia Library -- Available to city residents (free), anyone 65 or older (free), residents anywhere in PA with "Access Pennsylvania" library cards (free), and non-residents ($15) Online Registration

DOWNLOADS: audio books, e-books, music, movies, plus. Downloads Download Sampler

Currently I am listening to "Master and Commander" by Patrick O'Brian.

I transfer the audiobooks to a Sansa Clip Plus using Overdrive (the lending mechanism the most, if not all, use. They will tell you that you have 10 days to listen. But once it is on a "dumb" mp3 player "it just don't know". Listen as long as it takes.

I have a double ended cord that I plug into my mp3 headphone jack, and then into the car sterio system. I do a fair (sometimes a lot) amount of driving.

P.S. - Online registration was VERY simple (but then again, I'm in PA). I got my card over the weekend, and started downloading.

Even if you can't get it free, $15 is VERY cheap to get the thousands of dowloads that are available.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Library ebook downloads to a Kindle can be a problem.

But there is good news for audiobook downloads to Kindle.

It takes a bit of looking, but I found this:

Can I transfer Adobe eBooks to an Amazon® Kindle?

No. The Amazon Kindle does not currently support eBooks protected with Adobe DRM.

To get it in the Kindle would take a bit of jumping through hoops. Download and de-DRM the book, before you can read it.

Now if you want to read books on the computer it's no problem, just not simple on the Kindle.

On the other hand - If you want to download audiobooks and put them into a mp3 player or on the Kindle - Using My Kindle as an MP3 Player

"But then I learned the secret. If I upload my MP3 into the Audible folder I have the option to fast forward, pause, rewind, etc. just like on an MP3 player. Yooo Hooo!"

And ofcourse you can download movies, music, etc.

Ravensknight · 03-31-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HorridRedDog

DOWNLOADS: audio books, e-books, music, movies, plus.

my question would be, what kind of selection for scifi/fantasy do they have? Is there a way to check before paying the out of state fee? I'd certainly pay 15 if they had a decent selection in that genre...

Marcy · 03-31-2010, 10:45 PM

The Philadelphia Free Library has very little sci-fi. They have a great selection of mainstream fiction however. I feel it was a $15 well spent, since my local library only has audiobooks and a few crap ebooks.

If you are into sci-fi/fantasy you really can't beat Baen. It is by far my favorite ebook store. Cheap and DRM-free, what more can you ask?

-Marcy

HorridRedDog · 03-31-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcy

The Philadelphia Free Library has very little sci-fi. They have a great selection of mainstream fiction however. I feel it was a $15 well spent, since my local library only has audiobooks and a few crap ebooks.

If you are into sci-fi/fantasy you really can't beat Baen. It is by far my favorite ebook store. Cheap and DRM-free, what more can you ask?

-Marcy

I'm afraid that this is too true

From time to time I do a lot of driving. So I download a lot of audiobooks from the Philadelphia library. Then too, my dog likes audiobooks because we take longer walks.

But is you want Sci-Fi she is 100% correct, again, on Bean Books.

Want FREE!!!

Baen Free Library

addicted2books · 04-01-2010, 12:38 AM

Our local library has just recently started offering ebooks and downloadable audiobooks. So currently the number of ebooks and audiobooks to be downloaded is small.

I sent off an email to the main branch of our library just to let them know what a great service this was and I was looking forward to the development of the Overdrive Program. I immediately received an email back....everyone, from the developers of the program to the Chief Librarian were thrilled to have some feedback. I was asked all kinds of questions, from how I read my ebooks, what types of formats I preferred as well as the type of content I favored.

Maybe if you let your library know what you're looking for, this might be a deciding factor in the the type of content they will be purchasing in the future. It certainly can't hurt to let your library know what you would like to see available in their catalog.

ficbot · 04-01-2010, 12:42 AM

Lori, I found that too. Whenever I go to the actual library, I mention how I am enjoying the books. They buy content that they think will have a good demand, so having them hear that people want it really does help.

Kevin2960 · 04-01-2010, 07:17 AM

Well Folks feel for us here in the UK .... As far as I know there are just 4 Library's in the whole of the UK that loan eBooks .... YES 4 ....

I believe that is to improve but I'm sure not holding my Breath

Not sure what they stock by way of eBooks

Graham · 04-01-2010, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin2960

Well Folks feel for us here in the UK .... As far as I know there are just 4 Library's in the whole of the UK that loan eBooks .... YES 4 ....

I believe that is to improve but I'm sure not holding my Breath

Not sure what they stock by way of eBooks

I wrote to the council here in North Yorkshire recently, and they're going to launch an ebook service soon. They hope to be up and running by early May.

Graham

joobies · 04-01-2010, 09:50 AM

Positive feedback is always welcome at the library. Our overdrive system is grouped with 49 other libraries which makes the selection a bit out of my library's control.
So, while we have mostly audiobooks there are still enough other selections to keep me busy. It is a great system that I trust will catch on with use.

Many thanks to HorridRedDog for the information about the Free Philadelphia library.... my application is enroute.

03-31-2010, 05:33 PM	#1
jduvall Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 57128 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: none	Library books I hope this is the right place. Lately I've been surfing my library's 'ebooks' and I am very disappointed. It seems like most of the books are either project gut. or are all non-fiction. From what I understand librarys like the new york public have HUGE fiction ebook selections, so is it just my library is behind the times (Fort worth public) Edit: They do how ever have a goodish selection of audio books if you are into that

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03-31-2010, 05:35 PM	#2
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	my library has nothing but audio and some tech manuals for things I've never even heard of. I need to speak "sternly" to them about it :-D

03-31-2010, 05:37 PM	#3
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	Well, my library has mostly fiction and audio books. The non-fiction selection is poor. I believe that each library system can choose what type of ebooks to lend. It's most likely a matter of cost and local demand.

03-31-2010, 05:47 PM	#4
jduvall Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 57128 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: none	Maybe if I went and bugged them each and every day we could get some fiction in there haha

03-31-2010, 06:25 PM	#5
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	My library has an okay-sized collection but a lot of the fiction is romance and vampire stuff, followed by mysteries. Not a lot of general fiction.

03-31-2010, 07:31 PM	#6
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,895 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	Chicago Public Library has mostly romance and general fiction. Only popular nonfiction.

03-31-2010, 09:16 PM	#7
HorridRedDog Addict Posts: 322 Karma: 1592 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-600 EB-1150	My loacl library isn't much better but here is a solution of sorts. INFO The Free Philadelphia Library -- Available to city residents (free), anyone 65 or older (free), residents anywhere in PA with "Access Pennsylvania" library cards (free), and non-residents ($15) Online Registration DOWNLOADS: audio books, e-books, music, movies, plus. Downloads Download Sampler Currently I am listening to "Master and Commander" by Patrick O'Brian. I transfer the audiobooks to a Sansa Clip Plus using Overdrive (the lending mechanism the most, if not all, use. They will tell you that you have 10 days to listen. But once it is on a "dumb" mp3 player "it just don't know". Listen as long as it takes. I have a double ended cord that I plug into my mp3 headphone jack, and then into the car sterio system. I do a fair (sometimes a lot) amount of driving. P.S. - Online registration was VERY simple (but then again, I'm in PA). I got my card over the weekend, and started downloading. Even if you can't get it free, $15 is VERY cheap to get the thousands of dowloads that are available. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Library ebook downloads to a Kindle can be a problem. But there is good news for audiobook downloads to Kindle. It takes a bit of looking, but I found this: Can I transfer Adobe eBooks to an Amazon® Kindle? No. The Amazon Kindle does not currently support eBooks protected with Adobe DRM. To get it in the Kindle would take a bit of jumping through hoops. Download and de-DRM the book, before you can read it. Now if you want to read books on the computer it's no problem, just not simple on the Kindle. On the other hand - If you want to download audiobooks and put them into a mp3 player or on the Kindle - Using My Kindle as an MP3 Player "But then I learned the secret. If I upload my MP3 into the Audible folder I have the option to fast forward, pause, rewind, etc. just like on an MP3 player. Yooo Hooo!" And ofcourse you can download movies, music, etc.

03-31-2010, 10:45 PM	#9
Marcy Guru Posts: 893 Karma: 950683 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra2	The Philadelphia Free Library has very little sci-fi. They have a great selection of mainstream fiction however. I feel it was a $15 well spent, since my local library only has audiobooks and a few crap ebooks. If you are into sci-fi/fantasy you really can't beat Baen. It is by far my favorite ebook store. Cheap and DRM-free, what more can you ask? -Marcy

04-01-2010, 12:38 AM	#11
addicted2books EBookaholic Posts: 27 Karma: 206 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Sony PRS-505 (Red)	Our local library has just recently started offering ebooks and downloadable audiobooks. So currently the number of ebooks and audiobooks to be downloaded is small. I sent off an email to the main branch of our library just to let them know what a great service this was and I was looking forward to the development of the Overdrive Program. I immediately received an email back....everyone, from the developers of the program to the Chief Librarian were thrilled to have some feedback. I was asked all kinds of questions, from how I read my ebooks, what types of formats I preferred as well as the type of content I favored. Maybe if you let your library know what you're looking for, this might be a deciding factor in the the type of content they will be purchasing in the future. It certainly can't hurt to let your library know what you would like to see available in their catalog.

04-01-2010, 12:42 AM	#12
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Lori, I found that too. Whenever I go to the actual library, I mention how I am enjoying the books. They buy content that they think will have a good demand, so having them hear that people want it really does help.

04-01-2010, 07:17 AM	#13
Kevin2960 YODA's Uglier Twin Posts: 974 Karma: 6295251 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Leicester, UK Device: PRS-600 and 2 Kindle 3's - and now a K4 + HTC Desire HD	Well Folks feel for us here in the UK .... As far as I know there are just 4 Library's in the whole of the UK that loan eBooks .... YES 4 .... I believe that is to improve but I'm sure not holding my Breath Not sure what they stock by way of eBooks

04-01-2010, 09:50 AM	#15
joobies Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 1856 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midwest USA Device: Kindle 1, Sony PRS-505	Positive feedback is always welcome at the library. Our overdrive system is grouped with 49 other libraries which makes the selection a bit out of my library's control. So, while we have mostly audiobooks there are still enough other selections to keep me busy. It is a great system that I trust will catch on with use. Many thanks to HorridRedDog for the information about the Free Philadelphia library.... my application is enroute.