Kindle 3 and Library Books

[E7218]

I'm trying to decide which reader to buy and until I found this website, Kindle was out of the running due to its inability to read books from my local library. However, since learning about this site, it seems that it may be possible to convert the books into a readable format. Does anyone who owns a Kindle 3 been able to read books from the library by using the Calibre website?

Thanks!

[DiamondDave]

Originally Posted by E7218

I'm trying to decide which reader to buy and until I found this website, Kindle was out of the running due to its inability to read books from my local library. However, since learning about this site, it seems that it may be possible to convert the books into a readable format. Does anyone who owns a Kindle 3 been able to read books from the library by using the Calibre website?

Thanks!

Not 100% certain, but I think your Kindle should read pdf format library books, but not epub. It's my experience that most new library books from Overdrive are epub. And if you use Calibre to try to convert the epubs into a format the Kindle can read, it will fail due to the DRM that Overdrive uses. So, you'd have to strip the DRM yourself, which you can do, but it's illegal.

This is why I got a nook.

[primetime34]

You can read any book from the library.....but you will have to remove the drm first (and possibly convert it depending on which format you get from the library). This isn't that difficult though a little google searching will show you how

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by E7218

I'm trying to decide which reader to buy and until I found this website, Kindle was out of the running due to its inability to read books from my local library. However, since learning about this site, it seems that it may be possible to convert the books into a readable format. Does anyone who owns a Kindle 3 been able to read books from the library by using the Calibre website?

Thanks!

Welcome to MobileRead, E7218

[Leep]

Originally Posted by E7218

I'm trying to decide which reader to buy and until I found this website, Kindle was out of the running due to its inability to read books from my local library. However, since learning about this site, it seems that it may be possible to convert the books into a readable format. Does anyone who owns a Kindle 3 been able to read books from the library by using the Calibre website?

Thanks!

Yes, many of us have been sucessful using all three library ebook formats. As stated, you either need to remove the drm and convert the ebook to .mobi format; or use a python script called kindlefix.

cheers

[SensualPoet]

Or ... buy a Kindle 3 at $139 for Amazon books, and a Kobo at $128 for library books and access to Epubs not sold for Amazon. That works for me -- best of both worlds AND a back-up e-reader.

[JeremyR]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Or ... buy a Kindle 3 at $139 for Amazon books, and a Kobo at $128 for library books and access to Epubs not sold for Amazon. That works for me -- best of both worlds AND a back-up e-reader.

Yes, but some of us are still paying off our Kindle 3

[DaAfroSheenQueen]

I've only had my kindle for about a week, and i've already read three library books on my kindle. It's not that hard to convert them...takes maybe 3-5 min per book. Once I figured out what I was doing, it was smooth sailing.

My only issue with library books is that my system (PG County Public Library) has a "limit" on how many copies of an ebook can be checked out at a time...so I've had to place holds on books so that when they are returned I can check them out. One work around I've found is that most of the DC Metro area library systems are linked, so I've got cards in DC, PG County, Montgomery County, and Fairfax County. So between those four systems, I can usually find the book I'm looking for.

Good Luck!

[DiamondDave]

You all are very casual about removing DRM--you're basically making an illegal, pirated copy of a book. I understand that most of you probably don't care, and that you probably think DRM is absurd, and I don't entirely disagree with you--but those are the rules.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DiamondDave

You all are very casual about removing DRM--you're basically making an illegal, pirated copy of a book. I understand that most of you probably don't care, and that you probably think DRM is absurd, and I don't entirely disagree with you--but those are the rules.

Exactly! Whether we like it or not, rules are rules.

[DiamondDave]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Exactly! Whether we like it or not, rules are rules.

I've copied my share of music and torrented my share of movies, but ever since I got into freelance work and realized the value of the printed word and the photographic image, I've stopped all that stuff. No matter how insignificant one thinks it is, when you break the rules, whether they're copyrights, DRM, whatever, you're taking food off someone's table. Now, people may think that Apple or Amazon don't need any more money, and they're right, but that's the agreement you enter into when you license their content (you don't actually ever buy anything). If you don't like it, start your own company.

[whitearrow]

My library sucks with regard to ebooks, so I'm just playing devil's advocate here.

So if you get a Nook, wait your turn in the library queue, put the library book on the Nook with the DRM, read it and delete it/let it expire, that's fine.

But if wait your turn in the library queue, strip the DRM to read it on a Kindle, read it and delete it within the same amount of time as a library book, you're taking food from someone's table? How? When the publisher decided to sell that copy to a library, they knew they weren't going to sell the book to people who borrowed it.

[luvmy4brats]

Originally Posted by whitearrow

My library sucks with regard to ebooks, so I'm just playing devil's advocate here.

So if you get a Nook, wait your turn in the library queue, put the library book on the Nook with the DRM, read it and delete it/let it expire, that's fine.

But if wait your turn in the library queue, strip the DRM to read it on a Kindle, read it and delete it within the same amount of time as a library book, you're taking food from someone's table? How? When the publisher decided to sell that copy to a library, they knew they weren't going to sell the book to people who borrowed it.

Apparently

[DaAfroSheenQueen]

I think there's a HUGE difference between making a library book readable on your chosen ereading device and "taking food off someone's table". We're not talking about reselling these copies and I would assume that we're not talking about sharing the copies with anyone (I can only speak for myself and I know that I don't). Additionally, once read, the copies are deleted, just as they are when I “return” them electronically. The publishing company/author has been compensated for that "copy" of the book, just as if I checked out a hardcopy from the library.

I’m sure that most people here are well aware of the "rules". Personally, after doing my own research which included speaking with someone that works at the patent and trademark bureau here in DC, my conscious is clear and I don't expect to have law enforcement knocking on my door over "pirated books". Maybe try the "blacklisted kindle" thread if you wanna ride your high horse?

[DiapDealer]

High horse = long way down, when you do fall... and you all fall eventually.
Consider walking or riding a very small pony.