Supporting the Public Library

switchman2210 · 06-22-2010, 06:21 PM

I am posting this here as I believe it is more appropriate for general discussion versus being in the epub area.

My local Library recently started offering epub based books via Overdrive. While their selection is quite limited now, I am hoping it will grow in the future. To help in that effort, I sent them an e-mail suggesting that they contact Overdrive about offering a method for users to purchase/donate epub based books to the library. My library does this for pbooks at Amazon via a wish list. The patron buys the book and it is direct shipped to the library.

If you are at all interested in participating in this, I urge to send you local library and Overdive an email suggesting they offer it. The library as their direct customer has more leverage. If Overdrive has multiple Libraries and their patrons requesting this, then maybe they will implement it.

This is the e-mail I sent to support@overdrive.com

To whom it may concern:

Please forward this email to the appropriate marketing group as I only had the general support email address.

I am inquiring if there is a mechanism available from Overdrive to purchase epub based books for my local library. My library has a which list set up on Amazon where patrons can purchase books that are then directly shipped to the library

If there was a mechanism to set up a library wish list on Overdrive similar to what is used at Amazon, I believe it would be a benefit. If patrons could purchase purchase/donate epub books for a library, it would be a three way win. Patrons could buy books for the Library at Overdrive. As benefit, possibly they would have first right of checkout. Overdrive would get the book sell. The library would get the book, expanding the epub selection available.

Obviously eBooks are a chicken and egg item. Without a broad user base, there is no incentive for a library to spend precious capital on eBooks. With the price of purchasing a dedicated reader, you kind of feel cheated paying the same price for an eBook as you pay for paper based book. Before, I could give the book away after I read it and help the library in the book sale. If I could purchase some of my books in this manner I would.

Sincerely,
xxxxx

Edit: to add link and addtional text.
This edit is to include the link to the message thread identified by susan_cassidy bellow. My apologies for not searching for this subject prior to posting. I still think it would be a good ideal for multiple people to suggest to OverDrive that they provide a way to donate books via a button as described in the other thread.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...ooks+overdrive

susan_cassidy · 06-22-2010, 07:19 PM

I think there was a post in one of the forums on Mobileread a while back, explaining how to do this (one person's experience, anyway).

pendragginp · 06-23-2010, 09:01 AM

There was: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83551

I asked about this at the library I work at though, and the answer was that they want to control what gets added to their Overdrive. =/

switchman2210 · 06-23-2010, 12:40 PM

I can understand why they want to control what is in their account. But I also think it could still work with a process flow as illustrated below:

1. User selects and purchase epub for donation.
2. E-mail is sent to library representative stating patron xxx is donating book YYY. A timer is started, if no response from library in 7-14 days, donation is canceled and e-mail sent to patron stating no response from library.

3. Librarian logs onto overdrive and accepts/rejects the book.

4. If book accepted, charge credit card and place epub in libraries account.
5. Place 3-4 day hold on book with donating patron as 1st in line for book.

6. If book rejected.
7. E-mail sent to patron stating library is declining donation.

This flow would allow people to donate while still giving ultimate control to the library. I believe the type of book that the vast majority of people would donate would be acceptable.

Fat Abe · 10-20-2010, 11:23 PM

Someone at the Free Library of Philadelphia must have been listening to the suggestions of many members of MR. FLP now has a donation link:

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/donate/giving.cfm?ebooks

khalleron · 10-20-2010, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Abe

Someone at the Free Library of Philadelphia must have been listening to the suggestions of many members of MR. FLP now has a donation link:

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/donate/giving.cfm?ebooks

That's a link to donate money, not ebooks.

06-22-2010, 06:21 PM	#1
switchman2210 Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 416 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Black PRS-650 with lighted cover & Kindle DX.	Supporting the Public Library I am posting this here as I believe it is more appropriate for general discussion versus being in the epub area. My local Library recently started offering epub based books via Overdrive. While their selection is quite limited now, I am hoping it will grow in the future. To help in that effort, I sent them an e-mail suggesting that they contact Overdrive about offering a method for users to purchase/donate epub based books to the library. My library does this for pbooks at Amazon via a wish list. The patron buys the book and it is direct shipped to the library. If you are at all interested in participating in this, I urge to send you local library and Overdive an email suggesting they offer it. The library as their direct customer has more leverage. If Overdrive has multiple Libraries and their patrons requesting this, then maybe they will implement it. This is the e-mail I sent to support@overdrive.com To whom it may concern: Please forward this email to the appropriate marketing group as I only had the general support email address. I am inquiring if there is a mechanism available from Overdrive to purchase epub based books for my local library. My library has a which list set up on Amazon where patrons can purchase books that are then directly shipped to the library If there was a mechanism to set up a library wish list on Overdrive similar to what is used at Amazon, I believe it would be a benefit. If patrons could purchase purchase/donate epub books for a library, it would be a three way win. Patrons could buy books for the Library at Overdrive. As benefit, possibly they would have first right of checkout. Overdrive would get the book sell. The library would get the book, expanding the epub selection available. Obviously eBooks are a chicken and egg item. Without a broad user base, there is no incentive for a library to spend precious capital on eBooks. With the price of purchasing a dedicated reader, you kind of feel cheated paying the same price for an eBook as you pay for paper based book. Before, I could give the book away after I read it and help the library in the book sale. If I could purchase some of my books in this manner I would. Sincerely, xxxxx Edit: to add link and addtional text. This edit is to include the link to the message thread identified by susan_cassidy bellow. My apologies for not searching for this subject prior to posting. I still think it would be a good ideal for multiple people to suggest to OverDrive that they provide a way to donate books via a button as described in the other thread. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...ooks+overdrive Last edited by switchman2210; 06-22-2010 at 07:52 PM.

10-20-2010, 11:23 PM	#5
Fat Abe Man Who Stares at Books Posts: 1,816 Karma: 10606722 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: 50th State, USA. Also, PA, NY, CA, and elsewhere. Device: All of the Above	FLP Direct Donation Someone at the Free Library of Philadelphia must have been listening to the suggestions of many members of MR. FLP now has a donation link: https://libwww.freelibrary.org/donate/giving.cfm?ebooks

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06-22-2010, 07:19 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	I think there was a post in one of the forums on Mobileread a while back, explaining how to do this (one person's experience, anyway).

06-23-2010, 09:01 AM	#3
pendragginp Guru Posts: 985 Karma: 4567263 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The End Of The Earth Device: Several	There was: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83551 I asked about this at the library I work at though, and the answer was that they want to control what gets added to their Overdrive. =/

06-23-2010, 12:40 PM	#4
switchman2210 Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 416 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Black PRS-650 with lighted cover & Kindle DX.	I can understand why they want to control what is in their account. But I also think it could still work with a process flow as illustrated below: 1. User selects and purchase epub for donation. 2. E-mail is sent to library representative stating patron xxx is donating book YYY. A timer is started, if no response from library in 7-14 days, donation is canceled and e-mail sent to patron stating no response from library. 3. Librarian logs onto overdrive and accepts/rejects the book. 4. If book accepted, charge credit card and place epub in libraries account. 5. Place 3-4 day hold on book with donating patron as 1st in line for book. 6. If book rejected. 7. E-mail sent to patron stating library is declining donation. This flow would allow people to donate while still giving ultimate control to the library. I believe the type of book that the vast majority of people would donate would be acceptable.

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