Epub and public library

[jreed3000]

What is the best reader for use with public libraries?

Thanks,

Joe

[meeera]

In which country and with which library system?

[eschwartz]

If you live in the US, the Kindle has phenomenal integration with OverDrive. When you check out a book, you get a link to redeem it on Amazon.com, and the book appears in your Kindle Cloud for the duration of the loan. Much easier than checking out and downloading .acsm files to authorize through Adobe Digital Editions, which then must be sideloaded using ADE to Kobo/Nook/Sony. Most books have the option to checkout as a Kindle Book.

But libraries outside the US don't offer Kindle Book as a checkout option, so the only choice is Adobe EPUB.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

If you live in the US, the Kindle has phenomenal integration with OverDrive. When you check out a book, you get a link to redeem it on Amazon.com, and the book appears in your Kindle Cloud for the duration of the loan. Much easier than checking out and downloading .acsm files to authorize through Adobe Digital Editions, which then must be sideloaded using ADE to Kobo/Nook/Sony. Most books have the option to checkout as a Kindle Book.

Doesn't the OP's PRS-T1 have Overdrive on-board already? (Depending on location.) But we have no idea whether their library uses Overdrive.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by meeera

Doesn't the OP's PRS-T1 have Overdrive on-board already? (Depending on location.) But we have no idea whether their library uses Overdrive.

It's a safe bet, most libraries use OverDrive. I was also discussing the OverDrive integration, so anyone is free to ignore me if OverDrive isn't a factor.

What's this about Sony having OverDrive on-board?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

What's this about Sony having OverDrive on-board?

Their T series readers have direct OverDrive access built in so you can checkout and download from your public library directly on the device.

[jreed3000]

US.

Washington state, but I can also use a library in British Columbia.

[jreed3000]

I've been happy with the way my T1 works with the libraries, but now I have certificate issues I haven't been able to fix.

Joe

[eschwartz]

Can you just ignore the error? Or does it refuse to work at all?

I know on my Kindle (browser) I will occasionally get told the https connection to _____ cannot be verified, but it's just a nag and can be ignored. Depends on how secret whatever it is you're doing is, but I imagine libraries aren't a big deal.

[jreed3000]

The certificate errors interfere with epub which is what I normally use. Everything else is fine.

Thanks for the reply.

[jbcohen]

I'm with eschwartz on this matter. I have recently started borrowing from the public library systems near me because of the high price of paper back books these days and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the kindle is great at the job of integrating with both public library systems near me.

[slammerkin]

I was really surprised to see almost universal pro-Kindle comments here, so maybe i'm just being dated with respect to this, but I know for me, epub is usually available far more than kindle/mobi formats are.

My ereader is a pandigital, it read pdf and epub. I belong to several libraries throughout the state of Ohio, where I live, and to a couple state libraries that are not Ohio's, for research purposes. While Kindle is certainly taking root as another option, about 60% of the ebooks available are only epub or pdf, and only about 40% have kindle/mobi options as well. That's for my regular public library- the research library comparison is closer to 90/10 with epub in the lead.

When I started looking to upgrade, I thought I wanted a Kindle. But another issue I was concerned with is that Kindle/Amazon seems to only sell you a license to their ebooks, and has the right to wipw them anytime. I presume the same goes for any ebook seller, but Kindle has a reputation for being fr more invasive than say, Nook.

I remember reading an article about a woman in the UK who bought a Kindle, and moved to the Netherlands. She continued to use the UK Kindle site though (maybe language reasons?). One day, she discovered her entire Kindle library was gone- something about her violating licensing rights by using the UK site when she was in the Netherlands. Amazon eventually gave her everything back, but that stuck with me as incredibly invasive. (I'm certain it's been discussed here too, so anyone with more info, please correct me if i”m incorrect on that outcome).

Another thing: I have Kindle for PC, even though I don't really use my laptop to read. A little while back, I bought Amazon Prime, b/c it has a Kindle lending library and a monthly free premium title borrow perk. Except it turns out, you can only get those perks with an actual Kindle device- not Kindle for PC. To be fair, they do state this in their fine print, so it was my own fault for not knowing it, but it still irked me.

Calibre does allow you to convert these very easily- I've gotten free Kindle for PC ebooks, and then uploaded the file from my Kindle for PC folder into Calibre, and converted it into epub to read it on my epub ereader, but that act is illegal with any copyrighted ebook, even if your intentions are totally innocent- so library books, for the most part, are going to be a problem.

If you got a kindle, and your library had an ebook only in epub and pdf, technically, you could still borrow it, and use calibre to convert it in Calibre to mobi, to make it readable on your kindle- the caveat being, just uploading the ebook into Calibre wipes out the DRM, so your library can't delete the book when the lending period is up. You're breaking a law, even if you intend to delete the book yourself at the end of the lending period- why go through that? And at least right now, you are going to find epub more than kindle. You could take the risk, but it just doesn't make sense to take one unnecessarily, when you could get an epub based reader.

In a couple years, I doubt it will be an issue, b/c yes, Kindle is moving forward to the front line with epub. But at least right now, I'm in the epub camp. When this pandigital dies, i'm buying a NOOK.

I can't really speak as to how effective Calibre is at converting epub to kindle either- if it goes smoothly, or if the conversion process produces a somewhat inferior copy- but someone who is skilled in Calibre tech would be better able to answer that question. I do believe Calibre is more epub-centric, but I could be wrong.

Again, this is all just my own experience- you mentioned being in BC, so for all I know, the BC could be the opposite. You might be better served by just downloading Kindle for PC, then going to your library's website, and trying to find some Kindle ebooks to borrow and read in the Kindle for PC. This would at least give you a real, region-sensitive feel for how hard or easy it will be to have a Kindle versus an epub reader.

[eschwartz]

@slammerkin,

In the US, the libraries have Kindle Book as a checkout option, and the checkout process is actually much smoother than ADE. I don't know what's up with Ohio, but at all the libraries I use, most (but not all) books are available as Kindle Books. It really depends what publisher the book is from. The good news is many books previously available only as Adobe EPUB now have the Kindle option as well.

The woman who had her Kindle account blocked is documented here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=194580
As it happened, the books were not wiped remotely, although her account was blocked -- any already-downloaded books were safe. And any vendor can and will do this; it is equally against any ebook vendor's ToS I think.

If you truly wish to be in the EPUB camp, which is totally fine, by the way, do yourself a favor and don't get a Nook. Get a Kobo. There are weeks worth of reading material here and elsewhere as to why, but suffice it to say that the Nook is a dying/dead platform, the hardware is years old and was never all that good, and Kobo has the best customization options aside from having quite decent hardware.
(There you go, a perfectly valid reason to use EPUB, even though I am a staunch member of the Kindle party. )

But you should know that calibre conversions are just as excellent as the original format, and not epub-centric at all -- except for that all conversions pass through XHTML which basically IS epub.
Then again, AZW3 is basically epub too.

Don't worry about the format, or where you buy the books -- that's what calibre is for. Just worry about the device which is easiest to read on. Some people are afraid of their device vendor controlling/spying on their device, so they don't sign in/connect to WiFi, and there is nothing Amazon/B&N/Kobo can do about it; they sideload all their books through calibre after removing the DRM. They also shop at all ebook vendors trying to find the best price, and usually find it too.

Library books are the one place where that breaks down; while theoretically you can DeDRM them the same, it doesn't really conform to the Fair Use excuse you are using, and is a far shadier thing to do than to strip the books you have purchased. Even if you plan on doing the right thing and deleting them when the loan expires.

[slammerkin]

In the US, the libraries have Kindle Book as a checkout option, and the checkout process is actually much smoother than ADE. I don't know what's up with Ohio, but at all the libraries I use, most (but not all) books are available as Kindle Books.

That is strange. Our Ohio public library is an overdrive participant, under half our ebooks are available in Kindle format. Yes, you can check those 40% out in Kindle format, but about 60% of all ebooks available are only available at checkout as an epub/pdf format, or in some cases, as an audio file if an audiobook copy exists as well. Or you can read them online, using the library's ereader software. Thats not just my County's system either- I have electronic access to libraries all over Ohio and I participate as a researcher in a tri-state program that allows us access to neighboring state libraries remotely, 2 of which operate as Overdrive and one which has not yet evolved to Overdrive- all three have about the same with a little variance. They are located in neighboring states, so maybe it's a regional thing?

Of the 40% of ebooks that are available in Kindle format, they are almost universally available as epub as well, but the same does not reply in reverse. Again, they are making an effort, and I do see more Kindles added a lot, b/c they have a new section for them, but in real time, at least here, equal availability is not a reality yet.

Those are all typical libraries, with respect to state libraries, capital libraries, and inter-state participation for research, education, and museum lending institutions, 90 some percent are pdf (and by proxy, epub) only, if available in any ebook style format whatsoever. But most of that stuff isn't of much interest to the average reader, so i suspect that's why.

Library books are the one place where that breaks down; while theoretically you can DeDRM them the same, it doesn't really conform to the Fair Use excuse you are using, and is a far shadier thing to do than to strip the books you have purchased. Even if you plan on doing the right thing and deleting them when the loan expires.

I think you might have misconstrued what I said- I was in no way, shape or form advising, suggesting, or implying that anyone DRM strip their library books- I reiterated that doing so, even with the most innocent of intentions, is still illegal and that with a more viable option, not worth the risk even if you were just intending to make something available to a format for their reader.

do yourself a favor and don't get a Nook. Get a Kobo. There are weeks worth of reading material here and elsewhere as to why, but suffice it to say that the Nook is a dying/dead platform, the hardware is years old and was never all that good, and Kobo has the best customization options aside from having quite decent hardware.

I don't really know anything about Kobo; I've heard of them, but everyone I know has Kindles or Nooks, so I will definitely look into the Kobo. I'm not very tech-savvy, so that's part of the problem- I resisted the ereader thing until my son bought me one and I fell in love with it. I now only need 2 real books and my ereader, as opposed to 5 real books, to go get cigarettes, lest my car get buried in an avalanche and leave me stranded for days

I've had three pandigitals (the latter two were also gifts), all but one has died and they're all rather quirky. They were great as starters though, and I'm ready for something new so thank you on the Kobo advice

Now, if only I could find an ereader with a killer battery life... I'm off grid frequently, so it's always an issue. My ereader promised something like 8-14 hours, and at best, I got 4 when it was new- now, if i get an hour I'm lucky

Thank you again for the tip!

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by slammerkin

I think you might have misconstrued what I said- I was in no way, shape or form advising, suggesting, or implying that anyone DRM strip their library books- I reiterated that doing so, even with the most innocent of intentions, is still illegal and that with a more viable option, not worth the risk even if you were just intending to make something available to a format for their reader.

No, I was just repeating that for the sake of completeness. In case anyone else sees this.

I don't really know anything about Kobo; I've heard of them, but everyone I know has Kindles or Nooks, so I will definitely look into the Kobo. I'm not very tech-savvy, so that's part of the problem- I resisted the ereader thing until my son bought me one and I fell in love with it. I now only need 2 real books and my ereader, as opposed to 5 real books, to go get cigarettes, lest my car get buried in an avalanche and leave me stranded for days

I've had three pandigitals (the latter two were also gifts), all but one has died and they're all rather quirky. They were great as starters though, and I'm ready for something new so thank you on the Kobo advice

Now, if only I could find an ereader with a killer battery life... I'm off grid frequently, so it's always an issue. My ereader promised something like 8-14 hours, and at best, I got 4 when it was new- now, if i get an hour I'm lucky

Thank you again for the tip!

Kobo is very good from what I hear (though I am a Kindle person myself). Don't worry, many people aren't tech-savvy but still manage a Kobo just fine. Though the Kindle is geared towards simplicity; you might like that, if you don't fall into the Amazon-is-evil camp.

I think any ereader nowadays is rated for ~25-30 hours. The Kindle, for example, is described on the product page as good for 8 weeks (at a rate of 30 minutes per day) with the WiFi off. Translated from marketing-speak, that is 28 hours, which depending on your reading habit will almost certainly be less than 8 weeks.

Older ereaders, naturally, didn't have access to today's battery technology.