e-ink readers for borrowing ebook from public library

deltame · 07-24-2014, 01:58 AM

I am thinking of purchasing a new e-ink reader for borrowing ebooks from the public library (united states) and would like some suggestions on which device might be a good fit.

I have two old e-readers from many years ago but have not been able to find time reading for a long while so I am not familiar with recent developments. My old devices (kindle2 and astak ez-reader) still work, e.g., for occasional book purchase from Amazon. I'd like a new e-reader specifically for borrowing from local public library to keep things separate. And I don't necessary mind having to download to computer first then transfer to the e-reader.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

AnemicOak · 07-24-2014, 02:10 AM

Either of your current devices would work. Alternatively any Kindle, Nook or Kobo device will work. For Kindle's you should be able to download wirelessly, or transfer via USB if you choose to. For Nook's and Kobo's (& your Astak) if it's a DRM'd book you'd download via Adobe Digital Editions and use that to transfer to the device via USB. If it's not DRM'd you'd just download it with a web browser to your computer and then copy it over to the device.

Sony, which no longer sells devices in the US or some other places, had built in from device borrowing and downloads in their T series (T1, T2, T3) readers and they can still be found either new or as refurbs. The T3 is the current model, but was never sold in the US.

jehane · 07-24-2014, 06:08 PM

Check your library to see the relative numbers of books in the different formats in the genres you read. I'm not sure whether Kindle has caught up yet for you, but I find that most books I read are still only in epub at my library. TigerDirect was selling refurbished Sony T2s really cheaply just a short while ago. It's somewhere in the Deals forum. Oddly, I find that I can no longer download open epub or adobe pdfs directly to my T2. I haven't tried sideloading since it's rare that I get a book in that format and then I just load it to my tablet. If you're happy to sideload and the kindle/epub availability is more or less equal then you can use any device depending on what other features you would like.

Personally it's going to be hard for me to go back to sideloading now that I have used direct download and have a wall charger (actually my phone charger). If you go with the Sony, I find the browser too slow (e-ink refresh time) so I do all my browsing and borrowing from my tablet then go to my account and download from my T2. I can also return directly from my T2 rather than having to delete from device and then return from my computer.

twowheels · 07-24-2014, 06:19 PM

I've noticed that many libraries are moving away from Overdrive (which supported the Kindle) to Axis360 or 3M, neither of which support the Kindle. That might be worth taking into consideration during your decision making process.

Kobo readers are enjoyed by many, and they support Library lending.

The Onyx T68 that everybody is talking about the last few weeks can run many apps, some of which support Library Lending.

If you want the least fuss I'd recommend any one of the current Kobo models, depending on which one appeals to you the most.

eschwartz · 07-28-2014, 06:03 PM

The Kindle is a much more integrated experience, all done through the browser, so it's much less hassle.

No need for installing ADE

.

Since you live in the USA where Kindle book checkouts are available through OverDrive, I'd strongly recommend going with Kindle. In my experience, most books are available as Kindle books (although you may want to check first to see how many of your type of books are available as Kindle books

).

SteveEisenberg · 07-28-2014, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehane

Check your library to see the relative numbers of books in the different formats in the genres you read. I'm not sure whether Kindle has caught up yet for you, but I find that most books I read are still only in epub at my library.

Excellent advice, since each library is different.

I just checked the ePUB to Kindle ratio for books added in the last 30 days to two of the most popular Overdrive eBook collections, Philadelphia and Brooklyn. The ratios are 1.10 and 1.22 respectively*. This indicates that the trend in favor of ePUB, that I documented a month ago in the following post, has stabilized:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...88&postcount=7

_________________________________________
* Raw numbers, eBooks added last 30 days:

Philadelphia EPub 142
Philadelphia Kindle 129
Brooklyn EPub 1,223
Brooklyn Kindle 999

rcentros · 07-30-2014, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Excellent advice, since each library is different.

I just checked the ePUB to Kindle ratio for books added in the last 30 days to two of the most popular Overdrive eBook collections, Philadelphia and Brooklyn. The ratios are 1.10 and 1.22 respectively*. This indicates that the trend in favor of ePUB, that I documented a month ago in the following post, has stabilized:

In my local library it's pretty much 1.1 ratio on Overdrive. So I guess it does depend on the library.

Hampshire Nanny · 07-30-2014, 10:04 AM

And my little, rural library only offers Freading and not Overdrive. Freading uses ADE: ePub or PDF. They do have an app for tablets, but don't support any of the eInk Kindle devices.

tubemonkey · 07-30-2014, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

I've noticed that many libraries are moving away from Overdrive (which supported the Kindle) to Axis360 or 3M, neither of which support the Kindle. That might be worth taking into consideration during your decision making process.

I've noticed that trend at some of my libraries. New sources for books and a slower growth rate for their OverDrive collections. I suspect it has to do with budgets and the availability of cheaper books from other sources.

tubemonkey · 07-30-2014, 11:22 AM

ePub to Kindle ratios at the 5 libraries I use most range from 1.06 ~ 1.10; with ePub accounting for approx 91% ~ 96% of their overall ebook collections and Kindle accounting for around 84% ~ 90%.

Kindle is the only format I use. So if a book I want to read is only available in ePub, I'll pass it by and find something else in Kindle.

07-24-2014, 01:58 AM	#1
deltame Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Location: usa Device: Kindle 2, EZ Reader	e-ink readers for borrowing ebook from public library I am thinking of purchasing a new e-ink reader for borrowing ebooks from the public library (united states) and would like some suggestions on which device might be a good fit. I have two old e-readers from many years ago but have not been able to find time reading for a long while so I am not familiar with recent developments. My old devices (kindle2 and astak ez-reader) still work, e.g., for occasional book purchase from Amazon. I'd like a new e-reader specifically for borrowing from local public library to keep things separate. And I don't necessary mind having to download to computer first then transfer to the e-reader. Thank you for any help you can provide.

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07-24-2014, 02:10 AM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Either of your current devices would work. Alternatively any Kindle, Nook or Kobo device will work. For Kindle's you should be able to download wirelessly, or transfer via USB if you choose to. For Nook's and Kobo's (& your Astak) if it's a DRM'd book you'd download via Adobe Digital Editions and use that to transfer to the device via USB. If it's not DRM'd you'd just download it with a web browser to your computer and then copy it over to the device. Sony, which no longer sells devices in the US or some other places, had built in from device borrowing and downloads in their T series (T1, T2, T3) readers and they can still be found either new or as refurbs. The T3 is the current model, but was never sold in the US.

07-24-2014, 06:08 PM	#3
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	Check your library to see the relative numbers of books in the different formats in the genres you read. I'm not sure whether Kindle has caught up yet for you, but I find that most books I read are still only in epub at my library. TigerDirect was selling refurbished Sony T2s really cheaply just a short while ago. It's somewhere in the Deals forum. Oddly, I find that I can no longer download open epub or adobe pdfs directly to my T2. I haven't tried sideloading since it's rare that I get a book in that format and then I just load it to my tablet. If you're happy to sideload and the kindle/epub availability is more or less equal then you can use any device depending on what other features you would like. Personally it's going to be hard for me to go back to sideloading now that I have used direct download and have a wall charger (actually my phone charger). If you go with the Sony, I find the browser too slow (e-ink refresh time) so I do all my browsing and borrowing from my tablet then go to my account and download from my T2. I can also return directly from my T2 rather than having to delete from device and then return from my computer.

07-24-2014, 06:19 PM	#4
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,853 Karma: 13432974 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro, Boox Note Max	I've noticed that many libraries are moving away from Overdrive (which supported the Kindle) to Axis360 or 3M, neither of which support the Kindle. That might be worth taking into consideration during your decision making process. Kobo readers are enjoyed by many, and they support Library lending. The Onyx T68 that everybody is talking about the last few weeks can run many apps, some of which support Library Lending. If you want the least fuss I'd recommend any one of the current Kobo models, depending on which one appeals to you the most.

07-28-2014, 06:03 PM	#5
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The Kindle is a much more integrated experience, all done through the browser, so it's much less hassle. No need for installing ADE . Since you live in the USA where Kindle book checkouts are available through OverDrive, I'd strongly recommend going with Kindle. In my experience, most books are available as Kindle books (although you may want to check first to see how many of your type of books are available as Kindle books ).

07-30-2014, 10:04 AM	#8
Hampshire Nanny Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 8064562 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3 KB, iPad2	And my little, rural library only offers Freading and not Overdrive. Freading uses ADE: ePub or PDF. They do have an app for tablets, but don't support any of the eInk Kindle devices.

07-30-2014, 11:22 AM	#10
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	ePub to Kindle ratios at the 5 libraries I use most range from 1.06 ~ 1.10; with ePub accounting for approx 91% ~ 96% of their overall ebook collections and Kindle accounting for around 84% ~ 90%. Kindle is the only format I use. So if a book I want to read is only available in ePub, I'll pass it by and find something else in Kindle.

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