Overdrive
So...
I have been using my county public library's Overdrive system for e-book loans downloaded direct to my Kindle, and I am liking it very much -- it has actually become my first choice, or at least the first place I check, when exploring a new-to-me book.
I was therefore pleased to discover (when it finally occurred to me to look) that HarperCollins has all seven of my fantasy titles of theirs up in the Overdrive system. Has anyone out there (and where?) borrowed any of my books in this fashion, and how was your e-experience?
I especially like being able to get a book any time, day or night, without having to drive anywhere -- and returns are equally painless.
Ta, L.
I have been using my county public library's Overdrive system for e-book loans downloaded direct to my Kindle, and I am liking it very much -- it has actually become my first choice, or at least the first place I check, when exploring a new-to-me book.
I was therefore pleased to discover (when it finally occurred to me to look) that HarperCollins has all seven of my fantasy titles of theirs up in the Overdrive system. Has anyone out there (and where?) borrowed any of my books in this fashion, and how was your e-experience?
I especially like being able to get a book any time, day or night, without having to drive anywhere -- and returns are equally painless.
Ta, L.
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My online library has all of Vorkosigan books on overdrive audio . Right now I have Komarr on my iPod and ready to go.
I borrowed the most of the Vorkosigan series audio books this winter. I'd listen to it while traveling and shoveling snow. They did not have the whole series, but I checked out the paper copies of those. I am a fan of Overdrive, despite the gaps.
Oh my, I half wish you hadn't mentioned that. Turns out my library has 28 books in either e-book or audio...arrrggghhhhh....and there are real-life things I need to do this week...Sleeping, and all other activities, can wait, right?
I borrowed Paladin of Souls with a fairly early version of Overdrive (iPad app). It was not a painless as it could have been (kept forgetting my library card data!), and the formatting was kind of terrible (no paragraph indentations!), but that was early on and I hope that the app has improved since then!The writing came through fine, of course. *grin*
I've borrowed Paladin of Souls, Shards of Honor, Barrayar, and The Vor Game on audiobook through Overdrive all in the past year or so. They're all excellent readings (in my opinion). I've become a big fan of Overdrive myself. I can check out and listen to an audiobook all from within the app itself. I've also borrowed several Kindle books, as well (though none yet written by you) and that experience is terrific, as it's my favorite method to read 'print.' As you say, check out and return couldn't be easier for someone who really just wants to stay up late reading in bed.
At any rate, I'm very thankful to your publisher for having so many of your books available through the digital library.
I was really excited when I discovered Overdrive a few years ago, right around the time I discovered your books. However, SPPL and Hennepin County Library did not have any of your books when I tried to find them a few years ago on Overdrive, nor other books I was interested in. I gave up on it in disappointment and haven't tried it recently, I should really give it another shot.I should mention that electronic is definitely my favorite format, while I read a few books a month on average I haven't read a paper book in several years. I absolutely love reading on my phone, for example reading for a few minutes while standing in line at the grocery store. The more I think about it, the more excited I am to give Overdrive another try.
I borrowed the entire Vorkosigan series on audio and enjoyed the heck out of my daily commute while they lasted!I love my library and use it constantly. I adore being able to get audiobooks and ebooks without leaving the hosue.
My city's public library system has both Overdrive and audio versions of books, and at this moment I have e-book, audiobook and physical books all checked out. Training staff on eformats was the biggest hurdle; younger readers often teach librarians.
The Upper Hudson Library system (Albany, NY and surrounding communities) has The Vor Game in audio and an ebook copy of Dragonwriter.Like others have said, the convenience of borrowing a library book without leaving home is great. I've never had any issues. Like you, my first preference is to search my library's online catalog when looking for a new book.
Dg wrote: "I was really excited when I discovered Overdrive a few years ago, right around the time I discovered your books. However, SPPL and Hennepin County Library did not have any of your books when I tri..."You might try some other libraries; some universities (particularly if offering national online classes) or bigger metropolitan city libraries will let non-residents still get library cards and use their overdrive services.
Dg wrote: "I was really excited when I discovered Overdrive a few years ago, right around the time I discovered your books. However, SPPL and Hennepin County Library did not have any of your books when I tri..."I expect the e-collection is constantly improving -- the librarians are certainly trying. Availability tends to be hit or miss, but there are enough hits to keep me going fairly well. And there's always Amazon to fall back on -- I may actually have been e-buying more, since starting to borrow, either to find a related book or because the wait was too long. (Which, switching briefly to my writer's hat, seems a Good Thing.)
Ta, L.
I've used Overdrive at my library for audiobooks and like it very much (better than their previous audiobooks system, which I can't for the life of me remember what it's called at the moment).The biggest hassle, as others have mentioned, is when there are gaps in the collection.
This occurs, of course, in other media as well. I was listening to a fun mystery series on CD and now need to find the middle ones through interlibrary loan. Not easy to pick up when my local library has such short hours and I have such a spotty memory!
Comment from an actual librarian!Our e-book collection is expanding at a large rate, only slowed by a few stodgy publishers who can't find a reason to let libraries buy their e-books. Another problem is the sometimes tricky set-up procedures required by Overdrive software to connect with the library software; but that is usually a one-time problem. Things typically go smoothly after that.
I read some e-books but have found that they work best for fiction. I often write reviews on non-fiction books and those require a lot of reshuffling through the text looking for quotes, definitions,and other details. At least with my particular brain, the flipping back and forth is a lot easier with a physical paper book.
My daughter likes to read e-books on her ipod. Too small a screen for me! I must say that Lois's books read equally well in any format. But it must be awfully hard for her to autograph the e-books.
:-)
If your library has a limited e-book collection, it may be because there isn't a perceived demand, which in turn may be due to limited librarian familiarity with how to help users set up Overdrive. Please- give LOTS of (online) feedback to your library. Tell them the authors and titles you want; they usually buy the bestsellers, but in genre fiction they may need guidance. I volunteer at our central library, and guarantee that librarians will listen to you. Spread the word!
The excellent Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh has ebooks and audiobooks through Overdrive. I'm not an audiobook fan, but I've checked out ebooks. I've only figured out how to get them to the Kindle software on my iPad. I'd prefer to read them on my Kobo ereader, and it's more comfortable to use than the iPad.
Wisconsin has a great system where the entire state has an e-library and all (or most, I'm not sure) of the state's public libraries are members. It's through Overdrive. It's wonderful! Called the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium, WPLC. I've read hundreds of e-books through this system. Sorry, Lois, not your books -- I already own them on paper. And they are NOT going onto the weed-em-out-because-I-don't-have-enough-bookshelf-space pile -- ever.
I have been using Overdrive to read on my Kindle for several years. I am fortunate to have access to two public library systems and they order many different books. Unfortunately, they have not gotten many of your books but I just buy them since I am one of those people who like to reread favorite books and yours certainly fall in that category. I just finished rereading the Barrayar books from beginning to end.
I discovered your books because of Overdrive. I knew nothing of your writing when I checked out The Vor Game. I have ended up purchasing all of your books, some of them in more than one format.
Nancy wrote: "I discovered your books because of Overdrive. I knew nothing of your writing when I checked out The Vor Game. I have ended up purchasing all of your books, some of them in more than one format."Hm... had you checked it out in e-book or audio format?
Blackstone, my audiobooks publisher, is in my local library's e-lending program, but Baen, my print publisher, does not seem to be here locally.
Ta, L.
Steve wrote: "Comment from an actual librarian!Our e-book collection is expanding at a large rate, only slowed by a few stodgy publishers who can't find a reason to let libraries buy their e-books. Another pr..."
There IS a way to autograph ebooks! Autography http://www.autography.com The author has to sign up for it. Lois?
Whoa! Fascinating. No matter how a market shifts, someone will figure out a way to profit by meeting the new needs.
I have most of your Baen titles in electronic form thanks to a CD that Baen bundled with one of your recent hardcovers. Cryoburn, probably. I already had all the books on paper, mind you, but it's awfully nice to pull them up on the iPad whenever the spirit moves me.
I checked out an audiobook. I think they might have the whole Vorkosigan collection in audiobook format. You had me hooked after the first book and then I wanted copies of my own to keep.I often find what I want to read in print form by trying an author's audiobooks. Why not try something different when you don't have to even remember to return it? The Los Angeles Public Library has several sources for e-media but I like Overdrive the best. The e-book delivery in particular couldn't be more convenient.
I already owned digital copies of most of your books but I've started to use OverDrive for other books. It works really great as long as the audiobook is available in mp3 format. The WMA formatted audiobooks are not Mac-compatible. It's very disappointing when that format is the only option.
Folks should also know, if they don't, that often you don't need to rely on your local library for borrowing books from Overdrive. Many large municipal library systems (New York Public Library, Boston Public Library, etc.) allow people to get (on line) an e-card and borrow with an in-state - not city - residence. They often have a bigger budget and a better selection than smaller libraries.
Don't hesitate to request books that are available on Overdrive but your library does not own. My experience is that they VERY often will acquire them if requested. Though I do notice a lull in purchasing at certain times, probably due to the budget cycle for the library.
I live in California, and I have cards at 5 big-city libraries in addition to my (much smaller) local library. Any state resident is eligible for cards at those libraries; the only catch is you have to apply in person. So, during my various travels, I've worked in trips to those libraries. Now, if one library doesn't have a title, another might.
I own all your books, but I've been using the public library for ebooks for years. I do kinda gripe that it was easier before Amazon allowed library lending (I have an epub reader and I used to have the e-library pretty much all to myself, heh).But yeah, ebooks from libraries is terrific.
I live in STL, MO and have read basically all of your books through Overdrive Media. I never had any issues and really became a fan of your work through the availability of your books there.
It is has been really interesting to me as a librarian to see how many readers discovered your books first through e-books. I think we librarians have to raise our game even more now. So here's a question for YOU, Lois. Does it make any emotional difference to you when you imagine us reading your books through e-readers, or audiobooks, or printed books? I assume that the finances aren't much different for you either way. I own all of your books in physical copies but several also as e-books for convenience while traveling.
Steve wrote: "It is has been really interesting to me as a librarian to see how many readers discovered your books first through e-books. I think we librarians have to raise our game even more now. So here's a..."I love the idea of folks reading any edition of my books except "pirated".
:-), L.
Janet wrote: "I've only figured out how to get them to the Kindle software on my iPad. I'd prefer to read them on my Kobo ereader, and it's more comfortable to use than the iPad."Janet, it's possible that you can get compatible books for your Kobo from Overdrive. However, it's isn't as one-step as with the Kindle version. If your Overdrive has "ePub" versions of the books, you can use Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) on a PC or laptop to transfer the book over to your Kobo. I do this all the time with mine. It'll expire it and everything that the Kindle version does. You can return books early with ADE, too, if you finish quickly. There should be instructions from the library Overdrive site which should walk you through all this.
I don't think I've gotten any of your books through Overdrive. I own almost all of them, most of them in multiple formats (Audible, Kindle, Paperback, Hardcover, that disc that came with Cryoburn).However, I do get other books through Overdrive, and I've had trouble with compatibility issues. Even the stuff that's supposed to be compatible is much harder to get onto the device I want to use than it should be (using the Audible & Kindle apps as my measuring stick for "ease of use"). For example, I checked out the audio version of Tamora Pierce's Melting Stones a week or two ago. I even remembered to double check to make sure it was compatible with iOS (been burned by that mistake before). Then I tried to get it onto my iPod. It literally would have been easier and less time consuming to drive to the library, check out the audio discs, rip them to my PC, and transfer the files to my iPod.
I'm in the midst of listening to the Curse of Chalion through Overdrive on my iPhone using the Overdrive app and I've re-read several books in your other series on my iPad through Overdrive, also using the app. It is very easy with no technical glitches at all.
But, I love the library overdrive loans for kindle, iPad, android tablets and nook. Very much like you the not having to drive to pickup or return. (I get pretty frantic to return a book early as soon as read rather than letting the loan expire and auto-return. Mostly because in my library system, while easy and delightful, there tend to be long waiting lists so I fret to make it available to the next on list.)
Oddly, my county public library only loans audiobooks. But the neighboring county let me get a library card and use overdrive to borrow ebooks. I'm surprised at how many series and books I would have overlooked except for surfing their offerings. Has lured me into trying books friends were talking about that I otherwise would not have chanced just because they were available for checkout ( rather than getting on waiting list).