e-Lending Libraries

OpenLibrary this week launched a new ebook lending program featuring a collection of 80,000 titles, readable via IA's in-browser e-reader, or downloadable as PDF or ePub files. Patrons may check out up to five titles at a time for a period of two weeks. The new project is an offshoot of The Internet Archive, one the best online digital classics repositories, working in collaboration with 150 libraries to bring the world's classic literature to readers in the modern age. Consequently, the collection consists in great part of modern editions of public domain works, many of which are available in free (though often poorly edited) editions elsewhere.



The new homepage interface now features a row of lending recommendations as well as a "Return Cart" for recently-returned titles, along with a third row of non-lendable entries (though there are generally plenty of links to free download pages therein). Like Wikipedia, OpenLibrary is "an open, editable library catalog," where users can add or correct catalog entries. The project's rather ambitious goal is to build an ebook archive with "a web page for every book ever published."



Meanwhile, OverDrive recently released its new Media Console app for iOS and Android tablets, which functions as an interface for users to borrow ebooks from local libraries with an e-lending program. Serving more than 13,000 libraries, OverDrive hosts a catalog of 400,000 titles, including many new releases. I've been using OverDrive to download both ebooks and audio titles from my local library for several years now, using the web interface and a USB to transfer the content to my iPod or (now hopelessly antiquated) iPaq ereader. However, the new Media Console app makes it possible to borrow titles from right within the device.



Unfortunately, the Kindle does not allow elending from libraries, and as I have yet to acquire a tablet I can't give you a personal review of the app. But in the following video Katie Boehret of The Wall Street Journal provides an in-depth analysis of the OverDrive interface and functionality (or read her post here).







While in-device ebook lending is still in its infancy, there are a growing number of digital libraries worldwide that offer ebook borrowing programs. Many are free, but some require membership fees or subscriptions. In addition, some public libraries offer non-resident cards. However, the OverDrive app should soon render this unnecessary. For a listing of digital lending libraries, visit this MobilRead wiki page, or contact your local library for details.