The Sword and Laser discussion
Find out if you local library loans ebooks through Overdrive
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Huh, that's interesting. I'm surprised that there are even libraries in the uk on there. Do these formats work on kindle though? I'm not that great with tech, and have only ever bought directly from amazon. Incidentally, I've heard there are ways to get kindle books from libraries, but I was strongly under the impression these were America-only. Can anyone confirm or deny that? Perhaps I'm completely wrong. Mostly I don't use libraries except for my uni work (uni libraries), as I usually grab books whenever they are cheap and have tons lying around, but it could be useful for books for this club which are not always the cheapest.
I don't know if it's different in the UK or not, but Overdrive offers kindle, .pdf, and epub format books as well as audiobooks. However, they don't always offer every format for each book.Personally, I use it to sort of test drive books. If there's a book I'm on the fence about, I'll borrow it. If i love it, then I'll buy the dead tree version.
That doesn't bode well for kindle library books in the UK then, since after an admittedly brief browse on my local library website, I have only found books available in Adobe EPUB eBook format (browsed a US site and found a kindle version in seconds). Come on Amazon! Sort it out!
I've used our Overdrive Media to download audiobooks. However, there's no renewal option on ours--once the lending time is over, it goes poof (unless you burn a copy).
This is the way it was explained to me: It costs a lot of money to join. (e.g. $1500 up front in Washington state). That gives patrons access to the basic data base of books. The problem is that your on a waiting list behind everyone else in the system. So you might be #49 on the list for a popular ebook. Your local library has the option of buying a ebook (in which case local patrons have priority). The problem is that while individuals can buy a kindle book for $9.99 Public libraries have to pay a lot more. (Publisher recently jacked up the price for libraries). I was told that a new best seller could run $79. That's for each format (Kindle, epub, etc.). At which point my plan to contribute ebooks to the local library fell through. With tight budgets, local libraries have having a tough time offering ebooks. About 50 libraries in the UK have signed up. If a library drops out of the program the books they "bought" are gone.
I love my public library and use it often, including Overdrive for audiobooks. If you're concerned about libraries having access to e-content, you might want to check out the Urban Libraries Council website. Libraries in the US and Canada are coordinating their efforts to bring us a better e-content experience.http://www.urbanlibraries.org/index.cfm
And if you're reading this post and you're a librarian anywhere in the world, thank you for all that you do! I think librarians are some of the best people in the world!
Warren wrote: "This is the way it was explained to me: It costs a lot of money to join. (e.g. $1500 up front in Washington state). That gives patrons access to the basic data base of books. The problem is that yo..."So you're saying it might be more likely the libraries choice not to shell out on kindle versions? Well, I wouldn't complain about them not doing, given the cost. I had no idea!
Realised I think I was thinking of Amazon Prime when I was thinking of the no kindle library books in the UK thing. The US prime gives you a lending library and access to films and tv programmes and quicker delivery. The UK version gives you quicker delivery. :P
They made it sound like it was a no-win situation.No matter which format they choose people will complain.
Here's an example of the problem:
Random House Raises E-Book Prices for Libraries as Much as 300 Percent
"there are no titles under $25. Some cost as much as $100."
All formats are DRM'd so you can't convert them from one format to another.
I appreciate the library even trying to get ebooks.
Absolutely. Libraries really ought to be able get either a reduction in price for electronic versions, or else all electronic formats in one. It's madness to charge so much for each format.
Ruth wrote: "Absolutely. Libraries really ought to be able get either a reduction in price for electronic versions, or else all electronic formats in one. It's madness to charge so much for each format."Heck I was willing to pay full price. The full $9.99 for an ebook.
Have it go straight to the library...just so they let me borrow it first.
$100 a book on the other hand...
I'm a public librarian (in Canada) whose system subscribes to Overdrive. While I don't deal directly with Overdrive collections in my current position, I can try to address some questions here:Katrina wrote: "I don't know if it's different in the UK or not, but Overdrive offers kindle, .pdf, and epub format books as well as audiobooks. However, they don't always offer every format for each book."
Overdrive and Amazon reached some sort of agreement, so US libraries can loan out Kindle titles. So far, this agreement hasn't been extended to other countries. We're hopeful, but haven't heard anything new yet.
Warren wrote: "They made it sound like it was a no-win situation. No matter which format they choose people will complain.
Here's an example of the problem:
Random House Raises E-Book Prices for Libraries as Much as 300 Percent
"there are no titles under $25. Some cost as much as $100." All formats are DRM'd so you can't convert them from one format to another. I appreciate the library even trying to get ebooks. "
The eBook thing caught the book publishers completely off-guard (even though they watched the same thing happen to the music, film, TV and video game industries over the past decade), and now their traditional business model is under threat. They haven't really worked out how to deal with these eBooks, and as a result are trying out a lot of different ideas to maintain profits. (I suspect, much like every other media industry, no one wants to see a major IT company have control of an iTunes-like universal platform, and the 30% of profits that come with it.)
So, of the big 6 publishers, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan won't even sell eBooks to libraries, and the rest are all placing restrictions. HarperCollins limits eBooks to a circulation limit of 26 per title, after which the library has to either purchase the title again or remove it from their digital collection. Most of the other publishers are taking routes similar to Random House. We normally buy print books at a wholesale rate; around 20-40% off. So 300% of the already-inflated retail price makes acquisition librarians really question if a given title is worth it, especially in this belt-tightening era. And for the most part, sword and laser-type books don't circulate as well as your James Pattersons and Fifty Shades of Greys.
Irene wrote: "And if you're reading this post and you're a librarian anywhere in the world, thank you for all that you do! I think librarians are some of the best people in the world!"
Thanks, Irene! My colleagues and I really appreciate your support!
kvon wrote: "once the lending time is over, it goes poof (unless you burn a copy)."I've taken to using an iPod Nano for library audiobooks. That way the book doesn't disappear until I choose to sync.
Wow, thanks for all the info, Joe, that was really interesting. I guess the difficulty is that ebooks are still new, with no current ruling format and no agreed upon systems in place. It certainly doesn't sound like libraries are getting a good deal by trying to offer them, so it's wonderful that they are trying to anyway, though I guess it is smart to keep current. :) Anyway, yay for libraries (and those that work there), and boo to companies for making it harder work for them. :D
aldenoneil wrote: "kvon wrote: "once the lending time is over, it goes poof (unless you burn a copy)."I've taken to using an iPod Nano for library audiobooks. That way the book doesn't disappear until I choose to s..."
Good idea thanks.
I read fast but its had to get through a audio book in just two weeks. I tried increasing the speed but that's not a great option for good books.
To tack of a few other items brought up here:1) My local country library system has an agreement with the library system serving the largest county in my state, such that we can access the digital offerings available through the other library. It really expands the options available to the local library and (I should probably ask why) it isn't something you can easily find out for yourself.
2) Aside from Overdrive, my local library also stocks audiobooks in CD format and this relatively new product (can't remember the name) which is a self-contained player that contains one audiobook. If you have an device that easily integrates with your libraries digital offerings they're not much use to you, but if you don't then they're freaking awesome. No needing to change CDs, download files and get them on your own mp3 player, so on and so forth... They also don't come with any DRM stuff to deal with.
Robert, my library calls the one-shot books 'playaways'. They're like a mini ipod with earphones.
The play-away books are slightly larger then a VCR tape box.Publishers have been pushing them hard.
Our library bought some. Their seldom checked out so that's money down the drain. Most patrons want to rip the books to their ipod or iphone. The publishers want you to ditch your iphone and carry this box with you. Yea right.
Warren wrote: "The play-away books are slightly larger then a VCR tape box.Publishers have been pushing them hard.
Our library bought some. Their seldom checked out so that's money down the drain. Most patrons ..."
That may be but they're still great for those without an mp3 player, especially one which doesn't support modern DRM systems. Also the ones in my library are packaged in a DVD style box, but they're just slightly smaller than my smartphone, although a bit thicker on one end.
True. They use to have racks of books on cassette.Then people ditched their walkman and went digital.
The libraries are in a no win with audio books.
My local library does not use Overdrive to do digital audio books. They use another system that will only allow .wmp files. So that is a no go for me as I have an iPhone. However they have been slowly expanding their books on CD's and it is almost a complete row of shelves now. For a small town library they have a surprisingly large selection with a lot of sci-fi/fantasy options. It is kind of a pain to rip them to .mp3 for my phone but is worth it for me.
Just read a article linking to http://search.overdrive.com/ which has a search that can quickly tell you if your local library supports their eLending progam.
I'm fortunate enough to have enough spare cash each month to support my reading habit so I haven't been to the local library in a long while. It is nice to know though that if I need to save some cash I can borrow from my local library now on my kindle.