I found a public library for ebooks! YEAH!

[compulsiveread…]

I live in a rural area in Tx, that has no library of it's own, in fact....we don't have a grocer either. Since I'm not a "townie" either, I'm REALLY out there in the sticks..I've always had to get a nonresident library card from a next local town, which is fine because that's where the grocery is too. I was also able to get one from Austin. I don't use the Austin library often as Taylor Public Library is an EXCELLENT library and has done very well at meeting my needs until now. Neither Austin nor Taylor have it in their budgets yet to be able to loan digital content. sigh....

I love my nook, but I miss the ability to borrow books. Yes, I could still go get a physical book, but I have to say that it's nice to not have to schedule trips to town to get a new read. I've read about 30 free books since my nook arrived, and have purchased about 1 dozen.

I have searched and searched for a public library that would issue me a non-resident card and was getting very frustrated. All of them seemed to require my physical presence to get a card and that just hasn't been possible. Each Library I found was at LEAST a 3 hour drive one way, then the yearly fees seem to range from $100 a year to even twice that. YIKES!!

I just kept looking and looking and found the Denton Public LIbrary this week. A non-resident card is $50.00 a year but again, their website stated they needed me to show up with my id, etc. I looked through what they had available to download and I quickly came to the conclusion that $50 a year would be a bargain. I would definitely be downloading a lot more current and bestselling books to read than I could purchase for that price.

I wrote to the library and asked them if they had provisions for non-residents who would ONLY be downloading ebooks. I offered to fax any information they would need, etc. I am so overjoyed that they responded already, stating they would be happy to work with me if I was willing to pay the yearly fee! They'll be sending me the application and I'll be able to fax it back and call in or mail my payment.

I am so happy!

If you find a library that you would like to use, but meeting the physical requirments to get a card is very difficult or impossible, contact the library and explain what you are wanting and how you would use their library. I have found that most librarians are often willing to work with those who love to read. I think too that the additional fees that they would collect through working with non-residents would help them expand their programs.

Good luck!
pamela

[gqb]

Pamela,

You can use www.overdrive.com to find other libraries and to find out how many titles and what titles they have.  I have library cards to the Harris County Public Library (Houston) and to the Arlington Public Library.  The cards were free and they have more books than the Denton Public Library.  Yes, I had to make a trip to both but I had reasons to be in both areas.  Supposedly, the Dallas Public Library will be getting e-books.  I plan to check to see if their cards are free.

Out of my two current libraries, Arlington has shorter waiting lists, but Harris County has a better selection.

Also, check San Antonio.  They have a lot of e-books.  I don't know if their cards are free but plan to check as I may be in the area this summer.

If you have a choice, check out e-pub instead of pdf versions.  Also, watch for mp3 and wma formats.  Those are audiobooks - OK if that's what you also want.

Enjoy the library!

[compulsiveread…]

Thanks for the info! I will try them as well!

pamela

[compulsiveread…]

I looked at the San Antonio library and the cards are not free. I do not remember exactly how much they were but it was $100 or over per year.

[bilbravo]

When I came home from B&N after looking at nook I found that my local library had eBooks and that I could read them on the nook.  I went back to the store immediately and bought it.  That was a huge selling point.  I'm glad that you were able to find a library to use to checkout books.

One of the best things about it is that I don't have to drive to the library and drop books off/pick them up.  Also no late fees!  I'm terrible with returning things on time. 

[kp1]

Yeah, $50 per year is definately a bargain!  Glad you found this option. Borrowing library ebooks was a major selling point for me too.

[Rasyr]

My local libraries (most of the libraries in my state), while having Overdrive, seem to be using them only for audiobooks, and not for ebooks....

sigh...

[AlanNJ Inspired Bibliophile]

There are definitely more Audio Books in the libraries that I am a member of as well.  Overdrive allows an advance search function though.  I use that and just narrow the search down to e-pub books and add the ones I want to my "wish list".  After that I check every 2 weeks and just search for what's been added since my last visit.

[gqb]

Well, thanks for checking on San Antonio.  Now I know.

[gqb]

This thread reminded me to call the Dallas Public Library.  After getting transferred to three places, I found that unless you are a city resident or employee, a library card will cost $250.  Yikes!  I'd already figured it out, but they told me that a Texshare card will not work for e-books.  Oh, well.

[Bamrz]

Pamela, on another board, I found out that the Free Library of Philadelphia will issue non-residents cards for $15. You can apply online, but you have to print and fill out a form to mail in to them.

Sue

[pnutmnm]

None of my local libraries ( Northern Illinois ) offer e-books. I am curious as to how this works. I printed the application and will definitely send it in. Do you have more information as to how browse selectons, download, and how long is the rental?

Thanks...I really appreciate your help.

Melissa

[compulsiveread…]

When I was visiting the Denton Library, there is a help page with how tos, this specific page was for epub files:

http://denton.lib.overdrive.com/12DC8163-6E7F-4AA8-BF4F-C2165D41EAD1/10/437/en/Help-FAQ-Format410.ht...

This link is for general how to use digital items:

http://denton.lib.overdrive.com/12DC8163-6E7F-4AA8-BF4F-C2165D41EAD1/10/437/en/Help.htm

This is their ebook section: It appears they have 100 titles, but that would get me off to a good start as I'm sure they'll be adding more:

http://denton.lib.overdrive.com/12DC8163-6E7F-4AA8-BF4F-C2165D41EAD1/10/437/en/eBooks.htm

[TinaLTX]

Try the Frisco public library as well - I got my card from them online and haven't made it in yet to get the hard copy.  There are many agreements in smaller towns with larger libraries too. I'm surprised the Texshare card will not allow ebooks?  Good luck!

[Rich_D]

The Philadelphia Free Library sells out of state memberships for $15 a year and has an online application.

[worthmaur]

Thank you so much for the info about the Philly Free Library! I've printed off my application and will be mailing it tomorrow.

Does anyone know of any other public libraries with ebooks that accept out of state applicants without an "in person" sign-up?

[compulsiveread…]

Well, I heard back from the Harris Public LIbrary and they require a body to show up for their cards. Both the Denton and the Philedelphia libraries will give me a card as long as I'm willing to pay their fees. ($50 and $15) which are pretty reasonable.

I think I saw that Lubbock has an ebook library but haven't checked it out yet. I do actually go to Lubbock once a year in April so that's one I could do if it wasn't too expensive. I'll have to look at the different libraries and see what each has. Doesn't make sense to several yearly fees for the same thing.

[bklvr896]

On the Pennsylvania free library application, I noticed that it wants you to fill in a pin number on the form and mail it.  Can you change that once you get your library card?  I'm really not comfortable writing down a pin number and sending it through the mail.  If I sign up online, do I have to include the PIN on the form?  Just wondering if any has done this.

[very-simple]

bklvr896:  I don't know about philly, but when I got my NYPL library card (in person), I had to verbally give the librarian a pin so she could enter it into the system.  I picked something that I don't use for anything else.

Since they don't have my credit card number or anything, I don't worry about it too much.  

[compulsiveread…]

Awesome! I received my Arlington Public Library card in the mail yesterday and borrowed my very first library eBooks! WAY TOO COOL!

 I kept reading about Overdrive and was getting frustrated, until I found out that Overdrive was for AUDIO content. I needed Adobe Digital Editions to manage eBooks.

The nook's user guide was NOT very helpful in figuring out how to get a library book on the nook that would load. Extremely vague instructions. Adobe Digital Editions was not very helpful either, and my searches kept giving me vague statements that I had to manually side load the book to the nook, so I did that like I side loaded other items. Though the nook found the book, I couldn't open it. I think B&N could provide some more complete instructions on how to use Adobe Digital Editions to transfer library books.

On the library's site, I finally found out that I had to authorize Adobe Digital Editions once I installed it to my computer. Then I have to hook up the nook to the computer, let Adobe Digital Editions find the nook and authorize it as well. I then download the library book to my computer to the My Digital Editions in my documents, then open ADE.  ADE will find the book and list it under borrowed. It will also find my nook hooked up to the computer and list it as a library. I just drag the library book icon from the borrowed list to the nook icon and ADE moves the book to my nook and puts it in the right folder for me. I can only READ the book on my nook if ADE moves it there for me.

Now, why couldn't either ADE or B&N have told me this or made the instructions easier to find?

Another thing I found is that it can be difficult to find the library's eBook page that lets you browse what the library actually has, rather than forcing you to search for a specific title, author, etc. I finally figured out to look for the Digital Media Home icon or link instead of the search for eBooks link. Once there, I can choose which media library to browse, audiobooks, eBooks, etc.

This all may seem intuitive to some folks, but for me, sheez...I'm not computer illiterate, I've been using computers since my first dos based 386 machine in 1990 or thereabouts. But it can be hard to keep up with the tech lingo, especially in areas that you don't use or work with. That makes it hard to do searches and find information. You finally end up stumbling over the correct terms you need and THEN you can run with it!

ANyway...I have to say, despite some initial glitches, the cracked page turn button, having to charge it EVERY SINGLE DAY!!...I still LOVE MY NOOK! This is the most awesome thing that I have every owned. ANd now that I can finally use the library again? Heaven!!!

Pamela