Got Nook? Try Overdrive Library

[nfdg03]

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gulo wrote:

someone here said it works:

http://www.nookboards.com/forum/index.php?topic=412.0

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this is GREAT news!  I know that from what I have read that this "should" work, but having someone with an actual nook in their hands try it out and confirm that Overdrive does work with nook (as well as non B&N DRM'ed ePub books via side loading with ADE) is music to my ears!

[esemay]

Just downloaded Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" from the NYPL in Adobe Digial Editions format and it works and looks great.

[gulo]

would be great if it was possible to write an app that would allow borrowing library ebooks straight from nook wirelessly

[nookfan]

Agreed. Hopefully, they will release an  SDK for the nook.

[AdamSelene]

> would be great if it was possible to write an app that would allow borrowing library ebooks straight from nook wirelessly

Yah, I've always thought this was the killer app for ebook readers—to be able to sit on the beach, check out a book and read it!  Getting closer…

[Captain_Awesome]

Too bad you never read reviews in publications stating how you can do things like this with eBook readers. When you read things about the kindle in NYT you never see but you are only limited to Amazon. Or in a review for the Nook are you going to read anywhere how it might be bugger currently than the Kindle but you can get your books for free from the library or buy them from many ebook retailers? Now all my friends are going to read these horrible reviews on websites and newspapers of people bashing the Nook and praising the Kindle while the Kindle is a useless device completely locked down to one company. I still don't understnad why so many people purchase it.

[ps56k]

just for the new arrivals here ....

As I pointed out weeks ago in other threads concerning Overdrive - the nook is only part of the total solution - the rest really depends on the "inventory" of your particular virtual library being hosted by Overdrive.

We are in the western burbs of Chicago - and our virtual library is hosted by Overdrive, along with 17 other local communities.... so the ebooks are all shared with 17 other suburban libraries.  Doing a quick lookup and test with an account signup, downloading of Adobe Digital Editions and doing a checkout was painless

BUT - for example, doing a search for Tom Clancy - yielded ONE ebook - yeah, just ONE - Hunt for Red October - 

and they only had ONE copy - for 17 communities -

[alg35536]

Ok I just checked my local library & they have a ton of them. How cool is this . I do however have a silly question. When you ck it out, do you only have it for a few days like a reg. book? They have a tab so that you can put a book on hold. Since it is digital, why would it matter?

[Captain_Awesome]

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alg35536 wrote:

Ok I just checked my local library & they have a ton of them. How cool is this . I do however have a silly question. When you ck it out, do you only have it for a few days like a reg. book? They have a tab so that you can put a book on hold. Since it is digital, why would it matter?

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The books can only be checked out for a specific loan period that your library sets. For example if you library has it set for 14 days when you check the book out you have it for 14 days and then it will go to the first person on the reserve list. After the 14 days is up you will not be able to read it on your device or computer, but the file will still remain on both. This is the only way publishers will allow libraries to circulate digital materials. If they didn't do this you would never be able to borrow digital items from your library.

[AdamSelene]

> When you ck it out, do you only have it for a few days like a reg. book? They have a tab so that you can put a book on hold. Since it is digital, why would it matter?

The legal basis for this being allowed at all (and not classifying it as copyright infringement) is that it mirrors the way you loan printed books—only one person can be in possession of it at a time.  The “hold” function is so that you can get in line to get the ebook, like you would do with a popular physical book at the library.

[batgirl71]

What is the name of your virtual library?

Many libraries are just starting ebook collections and they cost money to build. I know our library is stressed right now. We are getting less money in (local property taxes, housing collapse) while demand has skyrocked. Libraries have to decide where best to allocate the money they have. So I urge you to contact your library and ask to speak to the person there who is responsible for that library's participation in the virtual library. Let them know you have an eReader and that you are interested in this service and hope to see more eBooks in the future.

I know that my library is ahead of the curve on eBooks in that we are providing a service that is very rarely used by our community right now. But we believe in the future that this will be an important part of our service. Unfortunately, we don't have a very big collection and we are aware of the need to provide more books. However, it actually costs us quite a bit more to buy an eBook than a hardcopy. eBooks cost libraries through Overdrive approx. the cover price of a hardcopy in a bookstore while we buy our hardcopies most often at deep discounts. Right now it is cheaper for you to buy an eBook from Amazon or BN than it is for a library. This would be highly unlikely for a hardcopy.

[DGangGreen]

Am I doing something wrong?  It seems that all I find from my library are audio books for download from the overdrive site.  It this limited by the library, or am I in the wrong place?

Thanks,

[Captain_Awesome]

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DGangGreen wrote:

Am I doing something wrong?  It seems that all I find from my library are audio books for download from the overdrive site.  It this limited by the library, or am I in the wrong place?

Thanks,

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Although they subscribe to Overdrive your library still is responsible for purchasing titles for its patrons to checkout. Right now you can purchase eAudiobooks, eBooks, Music, and Video on Overdrive. It is entirely possible that your library currently only purchases eAudiobooks. At my library we have only started purchasing eBooks for the last two months, before that we were only circulating eAudiobooks.

[AdamSelene]

> Am I doing something wrong?  It seems that all I find from my library are audio books for download from the overdrive site.  It this limited by the library, or am I in the wrong place?

You're probably not doing anything wrong.  Some libraries (e.g. the MVLC consortium) only provide audiobooks through Overdrive.

[DGangGreen]

Thank you for the quick reply and information.  I am new to all this so, apparently need to do some more research.

[Captain_Awesome]

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DGangGreen wrote:

Thank you for the quick reply and information.  I am new to all this so, apparently need to do some more research.

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The best thing for you to do is go into your library and talk to the Director. Ask him/her to think about purchasing ebooks for their collection. In many libraries they don't think their patrons want the service so they just don't purchase the format. I am sure if you ask about it they will try to do it for you or give you a reason why they can't. Some libraries just don't have the funds to make it available.

[AdamSelene]

BTW, as I've mentioned before on the forums, the Seattle Public Library has a particularly awesome collection on Overdrive.  Anyone in the Seattle area should check it out.  http://spl.lib.overdrive.com/

[AdamSelene]

> eBooks cost libraries through Overdrive approx. the cover price of a hardcopy in a bookstore while we buy our hardcopies most often at deep discounts.

That's pretty interesting, actually.  Do they charge the library just for the initial “purchase”, do you have to pay for service every time it's checked out, or what?

One advantage for the library is that the book will never get destroyed.  OTOH, the library will never get late fees from it.  And I'm not sure what happens if Overdrive disappears…

[Captain_Awesome]

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AdamSelene wrote:

> eBooks cost libraries through Overdrive approx. the cover price of a hardcopy in a bookstore while we buy our hardcopies most often at deep discounts.

That's pretty interesting, actually.  Do they charge the library just for the initial “purchase”, do you have to pay for service every time it's checked out, or what?

One advantage for the library is that the book will never get destroyed.  OTOH, the library will never get late fees from it.  And I'm not sure what happens if Overdrive disappears…

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That price isn't entirely accurate. The prices range from $7.99 to $26.99. Older titles, example Koontz's Frankenstein series, would sell for $7.99 while new releases, example The Lost Symbol, would be closer to $24 or so. The Library or Consortium gets charges a yearly subscription fee and has nothing to do with checkouts or purchases. The reason why the books cost a little more is 1. They need to procure the rights for the library to digitally circulate the book, and 2. They need to make a little money. If I were to take a kindle throw some ebooks on it and circulate it through the library that would be illegal. I have no right to circulate that digital material. I believe it is even in Amazon's service agreement that you can not circulate their digital materials.

[Slammer]

OK, so I just downloaded a PDF eBook via Overdrive onto my ADE. For those in the Houston, TX. area, I'm using the Harris County Public Library.

Since I don't have my nook yet, how do I transfer that eBook onto the nook once I get it?