Public Library Borrowing - Expand Your Options

[Titans95]

I've had my nook since Christmas and absolutely love it, despite a few bugs.  Although I've purchased several books the vast majority of my reading on the nook has been books borrowed from the public library.

Because my public library has reciprocal borrowing privileges with several surrounding jurisdictions, I can borrow books from those libraries without ever having to leave my home (except for the initial visit to get a library card).  I live in the Washington DC metropolitan area, and thus far I've gotten borrowing privileges from:  District of Columbia, Montgomery County (MD), Arlington County (VA), Fairfax County (VA), and Loudoun County (VA).  Not every library system around here has e-books though, but I'm sure more will in the near future.  Those of you whose libraries don't yet have e-books should check surrounding jurisdictions and see if you can get privileges there.

Luckily work and personal commitments have me traveling throughout the area often, so I just find the nearest library to where I'll be and pop in for 5 minutes to get a card.

[Tasha25]

Hello,

I have been trying to set my Nook up to borrow books from the library and have been unable to. How exactly did you set your Nook up for this?

[Titans95]

You have to use Adobe Digital Editions to borrow books from a public library (assuming the library uses Overdrive to manage lending).  Download ADE, plug in your nook and then authorize your nook through ADE.  You only have to do this once.

To check out a library book, first plug your nook into your computer.  Then download the book (click on "open" and not "save" which simply saves the link, and not the book).  ADE should launch automatically and you'll see the nook listed as a device.  Using ADE, drag the book from your computer to the nook.  If you have 1.1.1 then that should be it.  If you have 1.1.0 I think you have to open the nook icon and then drag the book to the "My Documents" folder (I have 1.1.1 so I don't have to do this extra step).

That's it.

[Evrosado]

I have purchased certain books that I want to be part of my library, but I have been borrowing books from the library.  It is easy to sideload the books using Adobe. 

[icebike]

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Titans95 wrote:

To check out a library book, first plug your nook into your computer.  Then download the book (click on "open" and not "save" which simply saves the link, and not the book).  ADE should launch automatically and you'll see the nook listed as a device.  Using ADE, drag the book from your computer to the nook.  If you have 1.1.1 then that should be it.  If you have 1.1.0 I think you have to open the nook icon and then drag the book to the "My Documents" folder (I have 1.1.1 so I don't have to do this extra step).

That's it.

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Once your nook is registered you don't have to use ADE to move files to your nook.  Just download to ADE, and then use your regular file manager (Explorer) to copy to my documents.  The less you let ADE mess with your nook the better.  

[Titans95]

I suppose that's true, but I've never had an issue with ADE messing up my nook.  Since ADE opens automatically when I borrow a book, it's easier to just move it to my nook from there.  And I also use ADE to return books early since I typically don't need the 14-21 day loan period (depending on the library) to finish a book.

[TNS]

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Titans95 wrote:

I've had my nook since Christmas and absolutely love it, despite a few bugs.  Although I've purchased several books the vast majority of my reading on the nook has been books borrowed from the public library.

Because my public library has reciprocal borrowing privileges with several surrounding jurisdictions, I can borrow books from those libraries without ever having to leave my home (except for the initial visit to get a library card).  I live in the Washington DC metropolitan area, and thus far I've gotten borrowing privileges from:  District of Columbia, Montgomery County (MD), Arlington County (VA), Fairfax County (VA), and Loudoun County (VA).  Not every library system around here has e-books though, but I'm sure more will in the near future.  Those of you whose libraries don't yet have e-books should check surrounding jurisdictions and see if you can get privileges there.

Luckily work and personal commitments have me traveling throughout the area often, so I just find the nearest library to where I'll be and pop in for 5 minutes to get a card.

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There are often lots of possibilities for additional lending possibilities.  All the libraries in my county have shared access.  And in NY state all residents have access to the New York Public Library.

[stacyb27]

I have a mac and have downloaded some books from the library and am able to see them on the nook.  When I try to read them it goes to the formatting page and then right back to the library page.  How am I able to read these books?

[Titans95]

Did you use ADE to authorize your nook?  You must do that first before you can read the books on your nook.  I also use it to transfer books to the nook, but others seem to have success just using the computer's regular file management system.  The key is to authorize your nook with ADE first -- this is how the library controls checkouts and returns.

I'm assuming that your library uses Overdrive.  Don't know how it would work otherwise but it seems like most libraries use Overdrive.

[stacyb27]

Yep, my nook is authorized and i see the icon on the left side of ADE.  My library does use overdrive.  I have no idea why they won't open.