How to get books from public library on Kindle

[blessedby3]

If I am remembering correctly, when I bought my dd's Kindle a while before Christmas I thought people said that they got books on the Kindle from their public library. Now that she has it, how do you check out books on it? Assuming my memory is correct. I tried searching but Im not getting the right threads. Thanks

 

[drinkme]

Go to your library's webpage and find the information there. There should be a link to what program they use. My library uses Overdrive.

You'll need your library card number to check out the material.

Have fun!

 

[HookdonWDW]

Your library has to participate in Overdrive. I sign in on my library's homepage. It walks you right through the process. I can check out up to 5 e-books every 7-14 days (you decide whether you want to check the book out for 1 or 2 weeks). This has worked really great for us. If you can't find the information you are looking for, you might want to check with your librarian.

 

[blessedby3]

Go to your library's webpage and find the information there. There should be a link to what program they use. My library uses Overdrive.

You'll need your library card number to check out the material.

Have fun!

Okay...I will go to their site and look it up. Do you have a certain amount of time to have the book....and does it not stay in your "books". I really dont understand all of this new fangled stuff

 

[blessedby3]

Your library has to participate in Overdrive. I sign in on my library's homepage. It walks you right through the process. I can check out up to 5 e-books every 7-14 days (you decide whether you want to check the book out for 1 or 2 weeks). This has worked really great for us. If you can't find the information you are looking for, you might want to check with your librarian.

I cant even get on my library's site...cant get it to come up. Guess I will just call them in the morning. That will probably be easier Thanks for the help

 

[sk!mom]

My DS gave me a Kindle for Christmas. My DH got my library account set up for ebooks before Christmas. At our library, it required him going in to the library. Since he had it all set up, I was able to log on to it on Christmas day and download and reserve books. My library has a limit of 10 at a time. It was super easy.

 

[horseshowmom]

This thread may help too. While it talks about the Nook too, there's also some info regarding the Kindle.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2463501&highlight=kindle+with+offers

 

[NYEmomma]

I just got a Kindle for Christmas like it seems a million other people have.

I downloaded all the free books from Amazon that I was interested in, then went to my local library's site to borrow some. From what I understand, not all libraries participate in an e-book lending program so you first step is probably confirming whether or not your local library does.

There's a link for the e-book program right on the front page of my library's website -- it uses the same Overdrive program/system that PP's have mentioned.

You have to sign-in with your library ID and you can only borrow books that aren't already checked out by other library members. With the system that our library uses, once you decided to check out a book, it actually takes you to Amazon to download it. I thought that was pretty cool.

 

[bumbershoot]

I cant even get on my library's site...cant get it to come up. Guess I will just call them in the morning. That will probably be easier Thanks for the help

Go through your computer; sounds like you're trying to go through the Kindle.


I go to my library's website, sign into their digital section, search for the books they have on Kindle. When I find one I want I go through to check it out, and with my library I can choose between 7 or 21 days for the lending period. The end of it gives me a link to put my book on the Kindle, which takes me to amazon. I sign into my amazon account, and click to send it to my kindle. Next time I have my Kindle connected (I turn it off from connecting to 3G or wifi b/c it saves the battery) it is put onto my Kindle.

When the time is up, the book info tells me that the lending period has ended, and if I click on it, I get a page directing me on how to BUY the book. I can go into my amazon account and "return" it ahead of time, because I read quickly and tend to check out several at a time; since my library doesn't have a very big digital section, I want to make them available for others asap.

 

[clh2]

Don't know if any of you Kindle owners have "friended" Pixel of Ink on Facebook yet?

It lists on a pretty regular basis of books that are available, usually for a limited time, that are free or really cheap.

Found out about this on a different DIS-thread. DD thinks the sight is great - she is the proud owner of a new Kindle.

 

[ntink]

I think the previous poster dropped the "k"
it is Pixel of Ink on FB

 

[clh2]

I think the previous poster dropped the "k"
it is Pixel of Ink on FB

Fixed it...thank you!!!

 

[melk]

You can always call the reference librarian at your library. They should be able to help you.

 

[lttlmc3]

I'm loving my new Kindle Fire.

 

[LeslieG]

Isn't. There a website that will search a network of libraries across the country to find one that has the book you want?

 

[tessiemez]

Leslie, I think you're talking about OCLC (sorry if that's not the case!). It's a great resource for finding paper books across the country via Inter-Library Loan. For eBooks, there is no Inter-Library Loan. One must access the Overdrive catalog for their library system and check out the book using their library card number.

If your local library doesn't have Overdrive, check and see if a neighboring county does. We charge a 35.00/year fee for a non-resident card which enables Overdrive checkouts as well as paper books. We have many out-of-county patrons get the card just to access eBooks. $35.00/year isn't a bad deal, IMO (although free is obviously better).

ETA: If your library doesn't have Overdrive, suggest it to the county/branch librarian! They're probably thinking about doing it anyway.

 

[disneychrista]

Remember that not all librarys are the same. Our local library has had huge budget cuts and keeping the doors open was more important than digital librarys. It is something they want to do but not something that is happening soon.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Isn't. There a website that will search a network of libraries across the country to find one that has the book you want?

You can search on overdrive.com. However, as Tessiemez already mentioned, you need to have a library card to actually check a book out. Some libraries allow non-residents to obtain cards, but it usually requires a visit to a branch. There is also sometimes a charge. -- Suzanne

 

[HugsForEeyore]

You can always call the reference librarian at your library. They should be able to help you.

I am a reference librarian and I have absolutely no clue how to get to the library's ebooks. When people ask, I just point them to our library's homepage which then takes you to Overdrive (or ListenNJ in my state) and they have instructions there. The librarians themselves have nothing to do with managing ebooks; it is all done by the outside companies (Overdrive).

At my library, none of us librarians even own a Kindle or Nook. The library itself doesn't own one, and not one of the librarians has been trained in it, and there are zero plans to train us. The upper administration all received Ipads but they won't let us librarians touch them to learn about ebooks.

I feel alot of resentment about ebooks; sadly I feel I probably need to buy myself a Kindle just to learn to use it, so I can show the patrons how to use it, so they can get ebooks and never ever return to the library and I will become unemployed. Yeah what a deal. (Just venting my fears, I don't see the profession surviving the ebook).

So don't be surprised if the library has no clue about ebooks lending. Many feel it's Overdrive's issue.

 

[teacherforhi]

I am a reference librarian and I have absolutely no clue how to get to the library's ebooks. When people ask, I just point them to our library's homepage which then takes you to Overdrive (or ListenNJ in my state) and they have instructions there. The librarians themselves have nothing to do with managing ebooks; it is all done by the outside companies (Overdrive).

At my library, none of us librarians even own a Kindle or Nook. The library itself doesn't own one, and not one of the librarians has been trained in it, and there are zero plans to train us. The upper administration all received Ipads but they won't let us librarians touch them to learn about ebooks.

I feel alot of resentment about ebooks; sadly I feel I probably need to buy myself a Kindle just to learn to use it, so I can show the patrons how to use it, so they can get ebooks and never ever return to the library and I will become unemployed. Yeah what a deal. (Just venting my fears, I don't see the profession surviving the ebook).

So don't be surprised if the library has no clue about ebooks lending. Many feel it's Overdrive's issue.

Wow...our library embraces the 21st century. Not shrinks from it in fear.

We check out Kindles to the public. We have approximately 50 books pre-loaded (patrons can't download books themselves). All of our librarians have been trained to talk patrons through the process of downloading e-books onto their various devices. Granted, we're best with Kindles, but we'll give just about anything a shot.

Even with e-readers, we've haven't seen a decrease in circulation numbers. As a matter of fact, 2011 (which happened to be the 100th anniversary) was our highest circulating year ever! Even though it seems like everyone has an e-reader these days, there are still tons of people who want a book. Heck, I have a Kindle and a lot of the time, I'll download a sample, see if I like it, then check the actual, physical book out of the library (I don't like to pay full price for books).

On a separate note, I'm jealous of some of you. I can only check 4 e-books out of the library at a time.