Sony eReader Question

[qtwns]

I want an eReader. I thought I would just get the Kindle, but then I found out you can use the Sony to borrow books from the library. For those of you who know...How does this work? I use my library constantly--rarely buy books. But the eReaders are seducing me, and if I can still borrow my books, I'd be in heaven! How would I know if my library has this service? I was just on their website and didn't see anything that was helpful.

TIA!

 

[TDC Nala]

Your library needs to have a website where you can sign in with your library card and download books on the Overdrive system.

There is some kind of crazy glitch with the Overdrive system. If you place books in different formats (EPub and Adobe PDF) on your reader at the same time, you may find yourself unable to open any library books on your reader. If you try, you get a "protected page" warning.

Because of this I currently cannot have more than one library book on the reader at once, no matter which format they are, and I must delete and completely erase each one before downloading another. Even then sometimes I get "protected page" and I have to remove it and reset the reader before trying to download it again.

This is supposedly a problem with the Overdrive system used by the libraries, and not with the reader itself.

 

[mfd25wife]

I want an eReader. I thought I would just get the Kindle, but then I found out you can use the Sony to borrow books from the library. For those of you who know...How does this work? I use my library constantly--rarely buy books. But the eReaders are seducing me, and if I can still borrow my books, I'd be in heaven! How would I know if my library has this service? I was just on their website and didn't see anything that was helpful.

TIA!

You can borrow them using the Nook and the Kindle also. I'm not sure on your library. I had to type e-book in the search function and it showed what books the library had in e-book form and whether they were available.

 

[qtwns]

You can borrow them using the Nook and the Kindle also. I'm not sure on your library. I had to type e-book in the search function and it showed what books the library had in e-book form and whether they were available.

Really??? Oh, boy! I really want a Kindle. Looks like I need to do some more research.

I may have to go into my local branch and ask, because the website isn't all that great. I use it all the time to reserve and renew books, but the rest of the site is not user friendly.

Thanks for the help!

 

[qtwns]

Your library needs to have a website where you can sign in with your library card and download books on the Overdrive system.

There is some kind of crazy glitch with the Overdrive system. If you place books in different formats (EPub and Adobe PDF) on your reader at the same time, you may find yourself unable to open any library books on your reader. If you try, you get a "protected page" warning.

Because of this I currently cannot have more than one library book on the reader at once, no matter which format they are, and I must delete and completely erase each one before downloading another. Even then sometimes I get "protected page" and I have to remove it and reset the reader before trying to download it again.

This is supposedly a problem with the Overdrive system used by the libraries, and not with the reader itself.

I am going to have to do more research. My library web site doesn't give much info and when I try to search or click on e books all I get are audio books.
Thanks for the info!

 

[Nevergrow'nup]

Had to ask, tried this weekend?

If you have the kindle app for an itouch can you use the overdrive media program?? I only see ebooks for Windows or Mac but not ipods? wondering if anyone knows a way to convert for itouch.....

Thanks!

 

[LBAK]

I haven't had a problem with my library website and my ereader. Borrowing the books are easy and convenient. I love it!

 

[wenrob]

Can you borrow newer books from the library and for how long?

 

[lemondog]

I use my Sony Reader to borrow from the library all the time. I have borrowed a bunch of newer books. I have had multiple checkouts on my reader at one time and never had a problem opening them. I always make sure to only download the ePub books, though. I just click on the "Download" button on my library's website (thru Overdrive) and it immediately goes right into my Reader library. Then I just hook up the Reader to my computer via USB and sync it. Takes just a minute. It's pretty cool!

 

[3boymthr]

Really??? Oh, boy! I really want a Kindle. Looks like I need to do some more research.

I may have to go into my local branch and ask, because the website isn't all that great. I use it all the time to reserve and renew books, but the rest of the site is not user friendly.

Thanks for the help!

IIRC, the Kindle doesn't really have this function or at least not so much as the Nook and Sony do. Kindle uses proprietary software that doesn't read the e-pub format and according to reviews handles pdf format books poorly. Most libraries are using the e-pub format.

I just finished agonizing about this decision and went with the Nook for the above reason (reads e-pub and Kindle doesn't). Many independent e-book publishers do not publish in Kindle Format but do publish in e-pub.

If you would like a link to a website that has a comparison of all e-readers (about 20 different ones) and all the pertinent details PM me.

 

[RitaE]

To get it to work with the Kindle you have to be able to run some Python scripts on your computer which is fairly tech-y.

If all you are seeing on your libraries website is audiobooks, then it is very possible that your library only offers audiobooks. Not all libraries are offering eBook service yet and many of the ones that do still have fairly limited selections.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yeah, the first step is to see if your library has e-books. The ones around me, the county system and the town system, and the county just north of us, do NOT have e-book formats at all. So on Tuesday (as they'll probably be closed tomorrow) check that out first.