I have finally figured out how to borrow ebooks and audio books from my library. I'm so excited about this new technology. Okay, so it's not new, but I'm of an age where I didn't grow up with a personal computer, eBooks weren't invented and audio books were on cassette tapes. I'm a self-taught on a need-to-know-basis technology woman.
I had a first generation Kindle, which I loved, except when I read it for too long of a stretch and it froze up on me. The fix was a paper clip jammed in the reset hole, which was fine, until I was on a long distance train and had no paper clip. I did beg one in the lounge car from a lovely young business woman. I sold my Kindle shortly thereafter because I was salivating over reading magazines on the NOOK Color. I loved that but they changed their magazine formats and I didn't take to the new layout. It was fun to play games in full color, but I longed for the cell phone connectivity of my old Kindle, which let me buy new books anywhere, without a wifi connection.
I recently treated myself to a Nook Touch 3G Wifi. I am over the moon with it. It weighs much less than the Nook, I only have to charge it once every five days instead of daily like the Nook, and I don't need a wifi connection to buy a new book. I can get one anywhere, any time. Including on the train. Amtrak does have some wifi train routes and wifi in their stations, but they limit how much bandwidth or juice or whatever you can use. They won't allow large downloads, so I couldn't download a new magazine on the train with my Nook. But I can get one anywhere on my Kindle, which uses 3G technology.
I finally was able to figure out the steps to borrowing eBooks and audio books from my library. I signed up for an Overdrive Media account from my library's website. I downloaded the software and was able to have free eBooks sent directly to my Kindle. Audio books are more involved, I have to download them to my PC then transfer them via cable link to my Kindle, but it's worth it not having to drive to the library to pick up and drop off the scratched CDs that sometimes don't play. The selection is limited. But there are some bestselling books from last year along with some I've never heard of but sound interesting.
7 comments:
Wow! How long can you borrow books? I'm assuming there is a limited license for each library book. Is the the same two or three weeks as a print book? So by downloading, you can still check out new authors for free, right? Cool beans!
I have a Kindle Fire and can do all that too, but like you, its all a bit bewildering. Thank goodness I have grandchildren who can do that stuff for me! I spent today with my daughter-in-law learning all sorts of things about my I-phone, so I guess I'm not a complete idiot! Your blog was so very encouraging Sherry!!!
Ashantay,
I guess it is different with every library, but mine lets me choose a 7 day borrowing period or a 14 day period. Kindle will keep your highlights and notes after the period expires, in case you check it out again or buy it. And I'm hunting for books that I have sampled on Kindle want to buy but I check first to see if my library has them and sometimes I get lucky. There is a three download limit, I can only have a total of 3 ebooks/audio books checked out at a time. I can request books and get an email when they are available (The library will only allow each copy to be checked out by one patron at a time, just like real books). I also have a wish list in the program.
A lot of the books are also available in ePub, so I could get them for my Nook too. Many of the audio books are only avialable as WMA, so those have to go on my iPod. There are some Mp3s, which are compatible with Kindle.
I encourage you to check out your library. You might have something wonderful right under your fingertips.
Jinny,
I feel so lost and ignorant at times with technology. I think men have it easier, they actually want to know how all the gadgets work. Women just want to know enough to perform basic tasks, LOL.
Good luck with your phone. I'm sure mine does a lot more than I bother with, and I might like some of it but right now I'm content with calls and texts and a little surfing.
I spent hours last night blundering around iTunes trying to fix up my iPod, which I rarely use. I did download a library audiobook on it but haven't tried listening to it yet.
I'm not up to speed on borrowing ebooks from the library but sounds like a good way to go, so thanks!
You're very welcome,Beth.
It's something I've been wanting to do for years and finally decided I wanted to just blunder through and do it.
Its amazing isn't it? How you be, Pie?
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