Do Southwark libraries lend ebooks?

[Sue]

I've looked at the libraries website and can't see any mention of eBooks, but I know a lot of councils do do this now.

Does anybody know?

[DulwichFox]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I've looked at the libraries website and can't

> see any mention of eBooks, but I know a lot of

> councils do do this now.

>

> Does anybody know?

Borrow ebooks from your local library... without even going there

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/ebook-readers/borrow-ebooks-from-your-local-library-without-even-going-there-50005724/

Foxy

[Sue]

Thanks Fox, but it's not clear from that whether Dulwich Library (or other Southwark libraries) are part of the scheme, which is what I wanted to know.

Never mind, I was just being lazy posting on here instead of finding out by other routes :))

[Sue]

Well, as I could have predicted, I've just spent ten minutes trying to find out on the phone, being cut off twice and not actually being put through to Dulwich Library.

The person I spoke to in the "library" section of Southwark Council didn't even know what an eBook was.

I still don't know the answer to my question :(

ETA: I've also been subjected to some of the most appalling music I've ever heard whilst holding on.

[Sue]

OK just finally spoken to somebody at Dulwich Library.

Southwark Council doesn't lend eBooks.

They didn't know why but think it's because of the "fractured market" eg Kindles and Nooks use different formats.

I presume that must have some financial implication for them, as surely each eBook is available in many different formats.

And if that's the case how come other councils manage to do it?

[StraferJack]

I don't think any libraries "lend" e books. Those that offer a service just use subscription service for certain e readers... The same service available to anyone from their sofa

A central library and e book lending seem to be mutually unnecessary surely?

Some links

https://www.google.co.uk/search?safe=off&client=safari&hl=en&ei=fjfEUfy9Naqc0AW4i4DgDA&q=amazon+prime+uk+ebook+lending&oq=uk++ebook+lending&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.1.2.0j0i30j0i5i30j0i8i30l2.55805.55951.0.61953.2.2.0.0.0.0.125.220.1j1.2.0...0.0...1c.1.17.mobile-gws-serp.qSSi1zD-1rU

[landellite]

Loads of UK libraries do eBook lending (most using the Overdrive system), and it's a real shame that Southwark don't. Yes, it's a fragmented market - most systems don't work with Amazon's proprietary and wildly popular Kindle - but that's a pretty poor reason not to offer it at all.. The eBooks have a 'self destruct' date on them, analogous to the return date on a traditional book, after which they self-destruct from your eReader. The Kindle lending library is indeed a lot more like a subscription service - not really a lending library at all.

My folks live in Kent, where the libraries offer Overdrive. It's great for loading up on books to take on holiday. Just without the weight. :)

[right-clicking]

Rather than borrow ebooks from the library, why not read the growing amount of free books available? Most ereaders/tablets will handle the epub format (or need a tool to enable) A lot of readers support PDF.

Check out the two links below.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ This site is strong on the classics and out of print books.#

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/free-epub-books-online.htm This site has links to 77 more sites to search.

I have just found that on the project gutenberg site there is a dvd download of 28,000 books available !!!

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Gutenberg:The_CD_and_DVD_Project

[Sue]

Thanks, I had already downloaded loads of free books from Gutenberg :)

However there is a limit to how many Dickens and suchlike I can read .......

Also - apart from the "classics" - large amounts of the thousands of eBooks available on Gutenberg (and I'd assume on other similar sites) are absolute crap. Great if you want a zillion titles about vampires etc.

And yes, libraries do "lend" ebooks. Oxford library does for one :)

http://oxfordshire.lib.overdrive.com/8A5209D1-E473-4430-8846-5D9A933B712A/10/50/en/Default.htm

http://oxfordshire.lib.overdrive.com/8A5209D1-E473-4430-8846-5D9A933B712A/10/50/en/NextGen.htm

Apparently Kindle/Amazon won't allow libraries to use its software for the purposes of lending, or something, so hard luck if you have a Kindle - luckily I bought a Nook because it was on offer at ?30, purely intending to download free classics I'd never got round to reading. Wouldn't have bought an eReader otherwise :)

[OutOfFocus]

I believe Westminster library offer ebooks, and all you need is a proof of address to join (any address will do).

[Sue]

This is very weird, because somebody had posted on here about City of London eBooksand how anybody resident in the UK can sign up to join the libraries and get eBooks.

But their post and my response to it seems to have disappeared.

I'm not going mad(der) am I? Because on the basis of that post I completed this evening an on-line membership form for City of London libraries :))

[Sue]

Ah. Maybe it was a PM which I deleted after I'd replied to it (and then deleted my reply).

Anyway, my problem is solved.

Picking up my library card and Pin number from the Barbican next week :)

Now to work my way through the shelves full of charity shop books I still have to read :)

[fabwoman]

Sue - I posted in response to your post on the JB thread

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,336529,1131187,page=101#msg-1131187

[Sue]

Ah, that explains it.

Except you appear to have posted under a different name? :))