Tell us about your eBook experiences with your library. What have you read? How do you read it? Are you able to get what you want to read this way?

Benita S.
I don't think our library provides eBooks yet.

Maureen H
My library does not offer this service. :(

Sue
I get eBooks for my mother. She can no longer read print books due to her eyesight. She enjoys the eBooks that I get for her at the library, which are mostly mysteries.

Michele M.
When I am not sure if the pick for my book club is one that I will enjoy myself, or enjoy giving to one of my children, I will check the book out at the library. Many times, I am surprised, and I purchase the book just so that I can give away because it is so good! I can't do this with new releases, though, because the wait is usually too long.

Wendy C.
I never thought I would be interested in eBooks until I read my first one. Now, I read them as often as I can. Last month, I read OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon, and it was so much easier to read on my Kobo because it is a huge book. I just wish there were more titles available in this format at my library.

Barbara M.
I had to become a member of the adjoining county library, as my county library does not offer eBooks. I purchased a Sony eReader because, at the time, it was the only device that I knew would be compatible the library system. My experience has been good, but I cannot get all the books I want.

Tanya
I am purchasing a Nook this month so that I can borrow eBooks from the library. That's the number-one selling point for the Nook, in my opinion.

Allan C.
My library has a good selection, but the waits can be long, and there's no way to control when the book is available. You have to download available titles within two days, or the book will be gone. All too often, I title will become available when I am already in the middle of another book. For us, the lending period is 21 days.

Diane P.
I have read several fiction works on my eReader; David Baldacci, Fern Michaels and Kristin Hannah are some of the authors. Ours is a small library, with connection to a collaborative system throughout the province of Alberta. At the outset, the titles that were being offered were disappointing, but as more donations are made for eBook purchases, this is gradually improving. I still like the "real" book format, but the eBook is handy when I’m traveling or waiting for appointments. Two downsides to our library experience are that you can't return a book early, and you can only have the book for 14 days at a time, which is difficult when you get more than one title at once.

mpv
While my local library has been building its collection of eBooks, it still doesn't compare to its collection of new fiction. So I still use the library for a majority of my hardcover reading, and I will borrow eBooks if they are available (typically a few months after they've hit the market). I have mainly downloaded eBooks from the library for my vacations, so that I can take my nook with me and cut down on the number of books (and the weight) that I would normally take with me. The number of copies that the library has of each eBook is very limited, though, so wait-lists can be very long. I had to plan weeks in advance to get the books that I wanted to read during my most recent trip. Again, even though they were not recently published, they still sat on my "wish list" for a while.

freckles
I haven't quite figured out how to borrow books from my local library with my Nook yet. I would like to try it and see if it would work for me, though!

Vivian
I have a Kinde. I cannot wait to check out library books with it, but sadly, I can't.

Noel W.
My experience with our SCW Library has been good. I just brought home Silva's THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR, as well as books by Simon Brett, Sherryl Woods and Linda Lael Miller. I have patronized my local library for 70 years. I just finished DECISION POINTS, and I read a book like that by requiring myself to read at least 50 pages a day. We also buy books from Amazon for our Kindles.

Manish P.
I prefer reading on print books. eBooks are conveniently available at the libraries I use, but I only use them occasionally. eBooks are more convenient sometimes, but they are less pleasurable to read.

Norene W.
I did not know that you could do this.

Dave R.
I don't do eBooks, and I don't go to the library. (But I should go more often and check out real books.)

Jerry C
My library has a limited selection of eBooks. I usually read nonfiction --- science, history, etc. I read them on my laptop. I really prefer print books, but eBooks are more convenient when I want something to read and it's late at night.

Karen L.
I own a Kindle, and the program that my library has for checking out eBooks doesn't support Kindles. I would love to be able to get eBooks from the library.

Joy
I just finished THE SHACK and THE GOOD SON after downloading them on my cell phone. I loved listening to them while I was working in the yard and sewing, or doing other activities where I couldn't have a book in my hand.

Lisa
I have not had any eBook experiences, and this is not something that interests me greatly --- although it does seem like an idea that eBook readers might appreciate.

Carrie M.
It's a wonderful idea to be able to get free books for your eReader this way. However, it would be better if Kindle and all of the other products that don’t want to be compatible with library software would get on board. They'd sell more eReaders if they would, and the people who don’t want to wait for the books would still buy the books anyway, so it would be a win-win situation for them. Now that our library has this system, customers are flocking to the Nook, and even the Kobo, and they are angry at Amazon when they find out that they can't use the Kindle they just bought. On the library side of the issue, you still have to wait your turn for the books that you want, as they usually only have one eBook available for checkout at a time. That isn't good for eReaders. They’re easy to download from my library, there just aren’t enough copies, so it’s always a long wait.

mary b.
I wish the libraries had more new eBooks; I've been having trouble finding my regular authors.

I love being able to check out eBooks from the library, though. It's so convenient.

Charlene M.
I do not have an eReader because I love the feel of a book in my hands. I love to turn the pages, and I can hardly wait to see what comes next. I hope we never do away with print books!

Connie F.
Unfortunately, our library system continues to tout this feature, however, it is rather difficult to learn how to go about checking eBooks out. You also have to be really luck in order to download a book when it’s "available." I wish the library system could make this feature easier for patrons to use.

Jo
I download eBooks from my library all the time to read on my Sony eReader. Two days ago, I finished reading WORLD WITHOUT END by Ken Follett. Prior to that, I read Follett's FALL OF GIANTS. Yesterday, I downloaded NEW YORK by Edward Rutherfurd. Each of these books is 750+ pages, and it is much easier to read the digital versions than it would be for me to lug around the large print books. I like to read eBooks during my bus commute, at the hair salon and in bed --- in fact, anywhere that I'd normally read a print book. The downside is that my large public library doesn't always have the eBooks I want, particularly the older books. Also, it doesn't have many copies of the eBooks it does have, so I generally have to wait on a long list for the book I want before it becomes available. I imagine that will change, though, as eBooks become more popular.

Stephanie
I check out eBooks from the library all the time; it's quick and easy, and they have a pretty wide selection. I have not been able to find everything I'm looking for, but I do have a list of 20-25 books that are available --- some with waiting lists, and some without.

Sue
My library has very few eBook selections, so I can't count on reading something that I'd like to read as an eBook. Mostly, I look through the limited titles they have and think of what I'd like to read. The wait for eBooks is always considerably longer than its for print books, and things tend to be unpredictable. It is also impossible for patrons to renew eBooks. But when I do check out eBooks, I read them on my Nook.

shirley s.
I recently requested some eBooks from my library, and I found a fairly small selection and a very long wait. I usually request cozy mysteries. When the collection gets larger and there's less of a wait, I'll request more.

Lynn M.
I just finished THE WEIRD SISTERS. It was a good book. I'm currently reading THE BOOK THIEF. I received a Nook Color eReader for Christmas, and I love being able to check out library books while drinking my morning coffee and wearing my comfy pj’s. I am a member of two libraries: The Philadelphia Public Library and my local township library. The Phili library has a larger selection of eBooks, but the waitlist for eBooks is shorter at my local library. I can find most of the books I want to read as e-books, but of course, there are a few that aren't available, so I still check out hardcover books, as well.

Mary R.
I enjoy checking out eBooks from the library. Many times, I get the book faster than I would if I were waiting for an actual book. There are limits to how many copies of an eBook can be checked out at one time, so I’m often on a waiting list. I have read CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER, MAJOR PETTIGREW’S LAST STAND, STILTSVILLE, THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE, THE WIDOWER’S TALE, A SECRET GIFT and BEATRICE AND VIRGIL, to name a few. I am getting ready to download UNBROKEN.

Janet
The waiting list is very long, so I haven't been able to get as many as I'd like. What I do get I read on my recently purchased Nook, which I got in January. I've read THE LINCOLN LAWYER, FAMILY MATTERS, HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET and TO HAVE AND TO KILL.

Martha S.
The Boston Public Library has a wonderful selection of eBooks available through Overdrive. Although there is usually a waiting list for new releases, I have not had trouble getting what I want. I use both a Sony eReader and an iPad with the Bluefire Reader app. I recently read UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand, DAMAGE by John Lescroart and A HEARTBEAT AWAY by Michael Palmer. The Overdrive application is a bit fuzzy, and it needs improvement. The Bluefire app is a big improvement. I use the Sony eReader when I’m outside, or if I'm taking it with me outside of the home. The iPad is used in the house only, as it is more fragile than the Sony.

Joan
My eBook experiences with haven't been good. Maybe it's because I have a Kindle, and libraries are not set up for them, but why is that the case? Anyway, my libary supposedly has eBooks that are available for check out, but I haven't been able to download them. I'm currently telling myself that I'd rather have the actual book in front of me anyway, except when I'm traveling.

Carol
I'm disappointed because I can't download the eBooks at my library onto my Kindle.

Elizabeth V.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, I would occasionally use a link from my library to find some book that I could read online when I wanted to read during lunch while I was at work, so that I could keep my hands occupied with my food instead of a book. That's the closest I've come to wanting to read an eBook.

Kim B.
I love checking eBooks out from my city library! I have read several, including THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and SOUTH OF BROAD. I read them on my Nook. The selection of eBooks is improving, but I’m still not always able to find the titles that I want available in eBook format at the library. Our library does have a link that allows readers to suggest titles, and I do that often! Before I had my Nook, I was not much of a library patron, but it is so easy to check out eBooks that I now am a regular! I love not having to worry about returning them!

PATTI F.
My husband bought me a Kindle when they first came out, and the price was $400.00. Needless to say, that was like throwing money in the street!!!! Amazon failed to say that Kindles do not really work well in Wyoming, as we do not have access to the correct satellites. They did advise me that if I was close to the Colorado boarder it would work just fine. (For me, this would be a 32-mile drive in one direction --- What is wrong with this picture?) Thus, I have no desire to own any make, model, or style of this worthless device. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE HOLDING A REAL BOOK AND READING FROM IT!!!!

Kathy K.
My library offers eBooks and audiobooks via Overdrive, and they also offer/loan audiobooks in their collection. To my knowledge, they don’t lend out eReaders, though I wish they did --- I would like to try an iPad, a Nook, a Kindle, etc. Thus far, I have not been enamored with the Overdrive system and the way it’s set up.

Right now, I don't have a smartphone, and I'm not able to afford an eReader. I have downloaded Kindle for PC software onto my laptop, and I have tried a few free eBooks that way. I am hearing impaired, so audiobooks aren't an option for me. I always thought eBooks would let me quickly access the newest titles by favorite authors, and that it would be faster than waiting for a print copy at the library. But some of the titles I wish to read are already checked out and not available, or they’re not available in the right format. 

I should not need to put in a hold request for an eBook, so to me, in some ways, getting eBooks at the library is no better or faster than waiting on the hold list for the print copy. And if I'm not willing and/or able to save them on my laptop and lug my laptop with me everywhere, then they aren't any more portable than a regular print book.

To me, the whole point of eBook/eReader technology is to let an unlimited number patrons access unlimited copies of the most recent titles at the same time; eReaders are supposed to offer the newest titles (as well as those that are out of print), be easier to access and cheaper than print books, be available for free at your local library and be available for check out 24/7, 365 days/year (i.e. there should be no waiting lists). And in my opinion, they should also be available for purchase once you've checked them out if there’s a title that you want to keep for your own collection. I shouldn't have to wait or put in a request to check out an eBook or an audiobook from Overdrive, but that's not how it's set up or how it works.

So for now, if the eBook title is not available in a PC-friendly format, then I can't read it, and if the library decides to start charging rental or other fees for eBooks, then I won't be able to do that either. Right now I'm not checking out eBooks from my library; I'm mostly checking out print books and waiting my turn in the hold queues for the more popular titles and authors that I want to read. Some authors (e.g., Julie Hyzy) have made some of their new titles available only as eBooks that have to be purchased. If my library/Overdrive has those, I will consider checking those out. But none of this will change for me until I'm able to afford an eReader and able to afford to buy titles. These are just my thoughts.

Amy G.
I have a Kindle DX, and I have really enjoyed shopping for eBooks on Amazon. Through the 100 bestselling free book lists, I have discovered new authors that I have enjoyed. I have a long commute every day, and I use the iPod connection on my dash to hook up my Kindle and use the text-to-speech mode. This way, I get to read more books than I normally would. I have particularly enjoyed reading Deborah Smith and Lorena McCourtney. The Ivy Malone series is good, and the books make me laugh. I am disappointed that some of my favorite authors, like Michael Connelly and Stuart Woods, have not allowed the text-to-speech capability to be enabled on their books. As a result, I have not purchased their eBooks lately. There are a few books that I haven't been able to find, but for the most part, that hasn't been the case.

Lita J.
I have had mixed experiences with eBooks at my library. Two or three years ago, I started checking out books online in the winter, because I have a harder time returning books then. At first, the selection was large and varied, but this past year, the library not only physically closed for remodeling, but they also changed from multi-media to the alliance system. Now, they still have a variety of books, but the number of available books has decreased. They are adding books and getting newer books, but in order to read most of them, you have to be on a waiting list.

I am currently reading off of the computer, and I have been looking into eReaders and mp3 players. I had just about decided to go for the Nook, but maybe a laptop would be an even better deal. I’m trying to get the best deal for my money, and I keep putting off my decision. I just finished the audio addition of THE WINTER GHOSTS, and I have cued up the new Nora Roberts book, BLACK HILLS, on audio. It is getting better.

MsAnnie9181
The selection at library is currently very limited, and the waiting lists are very long. I hear that they are going to start purchasing more books in this format, and when they do, I will try some out. But so far, being 20 or 30-something on the waiting list has been discouraging.

Caitlynn H.
It has been an extremely frustrating process to use. New releases are not offered, and most of the available books either don't interest me, or I have already enjoyed them. I am certain that, as time goes by, this process will change, and more books will be added. I do look forward to trying it out.

Donna
I don't know exactly how it works, but I would love to check out eBooks from the library. My library doesn't have Kindle-friendly eBooks, though --- only eBooks for the Nook and other devices.

Sheila V.
I have a Nook that I use to read eBooks from my library. I have access to two library systems: CWMARS and the Boston Public Library. I love getting books that I can read instantly! However, you can hit what I call “dry spells,” when everything you want to read is checked out. I've found the solution to this is to build up my waiting/hold lists, and usually books will become available so that I can keep me reading. I do understand why a couple of publishers do let libraries lend their eBooks, or why HarperCollins just changed their policy on the number of times that an eBook can be checked out before the library has to renew their license to lend it. I think this is unfortunate because I love to read, and I love libraries!

Donna S.
I have no interest in eReaders. I enjoy sharing a good book with my friends. With an eReader, you cannot share books unless you share your device. It's just another gadget that is made of plastic, wires and batteries. It will be out-dated very quickly, just like the new computer that you have just bought. It is not green!

Susan M.
I have a Kindle, and our library is only compatible with the Nook, as well as a few other eReaders. I order books from Amazon right now. I have read UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand, and now I am reading CUTTING FOR STONE by Abraham Verghese. Both are excellent!! I love my Kindle, especially when I’m traveling.