Interesting Problem with Phil Free Lib

[HappyGuy]

I've run into an interesting problem with the Philadelphia Free Library - I'm not getting any of MY books read!!!          Anyone else encountered this problem?

Oh, and a MERRY CHRISTMAS to one and all!

[Betsy the Quilter]

Yes, I just got a book from them that I'd been waiting for and dropped everything else....

Now waiting for another one, but I'm 17th on the list (and consider myself to be lucky it's that few--it's the latest JD Robb).  So I'm frantically trying to get some of the other books read first.

Betsy

[rla1996]

Not a problem for me and my trusty KK.  I have to transfer them via USB cable, but because library doesn't do whisper-net, mine don't cry expired or become unusable once they reach their due date.  Even if I turn on whisper-net to get books from Amazon the library books remain on my KK in tact and are readable.  I am careful to delete them after I finish reading them though as they really aren't mine.--I just sometimes take a little longer to read them than is allocated by the library.  As they don't offer renewals on e-books I cant renew them as I normally would.

[Annie]

Not a problem for me and my trusty KK.  I have to transfer them via USB cable, but because library doesn't do whisper-net, mine don't cry expired or become unusable once they reach their due date.  Even if I turn on whisper-net to get books from Amazon the library books remain on my KK in tact and are readable.  I am careful to delete them after I finish reading them though as they really aren't mine.--I just sometimes take a little longer to read them than is allocated by the library.  As they don't offer renewals on e-books I cant renew them as I normally would.

I have yet to use the library e-Books because of the long wait lists, but do they appear on your Amazon account, or how does it work?

[HappyGuy]

At the local and Philadelphia Free Library you open an account to get a card. Once you have a card you can sign in to the library. Browse eBooks that they have (the PFL has a special section for Kindle books). When you find one you want to check out, you put a hold on it. When it (finally) becomes available you get an email telling you that it's ready to be checked out. You go back to the library (the email includes a link) and check it out. The last step at the library is to "get this for a Kindle" which takes you to Amazon where it shows up in Manage Your Kindle marked as a library book. Then just download it like any other book at Amazon. Sounds complicated, but after you've done it twice it's easy to get through.

[rla1996]

HappyGuy is right with all those steps, but when I get to the Amazon site instead of getting a send button I get a download button that allows me to download and save the book to my PC.  Then I plug my Kindle into the PC, using its UBS cable, and just drag drop the book to my Kindle, where it stays, regardless of due date, until I delete it.  Because the libraries communicate via WIFI and I have none, there's nothing to send the book an expired signal.

[HappyGuy]

^^ Unless you turn your WiFi on, I believe.

I just checked my "Manage your Kindle" page and in the drop down list to the right is an option, "Deliver to my ..." which lets you choose which device the book will be sent to via WiFi.

[Ann in Arlington]

^^ Unless you turn your WiFi on, I believe.

I just checked my "Manage your Kindle" page and in the drop down list to the right is an option, "Deliver to my ..." which lets you choose which device the book will be sent to via WiFi.

Right. . .but library lending also works with kindles without Wifi -- K1's, K2's, DX's -- but you have to do it by sideloading via your computer.

[rla1996]

Ann is correct and mine is an original K1.

[Joe Chiappetta]

That happened to me too. I got a book from the library but never got to reading it. I am a slow reader though so it is no surprise.

[Annie]

At the local and Philadelphia Free Library you open an account to get a card. Once you have a card you can sign in to the library. Browse eBooks that they have (the PFL has a special section for Kindle books). When you find one you want to check out, you put a hold on it. When it (finally) becomes available you get an email telling you that it's ready to be checked out. You go back to the library (the email includes a link) and check it out. The last step at the library is to "get this for a Kindle" which takes you to Amazon where it shows up in Manage Your Kindle marked as a library book. Then just download it like any other book at Amazon. Sounds complicated, but after you've done it twice it's easy to get through.

Thank you! That was very informative. I have too many books to read, so I haven't gotten around to actually seeing if there are any in the library that I would like.

HappyGuy is right with all those steps, but when I get to the Amazon site instead of getting a send button I get a download button that allows me to download and save the book to my PC.  Then I plug my Kindle into the PC, using its UBS cable, and just drag drop the book to my Kindle, where it stays, regardless of due date, until I delete it.  Because the libraries communicate via WIFI and I have none, there's nothing to send the book an expired signal.

I wonder why it's different, since I thought most of them used OverDrive. Do you know if this is always an option?

Right. . .but library lending also works with kindles without Wifi -- K1's, K2's, DX's -- but you have to do it by sideloading via your computer.

Would this answer my questions from above?

[Betsy the Quilter]

Yes, Annie, ria's Kindle is a K1; the K1s did not have WiFi, so the only way to get library books on to them is to connect via USB and copy the file onto the Kindle.  (I also have a K1...)

Betsy

[Toby]

I just finished my 1st Amazon Library Lending Book today. I did download another 1 tonight. However, I have learned my lesson. I had 2 other library books on hold at 2 libraries, with around 18 or more people in front of me for each book last month. I thought I had time, before the books became available, but around 2 weeks on hold, both became availabe, so now I had 3 library books to read. It took me longer to finish my Amazon book. Sookie Stackhouse & Stephanie Plum were from the other libraries, & Kitchen Confidential from Amazon, in case you are interested.

[Ann in Arlington]

well, remember there's no 'loan period' on a book bought through the Kindle Owners Lending Library for Prime members. . . . .you just can't get another one from there until you put the first one back.

[Annie]

Yes, Annie, ria's Kindle is a K1; the K1s did not have WiFi, so the only way to get library books on to them is to connect via USB and copy the file onto the Kindle.  (I also have a K1...)

Betsy

Thank you! I'm actually going to do that today to try it out.

[Toby]

Tis true, Ann, but I want to read those 12 free books. I just wish I picked smaller books.

[Alohamora]

From my local library, I put 5 books on hold. From the size of the wait list, I thought they'd be available at staggered times, but all 5 turned available within the last two weeks. I finished the Stephanie Plum in two days, but there's no way I'll finish the rest within two weeks.

Does anyone know if the library has to pay Overdrive per checkout or just per book? Just hoping it's per book, so I don't feel too guilty about checking them out a 2nd time.

(I want to keep WiFi on in order to sync between the Kindle and iTouch)

[chocochibi]

Does anyone know if the library has to pay Overdrive per checkout or just per book? Just hoping it's per book, so I don't feel too guilty about checking them out a 2nd time.

It's per book, sometimes permanently sometimes for a set number of checkouts.