tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post4273300411780002662..comments2024-03-18T22:39:50.137-07:00Comments on A Kindle World blog: More on Overdrive, Libraries, and Kindle + New video guide + Kindle apps for i(devices) guideAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-8343123398875662132011-09-26T12:21:57.040-07:002011-09-26T12:21:57.040-07:00Michael,
Re "the real issue" [being] &...Michael,<br /> Re "the real issue" [being] "finding out if the few libraries to wich most of us belong are offering the feature and then how to find Kindle books"<br /><br /> I'm confused. That's exactly why I wrote about searching by Zip code. How much easier could it be to find out which of the libraries you're using is on Overdrive?<br /><br /> The one with mileage showing in search results was even better for this purpose. At least in my case I use only ones I can get to easily enough (and which have enough of the titles I like). The first thing I found out was that Berkeley, California was on the list.<br />Then I looked for Richmond, Calif and no go on that either. But found San Francisco (with almost 7,000 ebooks) and several smaller ones all around me that are on but which don't have many ebooks (only 787 in the one near my house).<br /><br /><br />-----} You add, "... and then how to find Kindle books"<br /><br /> But that's exactly why the opening Image. <br />It was the reason I wrote the blog entry at all.<br />That's why it's the first thing you see.<br /><br /> When at the library, you click on that image and it takes you straight to the set of ebooks available for the Kindle.<br /><br /> Was I that unclear? Thought I'd try to make it easier to do both the things you say is the "real" issue for you.<br /><br /> You mention "the real hassle may be discovering how to find Kindle books in your library's collection."<br /><br /> Again, it's merely clicking on that specific first image to the left seen when you arrive on the library website.<br /><br /> I guess I had better modify what's in the first paragraph about the image to the left as it was the main reason I wrote the piece. (Maybe you skipped the first paragraph then?)<br /><br /> Will try to think of how to make it clearer.<br /><br /> As for university financial priorities, you're too right. I see that all the time at the big university here when 20% of staff is losing its jobs and they raise the income of the many VPs.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-8785648417564633942011-09-26T09:10:58.631-07:002011-09-26T09:10:58.631-07:00I think the real issue isn't finding libraries...I think the real issue isn't finding libraries that offer Kindle checkouts, it's finding out if the few libraries to which most of us belong are offering the feature and then how to find Kindle books. Right now, there are so few Kindle books in most collections, that it makes little sense to search by title and see if a Kindle edition is available. It is much better to browse lists of Kindle titles for something interesting.<br /><br />Most university and public libraries have limits on who can use their services and the ability to check out books digitally will only make those policies stronger. A library in Peoria, funded by property taxes in the city, isn't going to add to its already strained budget by allowing people halfway across the country access to its titles.<br /><br />The real hassle may be discovering how to find Kindle books in your library's collection. In my case, the release of Kindle checkout came at a time with Seattle Public Library has been engaging in a major software upgrade that's proved buggy. There are all sorts of issues with holds, renewals and on-screen-displays that need addressing. Kindle checkout seems to work, but everything else is in a mess.<br /><br />And libraries that aren't already on Overdrive's bandwagon may be even more reluctant to join with the added complications Kindle checkout brings. That seems to be the case with my other major library, that at the University of Washington.<br /><br />The increasingly bloated administrative bureaucracies at many universities are making it hard to fund essential services such as libraries. I think Kindles would be an excellent way to provide students with not just class reading material and textbooks at low cost, but with class notes at no cost for copying. <br /><br />But funding Kindle support is hard when there's an important new position for Vice-President of Policy Implementation and Goal Furtherance to fill with an accompanying six-figure income. And never mind that no one can explain how that new position will benefit students.Michael W. Perryhttp://www.inklingbooks.com/noreply@blogger.com