Why don't more people borrow e-books from the library instead of buying?

I use a combination of things. My library uses Borrowbox and Libby. I access both through apps on my phone, iPad mini and an old tablet, one problem I find is that reading soon runs the battery down. This might be because both iPad and tablet are old. I don’t like reading using my phone as I find the screen too small. Sometimes there is quite a wait for a title. The thing that annoys me is that if I start reading a series they never have the full series. I always have to go elsewhere.
I also use the actual library as I live in a village and like to support it. I can order books online for 30p. Borrowbox was great during lockdown when the library was closed.

Great when I don't get into a book and don't feel I have to persevere regardless due to the cost factor!

Essentially what @musicmaiden said- I don't read romances or thrillers, and I already own all the Harry Potter books. Our borough's Libby offering is dire. I downloaded the Libby app at the start of the pandemic, and haven't used it since about April 2020.

My borough's choice on Libby is pretty dire - I've almost never found anything I wanted on there. Audio is a bit better but sadly can't use audiobooks.

So how does this joining libraries up and down the country work then? Do you physically go into a library on your travels and sign up? Pretty sure I needed paper proof of address/bill for my local one and you can't do it online, although perhaps that's changed with Covid.

I used to, all the time. Then my library stopped using Overdrive and went to BorrowBox instead. At this point the quality of available books dropped massively and the BorrowBox was much faffier to use on my (7 year old) Kobo.

I think I'd need to upgrade my Kobo to use it properly, but I can't stomach chucking away a good working Kobo, especially as the book selection seems poor

I’ve got a Kindle but I much prefer reading a paperback, dunno why. And if it’s an author I like I know I’ll want to reread, so buying the book is an investment. Plus I like to support authors with book sales – they make some money directly from library checkouts through PLR/ALCS but sales count for more in terms of publishers looking at new contracts and advances.

I suppose i don't mind waiting x sweeks for the book on libby as i KNOW the people have to give it up after 14 days, no delaying and the people who have them tend to read fast anyway. So it goes quicker.

Often wait times are very different at the 2 boroughts i have the choice from so i always check both.

And its more for authors I am not that fussed about - the new James patterson i will get via the libary in book form. But the next Jane Fallon/Jane Green etc, can be ebook and i add it and it arrives in the future sometime. I read all Chris Carters 9 books during lockdown, its handy for working through series.

(i also have around 1000 actual books in my house, probably tons of kindle books unread - not turned my e-reader on in a year but i do read them via the Kindle app on my phone instead. Just means i always have 3-4 different books on the go and always one on me (via my iphone).

Because I love to see what I read. I like the idea of holding books too, e books are not the same thing unfortunately as paper/hardback books. Nothing is the same when it comes to e books.

I like the ability to read leisurely as well. One other drawback of e books is the appalling limited choice. Even if the library does not have what I want to read (which is rare) I will hunt for it on Amazon instead or go to a bookshop. And nothing trumps being able to pick up a book and read it quietly.

Can you do this on the kindle?? I had no idea. But do borrow from the library

I read. A LOT. Actual books but mostly on my kindle. But I hate reading on my phone. I hate any notifications disturbing me. I could only access the library app on my phone or iPad not my kindle. So I don’t use it.

I got a Kindle before I realised I couldn't borrow books for it.
I prefer to limit my screen time anyway, though, so borrow real books/buy some secondhand and the odd one new, and mix that with buying Kindle books largely for if I'm going away.

I'm not keen on reading e-books on a phone or tablet. I use a basic kindle that won't work with libby/overdrive. I also work right beside the library so pop into during my lunchbreak for physical books - this is a pleasant routine for me, not a chore.

If I found myself stuck for the books I wanted to read, I'd sort out access fairly quickly - I did set up an account and experiment with it previously. At the moment, it doesn't feel like something I need.

It doesn't need a power supply, can be read in the bath, beach, bed etc.

My kindle paperwhite is better for all of these things than a paper book

Aren't Overdrive and Libby the same thing? I use Libby but often can't find the book I want or the wait list is very long.

I borrow loads this way. I always check for new books if it's on Libby over physical books.
Often brand new not out books are in the physical library catalogue (on order) and not Libby so I reserve them that way.

I use it on my iPhone rather than any e-reader. Handy for the tube etc.

I have access to 2 different London boroughs books so plenty of choices.

I read library books all the time on my Kobo. And I absolutely love the Libby app. I can spend ages browsing.

What a lot of you are not realising though is that you can join more than one library! I have 9 library cards from all over the country and so I can always pick up the book (or audiobook, or magazine) I want. If one library doesn't have the item I want another invariably does.

I've got a Kindle too but I much prefer the Kobo, I find it far more user friendly.

*didnt

I don't know you could and I've got a kindle so I can't. Great idea though.

My library uses Libby or BorrowBox. You can't actually access books on a kindle, just apps on your phone.
I tend to borrow audiobooks and listen to them on my commute, but I prefer the feel and size of actual books. I'd probably borrow more electronic versions if I could get them on my actual kindle.

Does the author get paid the same if everyone’s reading it via a library app?

Really it’s just because I started on kindle before there were library ebook apps. So my wish list and library are all in there and the books I read so cheap it’s not sufficient incentive to change.

You also can’t share ebooks around when you’ve finished with them

You can to a certain extent - I have a family library that my mum and dad share on their kindles.

I’ve always avoided kindle because in the early days it didn’t work with public libraries, plus, when I lived in the US there were a few cases of Amazon closing down someone’s library that received a lot of publicity. Link to one example, and it put me off.

I had a sony e-reader decades ago before switching to kobo. Books cost more on kobo imo. That’s ok as I buy fewer because I use the library.

I did wonder If Amazon had got involved because when I tried to buy a book before release recently the kobo webpage took me to Amazon.