Libraries and ereaders

[Justcallmemummypig]

Thinking of getting a kobo instead of a kindle so I can get library books.

I just wondered though how many ebooks the library have and if it's worth it. Am in Essex so its the ELAN system if anyone else uses it.

I am very much a once only reader with books so I get most from charity shops or the library, tend o ind an author I like and read their back catalogue. Am just worried about costs with a kindle.

Thanks

Don't know sorry Just. Is there any way you can look at the catalogue before you buy the kobo?

I would look at what ebooks your library has available to borrow - mine's not a huge selection but it's not bad, quite a few I'd be tempted by if I could read them on an ereader. I think some publishers are better at making their books available than others though.

I'm a hoarder of books so I got a Kindle so I can at least get new ones in Kindle form.

Amazon has quite a lot of sales and deals of the day on its Kindle books, with lots of books available at around a pound and more in the £1-£2 bracket - most charity shops near me charge between £2 and £3 a book, so if you're thinking of Kobo it might be worth looking at their offers, if you're likely to get through the library selection fast. I feel sad sometimes about not being able to lend a Kindle book to my mum, and wish they'd make limited personal lending available here (you can't access a book for a couple of weeks but then the loan ends and you get it back without having to beg friends/family/colleagues to return it, and I wouldn't have to feel aggrieved about broken spines).

Essex is fairly good for eBooks, they were one of the very first to stock them - when I first got an ereader I think there were about 6 libraries doing e-lending. You can make a wishlist and reserve books and they will email you when they're in.

I haven't really played with a Kobo but if you're not sold on getting a Kindle then consider the Sony eReader range. I got one before the Kindle even came out and then upgraded to a newer model last year and I really really love it. You can also buy books from Waterstones for it.

Why can't you get library books on a kindle?

Kindle uses a proprietary format so you're only supposed to get books from Amazon. Sony use ePub which isn't tied to just Sony products and is used across various eReaders (incl Kobo I think). My eReader also supports pdf as well.

Install Calibre on your computer so that you can convert any format of ebook, including library books, epub and pdf to kindle.