One of the most exciting news in the past week is Library books for Kindle is now available. I wasn't sure what the checking out process will be, but I thought it might be pretty burdensome, additional software such as Adobe Media Console may be required.
And I just decided to give it a try with my NYPL library card. To my surprise, the process is really easy and I believe there will be no burden for anyone who knows how to use library catalog and how to buy Kindle books from Amazon.
NYPL now displays a catalog where you can browse ebooks with Kindle format only, and the search function also allows you to limit format as "Kindle", which is convenient for users to find Kindle books. I think once I saw somewhere that all the ebooks are listed together and it's hard to retrieve Kindle books out of pdfs and epubs.
And I just decided to give it a try with my NYPL library card. To my surprise, the process is really easy and I believe there will be no burden for anyone who knows how to use library catalog and how to buy Kindle books from Amazon.
NYPL now displays a catalog where you can browse ebooks with Kindle format only, and the search function also allows you to limit format as "Kindle", which is convenient for users to find Kindle books. I think once I saw somewhere that all the ebooks are listed together and it's hard to retrieve Kindle books out of pdfs and epubs.
So, here is what the catalog looks like. The page shows title, author, brief introduction, number of copies and available electronic formats. The book "Dear John" has 9 available copies out of 15, regardless of format. By clicking on "Add to eList" button of the Kindle version, I'm adding the Kindle book to my list for check out. The following screen appears when I click on "My eList" and I "Proceed to checkout".
The default lending period is 14 days and I can modify it on the checkout page, 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days, note that each user can check out 12 items at one time (not sure if checking out printed items interferes with eAccount).
After I click on "Confirm Checkout", the screen shows the title(s) I'm checking out, check out date, expiration date, and the link "Get for Kindle". The link directs me to an Amazon page entitled "Get Your Public Library Loan".
Since I'm already registered my Kindle with Amazon and I'm logged in to Amazon, the only thing I need to do is to click "Get library book" and the confirmation page appears. Hooray! I can now turn Kindle wifi on, have the book delivered to my Kindle and read the Kindle book!
I need to admit I'm pretty satisfied with the process, and glad I don't need to install any addition software or create accounts on Overdrive or other third-parties. At this moment, I just have one question, I mistakenly checked out a pdf version of "John Lennon" and I don't want to install Adobe Digital Editions to read it. Can I return the book before it expires automatically since there might be someone else wants to read the book?
I searched a book which has been on my reading list for a very long time, "You Are Not a Gadget", by Jaron Lanier. NYPL has three digital copies and all checked out at this moment. I clicked on "Request Item" and was required to provide an email address to put my name on the waiting list.
After I submitted, it tells me "You have successfully placed a hold on the selected title. You will receive an email when the selected title becomes available for checkout. Once you receive the email, you will have 3 days to check out the selected title." Thank you NYPL, OverDrive and Amazon, I can now read more books on my Kindle for FREE!
Update:
Annotations are not synced with my Amazon account but saved in My clippings.txt file.
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