Recently, my library began offering digital library books through Overdrive. Because I have the nook and had already found success in using the dastardly Adobe Digital Editions to buy Harlequin’s ePub format directly from their ebookstore and move the books to my nook, I rejoiced.
They don’t have a huge selection, but I’m sure they’ll add the hot new books as they’re available. The true test for me will come when there’s a waiting list for those hot new books. One thing being a digital reader has taught me—I don’t have to wait. If I want a book now, I can have it now. As in reading it thirty seconds after I decide I want it. Can I tolerate a waiting list? Might depend on the impending price battle.
I decided to start with Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig, a book that had been recommended to me like two years ago, but which I’d forgotten about until I saw it on the Overdrive listing.
Despite the rather persnickety personality of the nook, all went well.
But I had a book I was already reading and needed to finish, plus I had a pretty busy week, so by the time I opened it, I was already up against the clock. One thing the nook doesn’t support is a little badge to tell you how many days left until your library book says buh-bye, but the little banner shows up if I open Adobe Digital Editions.
I now have 3 days left to finish this book. Tick tock. I’m so afraid I’m going to get to the last chapter, reading as fast as I can, and the book’s going to go poof! 
I’d say more, but I have to go read now…
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I do not exist well as a library reader. I hate the time clock. It shuts me down.
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Our library just got it, too, and I spent an hour browsing (I wish one could just search romance or whatever, but it’s not that refined.) I added a book to my hold list and a bunch to my wishlist, only to discover I can’t read it on my iPhone
Oh, well, at least it didn’t cost me anything.
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I did okay as a paper library book reader. I’d bring it back when I was done and pay the overdue fine. I think they’re going to name a wing of the building after me.
But knowing the book will lock itself up was definitely a ticking clock. Luckily, I finished it today and marked it as returned in ADE. Now I’m on the waiting list for the second in the series.
Having to use ADE with the library books is a bummer, MJ. While some publishers will be offering DRM-free books to the libraries—Carina Press will be one of them—I don’t think the major pubs will give up on their stupid DRM anytime soon. Plus Overdrive uses the DRM to control how long you have the book because they can only lend the number of copies they have licenses for (or however that works).
I spent over a year reading on my iPod Touch, hoping they’d find a way for me to read ADE books, before I gave up and bought the nook.
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Hmm, I wonder if the dh will go for that….”Really, honey, the nook will SAVE me money!”
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Shan, I’m so glad you posted this. Our library has a wonderful selection of ebooks availabe, but I’ve never tried to read any because of the ADE issue and reading from the iphone. Another plus for the Nook – I’m so easy. Actually, what Overdrive has done for me is made me rediscover my love of audio books – those I can listen to easily on the iPhone and I like to do that when I’m on the road for dj, etc.