New York Public Library serves e-books

Alexander Turcic · 11-03-2004, 06:51 AM

Teleread has a quick write up of the new OverDrive-powered e-book section at New York Public Library's web site:

OverDrive and the New York Public Library are off to a nice start with a colorful, polished and informative home page for e-book readers, as well as a guidance for newbies. Let's hope that clumsy DRM and the format wars don't get in the way. NYPL, like other OverDrive clients, uses a mix of Adobe and Mobipocket. On handhelds, Mobipocket is the best-looking of the major commercial e-book formats.

This is great news because it means that even old, established book suppliers such as the New York Public Library are finally becoming aware of the great potentials of e-books.

Btw, can anyone confirm that Mobipocket ranks #1 among handheld e-book suppliers? Somehow I always thought that eReader was in the lead.

cbarnett · 11-03-2004, 06:27 PM

I can't confirm that, but Mobipocket does appear to be the platform of choice for all the libraries I've checked out yet. eLibraries might do a lot for Mobipocket sales, potentially.

Craig.

Bob Russell · 11-03-2004, 06:55 PM

Now if I could just get a library card there!

cbarnett · 11-03-2004, 07:06 PM

I'd say they're even less like to give a membership to an Australian....

Craig.

Francesco · 11-04-2004, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobR

Now if I could just get a library card there!

LOL, I was thinking the same!
I think we have a chance (even Australians and Mexicans):

Quote:

A Branch Libraries' card is free to anyone who lives, works, pays property taxes, or attends school in New York State. Others may apply, with payment of a $100 annual fee, for a nonresident library card.

A know it's a hundred bucks, but still we have a chance.

My guess of how this works is this:
you submit your hotsync name (or whatever ID mobipocket uses), and you can open the book until the lending period expires.
Am I a genius or what? LOL! My point is that a lot of DRM is involved. A fair use of DRM if you ask me.
Anyway, I do prefer eReaderp and I think they can still make an effort to reach public libraries.

Zire · 11-04-2004, 10:02 AM

I live in NYC and this is interesting but my local library in queens...Queensboro Public Library has had ebooks for awhile now. Don't know what format they use. I don't want to have to change ebook readers in order to read ebooks.

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11-03-2004, 06:51 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	New York Public Library serves e-books Teleread has a quick write up of the new OverDrive-powered e-book section at New York Public Library's web site: OverDrive and the New York Public Library are off to a nice start with a colorful, polished and informative home page for e-book readers, as well as a guidance for newbies. Let's hope that clumsy DRM and the format wars don't get in the way. NYPL, like other OverDrive clients, uses a mix of Adobe and Mobipocket. On handhelds, Mobipocket is the best-looking of the major commercial e-book formats. This is great news because it means that even old, established book suppliers such as the New York Public Library are finally becoming aware of the great potentials of e-books. Btw, can anyone confirm that Mobipocket ranks #1 among handheld e-book suppliers? Somehow I always thought that eReader was in the lead.

11-03-2004, 06:27 PM	#2
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	I can't confirm that, but Mobipocket does appear to be the platform of choice for all the libraries I've checked out yet. eLibraries might do a lot for Mobipocket sales, potentially. Craig.

11-03-2004, 06:55 PM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Now if I could just get a library card there!

11-03-2004, 07:06 PM	#4
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	I'd say they're even less like to give a membership to an Australian.... Craig.

11-04-2004, 10:02 AM	#6
Zire Fanatic Posts: 522 Karma: 14050 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Astoria, NY Device: Zire 71	I live in NYC and this is interesting but my local library in queens...Queensboro Public Library has had ebooks for awhile now. Don't know what format they use. I don't want to have to change ebook readers in order to read ebooks.