EPUB from public library

[monophoto]

Here's another dumb question - - -

Our public library uses OverDrive, and some of the books in their eBook collection are EPUB rather than Kindle.

I have Calibre on my Desktop computer. Is there a way to download one of those EPUB books to my desktop computer, use Calibre to convert it to something that Kindle can handle, and then send it to Kindle?

I see an option to download the EPUB, but the file that shows up in my download folder is tiny, and while I can transfer it to Calibre, Calibre doesn't seem to be able to do anything with it.

There is also a 'Read on Browser' option, but again the html file is miniscule and doesn't seem to contain any information that Calibre can use?

[Mars95]

You need to open the .acsm file in Adobe digital editions to get the epub. Then you would have to strip the DRM in order to convert and transfer it to your kindle... Which is fine for books you have bought, but... morally questionable when it comes to library books.

[monophoto]

OK - thanks for the explanation.

[DNSB]

Alternatively, you can install the ACSM plugin for calibre which will let you open the .ACSM file without needing ADE. However you will still need an Adobe ID. Since a library book will have DRM (it's part of what allows the library loan to expire without needing to contact the library), you would need to remove the DRM which as Mars95 said, morally questionable since you do not own a library loan though necessary to allow the format shift.

If you have the strength of will to delete the book when the loan expires, this may work for you. I have doubts about myself so avoid putting temptation in my path though I do know several Kindle owners in this area who are forced to do so to read library ebooks (AFAIAA, outside the USA, libraries do not loan Kindle format ebooks).

"I can resist anything except temptation."—Oscar Wilde

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by DNSB

...If you have the strength of will to delete the book when the loan expires, this may work for you. I have doubts about myself so avoid putting temptation in my path though I do know several Kindle owners in this area who are forced to do so to read library ebooks (AFAIAA, outside the USA, libraries do not loan Kindle format ebooks).

I've done this in the past when the font (and sometimes the layout) was just horrible -- even though I have ePub readers. So far I've always managed to delete the book afterwards.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

If you have the strength of will to delete the book when the loan expires, this may work for you. I have doubts about myself so avoid putting temptation in my path though I do know several Kindle owners in this area who are forced to do so to read library ebooks (AFAIAA, outside the USA, libraries do not loan Kindle format ebooks).

"I can resist anything except temptation."—Oscar Wilde

That's why I will never suggest a Kindle to anyone who uses Overdrive outside of the US.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That's why I will never suggest a Kindle to anyone who uses Overdrive outside of the US.

That’s why? You could have fooled me. I thought it was unreasonable attachment to the Kobo brand bordering on obsession combined with an unwillingness to accept that Kindle does anything better or could be better suited to an individual’s wants.

Well, now I know!

[shamanNS]

[shalym]

Originally Posted by issybird

That’s why? You could have fooled me. I thought it was unreasonable attachment to the Kobo brand bordering on obsession combined with an unwillingness to accept that Kindle does anything better or could be better suited to an individual’s wants.

Well, now I know!

Shari

[cgsmom]

Originally Posted by issybird

That’s why? You could have fooled me. I thought it was unreasonable attachment to the Kobo brand bordering on obsession combined with an unwillingness to accept that Kindle does anything better or could be better suited to an individual’s wants.

Well, now I know!

Now that’s funny. In all the years that I have owned ereaders, I have considered buying a Kobo several times, but I never have. I think that obsessive attitude of his is so off putting I just couldn’t bring myself to buy a Kobo. For now, I am very happy with my Oasis. I like it even more than I thought I would.

[JSWolf]

If you want to use Overdrive and you are not in the US, you get ePub. How is a Kindle better then a Reader that runs RMSDK?

[haertig]

My library generally provides eBooks in both EPUB and Kindle format. Since I have a PaperWhite, I choose the Kindle format for download. However, if there is no Kindle format available, but there is an EPUB format, I have no qualms about downloading the EPUB, stripping the DRM, and converting it to something I can use on my Kindle. Other people may posture and virtue-signal about how "immoral" this is, but I don't really care about such feigned indignity. Things would be different it I were giving these DRM-stripped eBooks to others or keeping them for myself. But I'm not doing that. I am just putting them into a format that I can use for the time it takes me to read the book. It is actually quite rare that I have to do this DRM-strip/conversion on a library book. Most come in Kindle format, but every now and then you will find the rare one that is in EPUB only.

I imagine that there are more people reading eBooks on Kindles - in the USA - than on all other EPUB-based eReaders combined. I obviously don't know this for sure, but I am guessing that it is true. So it is somewhat derelict - in the USA at least - for libraries that are funded by taxpayer money to acquire their eBooks in a format that the majority of their borrowers - who are the ones funding the library - cannot use.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by haertig

I imagine that there are more people reading eBooks on Kindles - in the USA - than on all other EPUB-based eReaders combined. I obviously don't know this for sure, but I am guessing that it is true. So it is somewhat derelict - in the USA at least - for libraries that are funded by taxpayer money to acquire their eBooks in a format that the majority of their borrowers - who are the ones funding the library - cannot use.

Do you also consider Amazon forcing fulfillment of library books from Amazon's servers as immoral? Yes, I know that Kobo will also fulfill from their servers but the option of downloading the .acsm file and fulfilling through other means is still there.

As for the morality of removing DRM from library books? You don't own the book which is pretty much all that needs to be said.You did notice that Apprentices Alf and Harper made it clear that they did not support removing DRM from loaned books?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by cgsmom

Now that’s funny. In all the years that I have owned ereaders, I have considered buying a Kobo several times, but I never have. I think that obsessive attitude of his is so off putting I just couldn’t bring myself to buy a Kobo. For now, I am very happy with my Oasis. I like it even more than I thought I would.

I find it pretty sad that you let someone's attitude influence your buying decision that much. I was a Kindle fan for years and we argued with Jon often and heatedly about Kobos vs Kindles. This didn't stop me from buying a Kobo when they released a model I liked. No one's attitude, no matter how distasteful, would keep me from getting something I want. Because ultimately no one else cares about which ereader you buy, not really. Only yourself. The arguments here are just so much hot air - often fun, sometimes irritating, but not something you should get that much offended by.

I sold my Kindle Oasis 3 a couple of weeks ago. It was a fine reader, nothing wrong with it. But I just like my Kobos more. And that is something I never imagined myself saying even 4-5 years ago.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by cgsmom

Now that’s funny. In all the years that I have owned ereaders, I have considered buying a Kobo several times, but I never have. I think that obsessive attitude of his is so off putting I just couldn’t bring myself to buy a Kobo. For now, I am very happy with my Oasis. I like it even more than I thought I would.

I wonder how kobo feels about losing sales because of the rantings of a kobo shill.