OverDrive e-books close to home–just next door in Fairfax County, VA
My favorite library system is the one I grew up with in Fairfax County, Virginia, best known perhaps for Mt. Vernon plantation–George Washington’s home on the banks of the Potomac River. The Fairfax County Public Library has a great selection and super-helpful librarians.
At same time I’m grouchy about the limits of paper book; over the years I may have paid for a stray branch or two via fines on overdue books. Yes, the library has NetLibrary e-books, but in Fairfax’s case, they don’t count since you can’t download them and read them on a PDA.
Well, that problem’s fixed now. The Fairfax system has quietly set up an electronic book area from OverDrive with 538 titles–this in addition to audiobooks. No risk of a fine. The books will automatically expire.
Electronic holdings range from The Confederate Reader (this is theoretically a Southern state even if Northern Virginia doesn’t count) to The Accidental Tourist and Down Came the Rain, Brooke Shield’s account of depression. Formats are Adobe (not my favorite) and Mobipocket (far better for PDAs). OverDrive is not without problems–if nothing else, this company is Proprietary Format Central–but the new area is definitely progress. Congratulations to all involved.
While I’d caution libraries against spending too much on e-books until format and DRM issues are worked out, I hope that Fairfax will soon be expanding its e-book collection.
Most ironic audio holding: DRM Talk–by Cory Doctorow, a leading foe of DRM technology. Hey, what’s this business about a 21-day lending period? In fairness to the Fairfax library system and others–yes, I recognize what you’re up against when it comes to publishers and DRM.
Why I can’t report a full test-drive: The damn DRM is holding me up. I’m trying to read the Mobipocket edition of a Gore Vida novel–and here this is supposed to be the gentlest of the exsting DRM solutions!
The best detail of all: Alexandria residents can use the Fairfax County system’s virtual incarnation, and you can bet I’ll avail myself of the e-books. Frustratingly, some of the most intriguing choices are available only as audiobooks. When I write about e-books vs. other media, I’m not just being theoretical. I realize that audio adaptations are more the rage than e-books right now, but I hope FCPL will give true books the benefit of the doubt. Yes, an e-book as just as much a genuine book as the dead-tree variety.
May 5th, 2006 at 1:14 am
my personal experience of using alibrary is that you feel lazy enrolling , but , once , you satrt subscribing as amember , you enjoy the availability of information. is’nt that simply great/ ?besides , you are lucky to have alibrary in ahistorical location , which further bbolsters the intellectual life of the library.
May 5th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Hmm, I’ll have to check that out. I’m in Alexandria.
May 5th, 2006 at 11:01 am
Great, Trey. Let me know what you think. – David