How to read eBooks for free
Even I am surprised at the extent that eReaders have taken off. Partly this is because of the rise of tablet computers such as the iPad, also because most smartphones now have an eReader built in. There’s also the question of convenience; why trudge to a bookshop or supermarket to sort through big heavy blocks of printed paper when you can just browse new releases on your tablet, pick what takes your fancy and download it in seconds? What surprises me even more are the prices charged by the main eBook retailers such as Amazon and iBooks; it is actually considerably cheaper to go to a supermarket and buy a paperback version of the latest bestseller than download an electronic version.
Another thing to consider is that a book is a physical thing that looks nice on a shelf whereas an eBook, once you have read it at least, is just a file taking up valuable space on your tablet or phone. An ideal solution, then, would to be able to rent an eBook for two or three weeks, just long enough to give you time to read it. Well the good news is that you can and, better still, you rent them from your local County Library so it’s free of charge. Most local libraries have now signed up with Overdrive www.overdrive.com which is online software that allows you to download eBooks and manage your account with the library. Just like taking a physical book out of the library, there is a time limit on your loan but, unlike with a physical book, when the time limit expires you are no longer able to access the eBook. This means that there are no fines if you forget to take the book back on time.
So, how do you go about taking advantage of this wonderful technological development? First of all, you do actually need to join your local library and get a library card. The next step is to download the Overdrive software onto whatever device you are using as an eReader. If you are using a device powered by the iOS operating system, there is a free App available on App Store. Similarly, for Android devices the App is available on Android market. For PCs or Macs you can download Overdrive software direct from the website. As yet you cannot download library books to a Kindle, although you can to a Kindle Fire because it’s powered by Android.
Once you’ve got the software you then need to set up an account. This is free to do but you will need the long number off your library card and a valid email address. Just follow the instructions onscreen – it’s pretty straightforward. Then you’re ready to take out your first book. You can browse by author or by title to find the book you want. You may find that the book you want is not available; the library has to pay for an eBook licence in the same way it has to pay for a paper book. However, you can reserve the book for when it next becomes available and the software will also tell you if there is a queue of people waiting to take the book out. If a book is not available, the software will suggest books you might want to take out instead, for instance books by the same author. If it is available, just click on the borrow button and it will download to your device.
Although your access to the book will expire at the end of the lending period, it is public spirited to return it as soon as you have finished reading it so someone else can take it out. That’s it, very straightforward, very convenient and free!
To me this demonstrates that books are just the same as all the other things that have been revolutionised by the internet such as news and movie rentals. At the end of the day it is the content that matters, not the media it is delivered by.
Graham Iek
IT Consultant
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