I\u2019m a pretty avid consumer of digital media, as I am sure my Faithful Readers know.\u00a0 I listen to audiobooks when I\u2019m doing housework, and I often read books in a digital format.\u00a0 This could get expensive if I were to buy these materials all the time.\u00a0 While books in electronic format are often cheaper than the dead tree variety, they\u2019re still not free.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve always used public libraries to fill the gap between what I can afford to buy and my admittedly voracious reading habits.\u00a0 However, I do have a slight preference for electronic media[1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n Living in the boondocks, my local library is probably less wealthy than most.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t stop them from offering an electronic collection I can download right to my computer. \u00a0They use Overdrive <\/a>as their media service. \u00a0It\u2019s really wonderful.\u00a0 I started using it when it became possible to transfer audiobooks to iPods.\u00a0 From what I understand, Apple was pretty reluctant to allow for this[2]<\/a>. \u00a0However, I can now listen to audiobooks downloaded from my local library on my iPod, so that\u2019s all good.<\/p>\n But you can also download electronic texts.\u00a0 The software used won\u2019t transfer to a Kindle, though I expect if one waits for a year or two, that\u2019ll change, just like it did with the iPod.\u00a0 It will transfer to some other digital book devices.\u00a0 However, I have a netbook, so as far as portability, I\u2019m all good.<\/p>\n My library limits one to three electronic items checked out at a time.\u00a0 These items have between a one and two week lending period.\u00a0 This is a serious limitation, as you can\u2019t manually check an item back in.\u00a0 For me, that\u2019s a pity, as it only takes two or three hours to read the average novel[3]<\/a>.\u00a0 So, I have to wait until the lending period is over before I check something else out.\u00a0 For audiobooks this is not such a big deal.\u00a0 I might listen for a couple of hours a day while doing housework, cooking or going for walks.\u00a0 Even so, the average audiobook I listen to is about ten to twelve hours long.\u00a0 I don\u2019t go through them nearly so fast.<\/p>\n Still, I can only complain so hard, as I\u2019m delighted the service is available.\u00a0 Yes, I do still read paper books, but I do so enjoy having a small library in my computer, too.<\/p>\n I don’t know how common electronic offerings are, but I’m assuming that since my little town does have the service, it can’t be but so uncommon. \u00a0I encourage anyone who uses their local library to check it out and find out.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Which is another point against the company, and is causing me to consider against replacing my iPod with another when the one I own goes to the Digital Player Graveyard.<\/p>\n
[1]<\/a> The last twenty or so books I\u2019ve read have been in digital format.<\/p>\n