ex-library books - genuine or stolen?

[ok-mrs-bee]

If anyone is still glancing at the Books Board I would be interested to hear their opinions about this conundrum.  I only look in about once per week so will not necessarily respond in a hurry.

I have bought many ex-library books and most are obviously genuine with Withdrawn stamps and evidence of being well read enough to warrant the library selling them off.  However, some are in pristine condition with no evidence that the library had no longer wanted them.

For a long time I have wondered if some of these books were not really ex-library.

Today I received a book which sparked this post.  The hardback is immaculate with slip-covered jacket, library stamps on the pages and with the lending insert stamped to indicate it was borrowed 4 times, with the last return date in August 2015.  Could this really be a library book which was withdrawn?

I decided to check online.  The library stamp named a library in the Republic of Ireland.  That particular library does not have a copy of the book although seven other local libraries do.  I cross-checked.  In the whole of Oxfordshire there is one copy - out on loan.

[*guinevere*]

It took me a while to work out, @ok-mrs-bee but once you have downloaded it you can bookmark it. Then, whenever you come back to it it will remember which page you were up to.

Maybe your library has a poor stock of ebooks? Perhaps give them a ring to see if you are doing it right? (I'm sure you are - it's just good to check with them for your peace of mind!) 🙂

[ok-mrs-bee]

I'm not having any joy.  Our library uses something called OverDrive but the OverDrive help video doesn't run.  I will persevere.

[*guinevere*]

It's a good while since I started to download books, but when I did I just clicked on "Borrow this ebook" and it automatically downloaded the Overdrive software/programme or whatever to my laptop.

I started to read immediately. And as i said I bookmark the title so it comes back at exactly the place I was up to. 

Have you thought about asking the library staff to explain to you?

[ok-mrs-bee]

I give up. OverDrive is the most unhelpful site I have ever visited.
All I want to know is how to borrow an ebook and where, on my computer, it should go so that I can find it again when I want to read the next chapter.

[ok-mrs-bee]

"And as i said I bookmark the title so it comes back at exactly the place I was up to. "

But where is the book?  How do you find it again?  Is it in your Downloads - your Kindle - or what?

[margaret*e]

It should be on overdrive, or your library site.

Did you know on Kindle unlimited you can borrow as many books for as long as you like for £8 a month.

[*guinevere*]

All I do is, click on borrow this book, and the Overdrive thing starts loading.

When I finish reading a chapter I bookmark it. This saves the book at the exact page i am up to  and I can easily click on the bookmark to continue reading. 

Once I have finished the book I can delete the title from my bookmarks.

I have no idea where it is on my computer as it doesn't have an icon on the desktop or anything like that.

[ok-mrs-bee]

Margaret, £8/month?  That's more than I would want to pay.

In reply to both of you - I realise that I don't know how to bookmark something unless it's on Kindle.  I thank you both for your help

[terry6082]

I agree completely. I have bought a few books direct from libraries for my personal use, sometimes after borrowing them many times. Even if they're tatty it doesn't matter. 

[*guinevere*]

I do tend to devour books, at the moment I'm reading a very old Audrey Erskine Lindop, published 1953, no jacket,  yellow pages, a bit dry in parts, but if I'm desperate for a book I'll read anything!

[**towery**]

norfolk libraries use the oneclickdigital e and audio book system,  they dont seem to have a very big library of books but do add about 10 a month.

you download the app  set it for your library and use that to download and read - like most things you have to set it up to your preferences.

our local library has someone around that can help you if you struggle

if you are to be online  there are some audiobooks on  youtube.  although some of the american narrators struggle with english place names  - the libravox recordings of pride and prejudice are  dire - i gave up

also  check the free or cheap offers(99p)  for lots of popular authors - many retweet the offers on twitter.

[*guinevere*]

Also, if you type in "Free ebooks" into Amazon there are lots to choose from. You have a book to read in seconds. 

[evehes_58]

It depends on the situation. Sometimes "stolen" books are still in good condition because they have been stolen.

[evehes_58]

Yes, it is true in some cases. But I usually use online narrative writing like https://phdessay.com/category/narrative/ instead of buying old books. Surely, I like paper books but in a new condition. At least it is my taste.

[jocor786]

I love library books. But it will be sad if they are taken illegally.

[jocor786]

😉

[sicro-80]

It won't show, because it is already out of Public lirary circulation.

Well that's my opinion, don't count on it but it seems reasonable.

[thobe_230610]

HELLO