eBooks and the
eReader Revolution
LCCUG
Sandee Ruth
president@lccug.com
Audio Books
Audible.com
overdrive through the libraries WMA or MP3
format
CDs
free from internet
PlayaWay
http://www.playaway.com/
‘
Listen to on MP3 player
CD in CD player
ipods, smart phones, your PC, etc.
Compatible players with the library Overdrive Service
http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/
Recommendation of good mp3 player:
Sansa Clip+ or Sansa Fuze+ or Creative Zen
Ereader: What and why?

What types of ereaders are available

Files & Formats and why they matter

DRM - Digital Rights Management

Where to get ebooks
eReaders: The Basics


The digital media equivalent of a printed
book. Accessed via computer or an eReader
There are at least 15 different file formats:
◦ Kindle, text, epub, html, pdf, mobi, prc, etc.
◦ Epub
 Open format – not proprietary
 Default standard but not every device supports it

There are millions of free eBooks available
What is an eBook?

eBooks and eReaders have been around a
long time
◦ 1970s Project Guttenberg begins digitizing
books
◦ 1998 First eReaders appeared on the market
◦ 2000 Overdrive begins offering downloadable
titles
◦ 2002 NetLibrary purchased by OCLC
◦ 2007 the debut of the Kindle
eBooks: a Brief History
Reasons to buy...
Significant

Books often cost less

Easier to publish

Greener

Size – carry lots of
books eaily

Can change font – often
easier on the eyes
Downsides

Devices still cost a lot

Loss of eReader

Content Compatibility

Not easy to
share/loan books

http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2010/08/25/ebooks-filetype-anddrm/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management
DRM Digital Rights Management
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_ebook_formats
Format
Filename
extension
DRM
support
Image
suppo
rt
Table
support
Sound
support
Int
Embe
era
dded
ctiv Word Open
annot
ity wraps standa
ation
sup upport
rd
suppo
por
rt
t
Book- marking
Plain text
.txt
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
HTML
.html
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
PostScript
.ps
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Portable Document Format
.pdf
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
DjVu
.djvu
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
EPUB (IDPF)
.epub
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
FictionBook
.fb2
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes[cita
tion
needed]
Yes
Yes
2][20]
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Mobipocket
?
.prc, .mobi
Yes
?
?
Yes
Yes
No
Yes[f
?
No
No
?
?
Kindle
.azw
Yes
Yes
Yes[f 1][19]
eReader
.pdb
Yes
Yes
?
No
No
Yes
No
TealDoc
.pdb
Yes
Yes
?
No
No
Yes
Yes
?
Broadband eBook
.lrf, .lrx
Yes
Yes
?
No
No
Yes
No
?
?
WOLF[disambiguation needed]
.wol
Yes
Yes
?
No
No
No
No
?
?
Tome Raider
.tr2, .tr3
Yes
Yes
?
No
No
Yes
No
?
?
ArghosReader
.aeh
Yes
Yes
?
No
No
Yes
No
?
Yes
Microsoft Reader
.lit
Yes
Yes
?
No
No
Yes
No
?
Yes
Multimedia EBook
.exe
Yes
Yes
?
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Repligo
.rgo
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Many eBook
Readers
iPAD
iPAD
•
Dimensions: 9.56” x 7.47” x .5” and weighs
1.5 lbs
•
Price : $399-$650 16-64 GB Wi-fi Only
$550-$800+ 16-64 GB Wi-fi + 3G
•
Apple stores, Apple.com, Best Buy,
Amazon.com
•
Works with the Overdrive Digital Library
(special instuctions)
•
Supported Formats: Supports many
document, audio, and video formats
•
Thousands of ereader Apps can be used
•
44 font faces & 110 font styles
•
Battery life: 10 hrs
iPAD continued
Kindle
AMAZON’S KINDLE WI-FI

Dimensions: 7.5” x 4.8” x 0.335” and
weighs 8.5 oz

Price: $139 Kindle Wi-fi
$189 Kindle Wi-fi + 3G
$380 for Kindle DX 9.7” Wi-Fi +
3G

Only Amazon.com

Does NOT work with the Overdrive Digital
Library
•
Memory: 3GB
•
Supported Formats: Kindle (AZW), TXT,
PDF, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA,
AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC
natively; HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG,
BMP through conversion
•
Battery life: 3 weeks (wireless on) or 4
weeks (wireless off)
•
8 adjustable font sizes
Nook
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK

Dimensions: 7.7” x 4.9” x .5” and weighs
11.6 oz
Price: $149 Nook Wi-fi
$199 for Nook Wi-Fi + 3G
$249 for Nook Color
 Barnes & Noble Bookstores, Best Buy,
Amazon.com


Works with Overdrive Digital Library
•
Supported Formats: ePUB, PDF, PDB
(ebooks); MP3 (audio); JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP
(graphics)
•
Memory: 2GB or up to 1500 ebooks
•
Battery life: up to 10 days with wireless off
•
8 font sizes
Barnes & Noble Nook cont’d
Sony Reader
•
Dimensions: 6.25” x 4.25” x .4” and
weighs 7.76oz
•
Price: $129+ Pocket Edition
$150+ Touch Edition
$299 Daily Edition 7” Wi-fi + 3G
•
There are many retailers…shop around!
•
Works with the Overdrive Digital Library
SONY READER cont’d
•
Supports formats: ePUB, PDF & DOC
(Microsoft Word Documents)
•
Memory: 512MB or 350 books
•
Battery life: up to 2 full weeks
•
3 font sizes
2
Sharper Image
Literati
Sharper Image Literati
• Dimensions 4.5 x .5 x 8.5
7” screen
.5 oz
• $159
originally
• Formats
epub and PDF (adobe drm)
• Rechargable battery with included charger
• SD card
for added memory
• Works with the Overdrive Digital Library
h
Wi-Fi )
Side by &Wi-Fi
Side
Comparison
eRea
der
Price
$190. $170. $129. $139.
00
00
00
00
$100.
00
$599.
00
C. R.
Scor
e
72
Very
Good
59
Good
Batte 10-30 2
ry
Days Week
Life
s
(*claim
ed)
40
Fair
53
Good
46
Good
Not
ranked
As
reader
2
Week
s
10
Days
24
hours
contin
uous
12
hours
video/w
eb
Librar
y
Materi
als
Suppo
rted
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
DRM
eBoo
k
Form
ats
AZW,
AZW1
EPUB,
PDF,
BBeB
EPUB,
PDF
EPUB,
PDB,
PDF
EPUB,
PDF
AZW,
PDB
AZW1,
EPUB,P
DF
http://columbuslibrary.org/sites/columbuslibrary.org/files/ProductComparisonSheet
Updated.pdf
http://www.gliffy
.com/publish/20
59164/
Why I
my Kindle
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Font size
Dictionary
Games
Customer service
Battery life – 1 month
Free Amazon books
E-ink Easy on eyes High
• Lending books
• Sharing accounts
• Plays music while you
read
• Read old books –
without paper dust,
bristle pages
contrast pearl screen
• Travel with supply of
Subscribe blogs and
books
feeds
• Being out of country and
Holds 3500 books
having access
which would take up
• Annotate and see what
space and need dusted
others have highlighted
and moved
• Samples
Search for word or
• Audio books
phrase
• Text to Voice
Send other documents, • Can read in sunlight
notes, recipes
• Can use WiFi to get
Can add other text &
online
docs
• Can get online with 3G
in a pinch
Disadvantages of the
Kindle
• The most 'dangerous' feature is the
'shop in the kindle store' feature. In a
matter of minutes I can choose,
purchase and download and begin
reading a new book. Addictive and
potentially expensive, but incredible
feature.
• Requires a light to read in the dark
• Can’t be used with library ebooks
• Wish it used a SD card
www.overdrive.com/files/ebook-cheat-sheet.pdf
Overdrive Clevnet Stats
Overdrive CLEVNET Stats 2011
Format
Checkouts from 1/1/2011 through 1/31/2011
Adobe EPUB
11956
AUDIO 12,994
OverDrive WMA Audiobook
10905
EBOOK 20,946
Adobe PDF
8488
OverDrive MP3 Audiobook
2089
Mobipocket
502
OverDrive Video
366
OverDrive Music
322
CLEVNET eCIRC TOTAL
34628
Library eBook
Services
Overdrive
http://www.ebooklocator.com/
OverDrive apps for iPad etc
http://ebcd.cuyahogalibrary.org/38FC7E19D2A6-4AE6-B81173F570A49CA1/10/270/en/Announcement.htm
How to get Books from the Library
http://blog.the-ebookreader.com/2010/06/06/how-to-get-free-ebooksfrom-libraries-using-overdrive/
Bluefire Reader app for ipod touch, iphone, ipad
– enables them to read Overdrive library ebooks
Overdrive now also has an app for that!
Netlibrary not as popular – more nonfiction
Amherst Public Library has
Ebook Sites/Stores
http://books.google.com/ebooks
http://ebookstore.sony.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks/index.asp
http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaView_ebookstore
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks
http://www.kobobooks.com/top50.html
*sites may require you to sign up for an account
Where to get ereader materials
Ebook Sites/Stores
http://books.google.com/ebooks
http://ebookstore.sony.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks/inde
x.asp
http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaVi
ew_ebook-store
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks
http://www.kobobooks.com/top50.html
*sites may require you to sign up for an
account
Other useful Tools
1. MobileRead Forums is an online community dedicated to
the exchange of ideas and information relating to all
aspects of the Mobile Internet boom. Source of lots of
information and tools.
http://www.mobileread.com/
2. Calibre is a free and open source e-book library
management application developed by users of e-books for
users of e-books. It enables you to edit the meta-data,
organize the books, convert the ebook file to another format,
and sync it to your portable device and so on…
http://calibre-ebook.com/
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=166
3. http://blog.booksontheknob.org// Blog for free ebooks
4. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kindlekorner/
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/audible/
Trends
1. Today's the day! It's the very first week the New
York Times has published a best-seller list which includes
eBook sales! Feb 10, 2011.
"It was clear that e-books were taking a
greater and greater share of total sales,
and we wanted to be able to tell our
readers which titles were selling and how
they fit together with print sales..."
2. According to Amazon, since the beginning of
the year, for every 100 paperback books Amazon
has sold, it has sold 115 Kindle books.
Additionally, during this same time period the
company has sold three times as many Kindle
books as hardcover books, sales that are across
Amazon’s entire U.S. book business and includes
sales of books where there is no Kindle edition.
Free Kindle books are excluded.
Try it – you’ll like it……