I recently posted asking if Kindle Unlimited is a good value for SF because I was reading a lot and it was expensive. Some of you suggested I try the library instead. I’m in Los Angeles, so I got a digital library card for the Los Angeles Public Library.
I had noticed that a lot of the books I had already read were on KU, but not many of the ones on my list to read were. That sort of makes sense because I read a number of series books (mostly trilogies) and KU seems to mostly cover older things but not more recent popular works. Unfortunately my reading list is now mostly up to recent popular stuff.
The library has a similar issue: they have the recent/popular stuff, but there’s usually a waiting list for it. I reserved three books that had different wait times, the longest being two months out, but the shortest came up available the next day.
It works nice. When you get the book, you can read it on their web interface or app, but you also have them send it to your Kindle app, which is what I did. It shows up like an Amazon purchase, but with no cost, and then pops up in your Kindle library. You can have up to 30 books on hold (in your queue, waiting to be available) at a time, so depending on how fast you read, you can reserve a bunch so you’re in line while you’re reading others.
I think this will work good for me. It’s all completely free, and I had spent over $200 on books in the last few months, so it’s a giant savings of I keep this up. Thanks again.
Oh, interesting. Maybe a silly question, but is it ethical? I mean do they intentionally include people who don't live in the area, or is it just a loophole?
You need to get a library card, and some libraries have an aegis that covers larger groups of people (for eg all Californians), while others only cover those that live in a given city/town.
So no, it's not unethical, unless you're pretending to live in CA (or wherever) when you don't, in which case why bother with getting a card and app and just torrent.
Okay, thanks, that makes sense. I really try to live ethically and not game the system.
Just find libraries in your city first, then check the counties and neighboring cities, as they usually have reciprocal agreements, or may be part of a regional network for ebooks. Then check the state (in my experience, state libraries are open to anyone that lives in the state, but you generally have to show up at the branch with an ID and proof of residency).
Okay, thanks.