The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I have another question for discussion. Ever since I got my Kindle last year I've been taking advantage of the free books on Amazon and borrowing books from my library.

The problem with borrowing from my local library is that they have a very limited selection of ebooks available, I mean very limited.

My question is does anyone have any tips on where to borrow books or even get them for free. I mean like popular authors like Patterson, Connelly, etc.

I buy the occasional book from Amazon and even B&N but to be honest with as much as I read hitting the library has always been my favorite activity and a habit like mine can be very expensive, especially when you consider I don't like reading a book more than once I also have only enjoyed watching a handful of movies more than once.

I look forward to help with this as well. Thank you again for the help. Like I always say "book people" are the best lol

I'm lucky because my library has tons of ebooks. Find out if your library has the option to recommend books. My library uses the Overdrive app and it has this option.
http://help.overdrive.com/customer/po...

My library uses Overdrive as well so I'll look into the recommend. It just seems they are very limited on the books I like, meaning mysteries. They have a lot of old books from authors like Patterson etc. This is also why I'm looking for new authors.

Since you use overdrive let me ask you another question. Are we limited to only borrowing books from our local library. For example I can't go to your library's Overdrive and borrow books and you do the same at mine, right?

I use Overdrive too. I think you are limited to what your library has in it. I usually get audio books from it and listen in the car.

Is there such a thing as an "Internet Library" that has a huge selection of books, that anyone can borrow from and not be limited to only your individual town?

That would be an awesome idea and if you think about it what difference would it make, people can borrow books from their library for free why would it be any different for me living in Michigan to borrow a book from a library based in California or in the "Cloud"

Another thing I can't understand is why do I have to wait for a book to become available? They are ebooks they aren't physical books they are made up of data not paper, so why can't there not even be a limit as to how many books my library has if I want "Underwater Basket weaving" why can't I just get a copy and not have to wait for Joe Diver to finish reading it?

Probably due to publishers. As I recall, they did not even want libraries to do e-books. But this way, maybe it treats them more like regular library books.

Many books are available at Guttenberg.

Michael wrote: "Is there such a thing as an "Internet Library" that has a huge selection of books, that anyone can borrow from and not be limited to only your individual town?"

There are a few libraries which will let non-residents purchase a library card and then have access to their electronic collections. I can't remember which ones, but you can look at the archived messages on Barnes & Noble's old NOOKbook discussion board to find that thread.

The reason you can't just use other libraries electronically is that libraries are, by and large, funded by taxpayer dollars. Why would I want my taxes used to provide a benefit to you, when you are not contributing financially as well?

As to your last question, keep in mind that the library does not "own" an ebook in the same sense that it owns a DTB ("dead tree book"). Like all other ebook purchasers, libraries only buy a license, so to have more copies available, they would have to purchase more licenses, with all of the budgetary considerations that would entail. It's understandable that publishers would not like an unlimited copy policy. DTBs wear out or get lost and have to be replaced, and the physical constraints on how many people can actually check out a DTB over its lifetime limit how many people benefit from a single copy. As you note, ebooks don't wear out or get lost and could be loaned to an unlimited number of people, regardless of their physical location, thereby reducing sales. I won't even start the whole discussion about the relative costs of publishing DTBs v. ebooks; you can google that if you're really interested.

When I was working in Chicago a number of people I knew would use their office address in order to obtain a library card for the big library. Living in the suburbs, my local library has agreements with other suburban libraries - but the ILL (inter-library loan) only works for physical books, not electronic ones.

Deborah,

Thank you for the thorough explanation, I guess a lot of it should have been common sense for me but I wasn't really thinking of the financial angle to it. However, what you said did make a lot of sense.

I do understand the financial aspect of loaning ebooks, however, the one thing that bothers me is, when I want a DTB and my library doesn't have it I can request it from anyother library in my system and it will be delivered to my library within a week. When it comes in I get an email or a call and I go in and pick it up just like I checked it out from my library.

Why can't the access to ebooks be the same? Those DTB cost money and if there are too many the author doesn't make their cut, which is fine I agree if you do something that people attach value to, then by all means sell it make money for your family and be rewarded for your work.

I just want to be able to have a larger access to ebooks like I do for DTB I can read any book I want of them and never have to buy one.

Signing up for ScribD might give you access to lot of e-books for a reasonable price. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks interesting. I came across it in two ways--one as an author publishing through every e-book sales channel on the planet, and two, when doing some research and finding that I could get scholarly articles as well as e-books through ScribD.
Their home page says unlimited e-books for $8.99 a month. They must make a profit on something that way, maybe people who sign up and never read, but an indie author should get the same royalty for a ScribD read--even if it's a half-read--as for a sale on another site. I'm not sure how it works for traditionally published books, but they have plenty of them, so the money must work out all right on their end as well. Some traditionally published e-books cost $8.99 or more.

I get interlibrary loans for "dead tree" books I'm not likely to reread, usually my book club choices that I wasn't crazy about. Borrow audiobooks from the public library. And I buy Nook books.

My sites for free legal books, I use these myself so I know they work.

Blacklib.com
Gutenberg.org
General-ebooks.com
Smashwords.com
Tuebl.com
Archive.org
Mobipocket.com
Openlibrary.org
www.digilibraries.com/

Thank you I really appreciate it. I'll check these out for sure.

Michael wrote: "Thank you I really appreciate it. I'll check these out for sure."

You're welcome, hope you find a bunch of books. I am on a fixed income and those sites have saved my sanity by providing free books.

Same here Brenda, which is why I'm so grateful for your tips. I also could never see paying for a book that I will only read once. Even if it is one I enjoyed like no other, I'm just not the type of person to read a book a second time, same with movies.

I love Mysteries that really work my "little grey cells" and if I already know who the killer is, what's the point in reading it again lol. There are so many books and so little time.

Thank you again I'll let you know what I find.

Well, to be honest, after thinking about it I lied. My Mother and Father in law get me the perfect Christmas gift every year. A gift certificate to B&B so I do buy a couple every year.

However, the library is my favorite place in the whole world, if they ever throw in a coffee shop and mattress I may never come home. My kids always would say "Ah dad not the library again" lol anyway, I love my kindle its the greatest gift I ever got (oh yeah the kids were pretty good gifts too, but you get it.....).

I'm just not happy with the selection of books and now I'm even thinking of doing something dishonorable like faking a driver's license just to get a library card in a different city.

So if you're reading the news and go to "World's Dumbest Criminals" and see my pic there as the man to forged official documents you'll know I was finally pushed over the edge.

Well, to be honest, after thinking about it I lied. My Mother and Father in law get me the perfect Christmas gift every year. A gift certificate to B&B so I do buy a couple every year.

However, the library is my favorite place in the whole world, if they ever throw in a coffee shop and mattress I may never come home. My kids always would say "Ah dad not the library again" lol anyway, I love my kindle its the greatest gift I ever got (oh yeah the kids were pretty good gifts too, but you get it.....).

I'm just not happy with the selection of books and now I'm even thinking of doing something dishonorable like faking a driver's license just to get a library card in a different city.

So if you're reading the news and go to "World's Dumbest Criminals" and see my pic there as the man to forged official documents you'll know I was finally pushed over the edge.

Michael wrote: "Same here Brenda, which is why I'm so grateful for your tips. I also could never see paying for a book that I will only read once...."

Same here Michael and I forgot to list my favorite site, http://forum.mobilism.org/viewforum.p...

That site has so many books, people buy them and then upload them for friends whatever, so they are legal..you can get entire series, if you have a favorite author, search for them and you will not be disappointed

Michael wrote: "Well, to be honest, after thinking about it I lied. My Mother and Father in law get me the perfect Christmas gift every year. A gift certificate to B&B so I do buy a couple every year.

However, th..."

Have you tried Gutenberg? Lots of classics in e book and audio book form.

Michael wrote: "Thank you I really appreciate it. I'll check these out for sure."

Try:
http://www.munseys.com/detail/mode/ca...

I use this site mainly for 'Pulp', but they have various other genera available also. Sometimes the covers & metadata is missing, but you can get these things via Google Images & for that matter GR. Hope that's some help Michael.

There are only ebook drives 3-M and Overdrive they are the monopoly of what libraries use for ebook. The reason why you can't get a an electronic book is because publishers are monopolies to thier copy righted material. They are still in the 20th century business a want you the book borrower to have only hard copy loan books to read. Electronic books can't be passed from reader to reader. I they charge 3X Times or more for electronic book to those electronic book devices. They will never allow discounts that compete with paper book which in reality are more expensive to make, warehouse and ship.

Scott wrote: "There are only ebook drives 3-M and Overdrive they are the monopoly of what libraries use for ebook. The reason why you can't get a an electronic book is because publishers are monopolies to thier ..."

Where there's a will, there's a way. Once publishers moved into the realm of electronic books, they effectively surrendered their 'product' to a digitally savvy population.

Your missing what I am saying as long as publisher are willing to charge 3 x times the price of a hardcover overdrive and 3-M library are not going to pay those prices for most books there by giving the reader there only option to buy it not borrow it. Once you buy an electronic book your stuck with it for life meaning unlike a physical book you can't sell or loan it out. Like I said publishers are monopolies and so is Overdrive and 3-M. Wouldn't be great if libraries could ebooks directly through Amazon rather have to through 3 parties?

BookGorilla.com has books. They aren't free, unfortunately, but they send out a mass email everyday featuring cheap Ebooks. I believe the ebooks can be .99¢! I'm not much of an e-reader, so I can't be much help!

Scott wrote: "Your missing what I am saying as long as publisher are willing to charge 3 x times the price of a hardcover overdrive and 3-M library are not going to pay those prices for most books there by givin..."

No Scott, you missed my point. If you know where to look, there are literally 1,000's of free books online & software is freely (ie: open source) that allows you to strip DRM from them.
I don't advocate this, necessarily, just that it's possible & not hard to do. Once the DRM is removed, the eBook can be copied & shared ad infinitum.

Thank you Scott, I appreciate the tip. I'll check them out.

Ashley, thank you every tip is appreciated by a book lover like me. I will check them out and see what I can find. I really appreciate everyone's help, I'm glad I got a more involved in this group. A lot of great people and a lot of great ideas.

The Library, but although we are not a small town, many books that I like (old mysteries, paranormal, urban fantasy) are not available without ordering through inter-library loan (or not available at all.) So I go to Thriftbooks or like that and then give them to the Library after I read.

There are a few "exchange" stores, but at least the ones here tend to hold a lot of "bodice rippers." And heavy on the Romance.

The Libraries have sales and of course I check those out.

Any other ideas, especially how to find older mysteries, would be very much appreciated.

Michael wrote: "Well, to be honest, after thinking about it I lied. My Mother and Father in law get me the perfect Christmas gift every year. A gift certificate to B&B so I do buy a couple every year.

However, th..."

Hey, great idea about the fake ID!!! And the coffee and comfortable seating deal as well. (I could give up my home and move to the Library (I should be so lucky!!!) There is always a disconnect. Barnes and Noble (at least here) has a Starbucks, but one cannot take material in unless it has been purchased (at very high prices). And yet the Library does not have these. (And pastries would be good too; as if I need them!!!)

I can just imagine the response should I bring this up at a county meeting!!!! The words "waste of taxpayers
limited resources" come easily to mind!!! These jokers already hate it that sometimes homeless people come into the library to read (both newspapers and books). (City and County officials; no offense intended.)

If you like the oldies like H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Julius Cesar, A.C. Doyle, H.P.
Lovecraft etc.

Try :

http://freeread.com.au/

It's a link to Roy Galashan's Library and it's full collections for many of the authors assembled from old pulp magazines. The books are in the public domain in Australia and its free. I was able to fill in many gaps in my collection of ebooks.

A lot of book clubs including goodreads, Kobo, Amazon, and Publishers like Smashwords, Epubbud, Simon and Shuster offer free ebooks. I downloaded Best Selling authors from Amazon many times -- you just have to catch them when they come available. I believe Kindle authors are "required" to offer their books for free for certain time periods in order to provide books for Kindle customers.

Google free ebooks and you'll get tons of sites -- some good, some useless. You just need to spend the time sorting through them. Some authors offer their older books for free in order to 'hook' you as a future customer. Corey Doctorow offers his books for free after they've been published.

iBooks are offering the first book in a series for free right now. That's 177 books that may introduce you to the next Grisham, Patterson or Clancy. You never know. Free is good!

Here an article on free ebook sites.

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/20-best-...

Reva wrote: "If you like the oldies like H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Julius Cesar, A.C. Doyle, H.P.
Lovecraft etc.

Try :

http://freeread.com.au/

It's a link to Roy Galashan's Library and it's full col..."

Thanks for that link Reva. Will have a better look when i have the time. Looks promising.

Wow! Thank you for your help. Everyone has been wonderful and have offered me a wealth of places to search for books.

I really do appreciate it, like you said free is definitely very good.

Paul once again you got it wrong. My discussion was with ebooks on libraries Overdrive and 3M. Libraries can not I repeat can not get ebooks from third parties to use on Overdrive or 3M.
Yes you personally can use unlawful ebooks for your own electronic device but talking libraries they must pay for what ever the publishers charge for ebooks to Overdrive. They have to pay these high prices because of electronic copy right by publishers who do not want electronic lending. Libraries are government run a have to abide by the law and can't loan electronic books that doesn't work off their electronic book system.

Hi Mike
Have you tried bookbub.com? You can sign up for emails or like it on facebook. You select your device and book categories. Free books are lesser known authors. Established authors are usually bargains--80% off.

Thomas thank you for the tip I'll look into it

Michael, sorry to hear that about your library doesn't have many, mine has so many audio and ebooks through Hoopla, OneClick, Overdrive, etc. [maybe you can join long distance..lol]

Also, if no one else suggested it and you have books you would like to trade, you can join PaperBackSwap. Like you said with a frequent reader addiction, I can't buy mine all new or even used (online w/shipping charges) so I get some new, some used, some through library sales (ours are $1 & $2 (for newer books--& I'm a volunteer), get some through the library (esp. audiobooks & MP3s for listening on the go), win some from the GoodRead giveaways, book signings (which I end up spending more b/c author is right there & how do u say no..lol) & even have reviewed some for authors (so u get them free & often before the release date)!! So many options for addicts -- thank goodness!