Vince and I have had Kindle Unlimited for a few years but last year decided we weren’t reading that many of their free books so we cancelled it. Now that we’ve had weeks of rainy weather and it’s starting to get cold, we’re reading more. This morning Vince was looking at Scribd to see if we might want to have access to e-books through that service. I remembered that when we first came here, I had checked our local library, tried to download books through there but found the system to be not very user friendly and there were few books available. I told Vince that since I was going to town, I’d run by the library and get some info on the ebook system. I did, I came home and we got all set up with it. It looks like a good system but while having lunch with a friend, I mentioned to her about the ebooks through the library. She told me that she thought anyone in Texas could sign up with the Houston Public Library.
I did go to the Houston Public Library web page and was able to sign up for a card. All Texas residents are able to obtain access to the Houston Public Library. How nice is that?
This cold, rainy afternoon has been spent looking at all the available titles that we can download. I think we’re all set on reading material for a while!
pandrpeele says
Just got ebooks through “Libby” our local library. I may try our library in Columbia,SC. We are going to be in New Zealand for 9 months and it will work there. Thanks for mentioning the state library.
Debbie says
Well, once again, I’ve learned something from you. I had no idea that I could join the Houston library. Quite ironic since the town in my county requires $25 a year because I live outside the city limits…and to think I take care of their landscape on a volunteer basis as part of my role as a master gardener. Sheesh. I wish this posting had been one day earlier, though! I paid $15 for an audiobook yesterday that I need to “read” in the next week and was afraid I wouldn’t have time but I have lots of car time this coming week. That audiobook shows “available” at the Houston Library. Well, darn. I’ll know for next time. Thank you for exposing me to yet another convenience, Judy.
shirley swift-bruner says
my sister is in illinois and is hooked up to her library there….and one of her children is in rhode island and another in new york and she is hooked up to both of those libraries, too. maybe you can get chad to hook you up with the libraries in missouri.
Teri says
Have you ever tried BookBub I belong to that and it is free when you sign up you put in the genre you like and then every day they send you a list of about 6 titles and some are free and some are 1.99-2.99….I have gotten so many good books from them…..it goes through amazon and arrives on my kindle….
Linda in NE says
Our library here has Overdrive for checking out e-books and audio books. The only problem with it is that it serves over 100 smaller libraries in the state through the state Library Commission and the minute a new book is added there is a waiting list that can be pretty long. I also find free or cheap e-books on digitalbookspot.com and freebooksy.com. The free ones are usually ones by authors I’ve never heard of, but some of them turn out to be quite good.
Nelle Coursey says
Thanks for the info!! Love the idea!!
Ruth says
I’ve been looking at gutenberg.org/e-books. They have older books that are out of print and no longer under copyright laws. I haven’t figured out how to download one to my tablet yet though!
cassews says
Gutenberg is awesome as well as Book Bub, also there are free books on Amazon as well . LOVE our library access. AND if you are a student at any of the free college courses, some of the universities will let you get in on their library.
dezertsuz says
That’s really great that Houston serves the whole state, especially for those farmers/ranchers/off-grid people who might not have access to a library easily, or one that’s very complete.
vicky says
Check to see if you area has Hoopla at any of their libraries. Free with a library card.
montanaclarks says
I love our local library ebook access and I now have access to the Tucson library system. I tried Kindle Unlimited with Amazon but gave it up after finding a lot of the books to be poorly written and full of mistakes.
Dar in MO says
We here in our area have great access to free downloads of ebooks and audiobooks through several means. I have Overdrive, Hoopla, RBDigital and Libby on my smart phone that I use a lot to listen to audiobooks mainly. It’s so nice to be doing “chores” while listening to a good book. Time goes by quickly. I listen to them while knitting and sewing along with quilting on my longarm. I’ve read (listened to”) over 95 books this year by this method. All free with a library card.