I usually would purchase physical books to read, although I also used the Kindle app on my iPad at times. As I have aged, I find holding a book in bed lying down not as easy as it use to be. Finally broke down and purchased a Kindle.
I am currently using the Libby app to use my library, but almost every book I try to reserve has a wait list over 5 months, and some, almost a year! I am not a big reader, but trying to read more, hence getting the Kindle. Wondering if I should get the Kindle Unlimited, after all, it really wonāt cost more than a book would, or pay as I go and see how much I actually end up reading.
I have read that if I need to keep a book from the library beyond the return date that I should put the kindle in airplane mode; this will allow me to continue reading and it will show returned. Is this correct?
Are there other sites to find books to borrow that are worth while? Any other tips for a somewhat new Kindle reader? I love reading while on vacation, but at home I tend to watch tv more than I should; I want to change that.
I find the Libby time lines to be overly pessimistic. I always get my books much sooner than they anticipate (although that might be library dependent).
There is a feature on the Libby app where you can look for books that are available now. Thatās what I use when Iām waiting. As you read more, it will make recommendations based on your reading history.
Yes, if you put your kindle in airplane mode, you can get around it disappearing from the app at the end of the loan).
Amazon has free books you can download to your Kindle .
My daughter also told me about Hoopla but I havenāt used it myself yet.
I found Kindle Unlimited to be worth it when I was listening to audiobooks and would fly through them. Now that Iām back to (visually) reading on my Kindle, my local library card with access to the regional library system has worked just fine. My library uses both Libby and Hoopla. Just checked a few titles to see the wait times, and everything was available on Hoopla, but had a wait on Libby.
I get a lot of free books on Amazon through Prime. Also, if you sign up for one of the newsletters (itās something about new releases), you get to pick 2 books a month. They are kind of hit or miss, but I have a backlog to dip into when nothing else is available.
I tried Hoopla, and of the 16 books I either have on hold or tagged in Libby, not a single one was in the system as an ebook. A few were available as audiobooks, but I prefer to read.
I have seen Bookbub ads on IG, but havenāt looked at it too seriously.
@deb922 You are correct, and not sure why I am being so cheap. Again, if I were buying a book, I would be spending the money. I hate that Costco no long sells books as that is where I would usually grab the latest.
You can also have more than one library account on your Kindle. Do you have other library cards from your area? Or a nearby suburb or city you could get a card from and then add that to your Kindle libraries? When you search for a book the Kindle will check and see which system gets you your book faster.
Ditto for the timing being pessimistic; audiobooks are never quick, though.
A lot of times Iāll see that my system bought a book by a popular author, but only one copy. I place a hold knowing that theyāll get more as it gets closer to release date or just after & Iāll move up the list. I think Iāve had 3 or 4 books this week come in way sooner than expected because they bought more.
I put holds on books and if Iām not ready to read them, I delay for up to 3 weeks, and again (and again) if I need it.
I look on NetGalley to see if thereās anything coming up and then put a rec in - the system will notify me when they buy & I might be able to borrow or get a hold in right away.
They seem to update ājust addedā section late in the evenings & Iāve been able to pick up some new releases or be one of the first to put in a hold.
If I see a book that I might want to read, but I donāt want to reserve, I tag it on a wish list and go check it when I want something to read.
Some authors will have books exclusively on kindle, who is annoying to me because I read on my iPad & donāt buy books from Amazon.
This is actually a Libby tip but something I didnāt figure out until I had checked out and read well over 500 books on my Kindle. If you have two library cards linked to your account the app will automatically give you the shortest wait one when you go to place a hold. But what if you have maxed out holds on that card? If you tap the library name, it will switch to the other card and if that library has it you can place the hold there. I donāt know how this works if you have 3 or more cards. I am juggling waitlists all the time and my preferred library just dropped the number of hold you can have at one time from 20 to 10 so Iām having to learn a new juggle!
Agree. The San Diego county library system has a much more extensive ebook stock than the city system; thatās where all my virtual borrowing is done. The county is on Libby; the city has its own borrowing system.
Your Libby is only as good as the library you use. Some libraries, like mine, just stink in terms of how many digital licenses they have bought. Mine doesnāt even have a āskip the lineā function, which my nieceās does. We are talking OLD books and there was still several monthsā wait. Although some I want are ready right away - itās a guessing game with mine.
I have read about getting cards from larger libraries, but I donāt feel like doing that. My niece has a military library card (her husband is active duty) and apparently that is the best one of all to get if you can, in terms of actually getting books in a timely manner.
When I bought my Kindle recently through Prime Days, I got three months Kindle Unlimited free. I love it! Not everything I want is on KU, alas, but there is certainly enough to keep me busy. I think I am probably going to keep KU because, like someone said, $12 or so a month is less than a book.
As an aside, there are Kindle pillow holders on Amazon that you can use while reading in bed. Both of my nieces have them, and they have snack compartments
I had no idea! I wish Iād known that earlier this week when I stayed up way past my bedtime on a work night frantically trying to finish a book that was due the next day.
I follow a blog called Modern Mrs. Darcy (coordinating podcast is What Should I Read Next) and every Monday they post books on sale, some are NYT bestsellers from 6 months or more ago. Itās a good source for when you are willing to buy something, but donāt want to spend full price. I like to keep a few purchases on my Kindle for those times when I am waiting on library holds to become available, but am not keen on spending more than $2-5/title.
One thing to note: If you have the libby/kindle app on your phone, then you will lose the book even if you turn off wifi on the kindle. Ask me how I know this
Unlike other subscription services, Kindle is very easy to cancel and resubscribe to, so I will go on for a while and then off. My school has a very active book exchange and sometimes I just need to get through the pile Iāve accumulated. I believe you can even pause your subscription for a number of months. The price is so reasonable, itās worth trying out to see how much you are using it.
@arisamp Thanks for the heads up! While I donāt read on my phone, I do have both the Kindle and Libby app on my phone. I like having the Libby app there so if I hear about a book while out and about, I tag it for later. I guess I could delete them for now, and make a note when wanting to remember a book. I have also dropped a book in my Amazon cart; once home I read about it and decide if I want to place a hold on Libby.
I subscribe to Book Bob. The daily notice is of reduced price books. You can indicate preferences to have it curated. The books are usually under $3 and many are listed for .99 and free. Many are older best sellers.
You will not lose the book on your Kindle if it is in airplane mode, even if you lose it on your phone. If your Kindle is in airplane mode, everything on it stays on it until you connect it to the internet again.
I assume you mean you just lose access to the book on your phoneās app but not your Kindle?
I have the apps on both my phone and my IPad but I only read books on my Kindle, never on my phone or iPad. I download the books onto my Kindle as soon as they are available and then turn my Kindle on airplane mode. I can then read the books as long as I want if I keep it in airplane mode even tho I have the apps on my other devices.
I do listen to a lot of audiobooks on my phone so unfortunately I do have to finish those within the Libby due date.
I mentioned the airplane mode trick last night to my book club and was surprised no one who uses Kindles knew to turn airplane mode on to save battery as well as keep the book downloaded until they finish. They were happy to learn that trick.
I find holding a book in bed lying down not as easy as it use to be. Finally broke down and purchased a Kindle.
A few were available as audiobooks, but I prefer to read.
I had no idea! I wish Iād known that earlier this week when I stayed up way past my bedtime on a work night frantically trying to finish a book that was due the next day. 
