Thanks to @tuphlos for the tip.
A Breakthrough for Library E-Books?
In July, the New York Public Library rolled out its much-anticipated e-book app, SimplyE, which seeks to solve a problem that has plagued library e-book users by reducing the once-cumbersome process of checking out library e-books to three clicks or fewer.
At the moment, I had access to a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 9.7 — so I had to try it immediately!
The app is easily found in the Google Play Store.
Once downloaded and installed, there is a very, very, very long ToS:
Once installed and launched, BAM!
I went for the Danielle Steel book (shut up!) because the tablet owner is a fan (still shut up!).
Hitting the Get button brings up:
Which is no problem, as I am an NYPL user for life and holder of their sacred card. I don’t have anyone’s phone number memorized — but my NYPL card info? Hell yes!
Downloading:
Completed:
And wait! Could it really be that easy? Just hit the Read button? No dicking around with setting up an account at Adobe for DRM? Seriously? That frikkin easy?
YES:
Hitting the button in the upper right corner that looks like a bulleted list brings up this:
Hitting the Aa button brings up this:
Click to enlarge to see the changes underneath the grayed area (different typefaces):
Larger text:
With a surprising side-effect:
The cover gets larger too!
And that is how easy library lending of eBooks should have been all along!
Well done, NYPL!
I’ve been intrigued by the new Kobo Aura One announced yesterday. It’s the size of an iPad Mini and is supposed to make borrowing library books easy too. Could it be as easy as this? It needs to be!
Sorry to be stupid but how do you return this book. Out here in the sticks stuff like this just doesn’t happen.
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There’s a Return Book button. Or it just automagically disappears on the due date.
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