Sumter Library E-Books Issue

[mgb07]

ON a transatlantic Cruise and a recent Caribbean cruise, I attempted to listen to my 5 downloaded e-audio books with some success. Many times at a chapter change, the app would hang and I would have to restart.
The new company BOUNDLESS requires constant internet access even after you downloaded the book. So, if you do not have any internet access, forget about listening to that e-book. If you have internet access via Wi-Fi and far too many people are doing FACETIME, you will encounter timeouts and have to restart.

The same will occur if you are flying on an airplane with no WIFI.

FYI. I download the books to my iPhone and pair the sound to my Bluetooth hearing aids. This works great when it works!

[Stu from NYC]

ON a transatlantic Cruise and a recent Caribbean cruise, I attempted to listen to my 5 downloaded e-books with some success. Many times at a chapter change, the app would hang and I would have to restart.
The new company BOUNDLESS requires constant internet access even after you downloaded the book. So, if you do not have any internet access, forget about listening to that e-book. If you have internet access via Wi-Fi and far too many people are doing FACETIME, you will encounter timeouts and have to restart.

The same will occur if you are flying on an airplane with no WIFI.

FYI. I download the books to my iPhone and pair the sound to my Bluetooth hearing aids. This works great when it works!

In Europe in December did not always have internet so sometimes could continue with my book and sometimes I could not. A bit of a pain but brought paperback just in case.

[Smalley]

For a cruise where there is typically very spotty internet, I would buy some ebooks and have them downloaded in advance of leaving home. Also, many cruise ships have lovely libraries which contain books chosen for the cruising population. The libraries on Cunard are wonderful.

[dtennent]

I have also had trouble with checked out ebooks from the library. Therefore, I have gone back to reading actual books on long plane trips and cruises. Currently on a Holland America cruise (Westerdam) where they have a used book exchange as well as a library where you can check out books. In fact, I have just finished “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. It is a great read even if you aren’t a chemist.

[Rainger99]

The new company BOUNDLESS requires constant internet access even after you downloaded the book. So, if you do not have any internet access, forget about listening to that e-book. If you have internet access via Wi-Fi and far too many people are doing FACETIME, you will encounter timeouts and have to restart.

The same will occur if you are flying on an airplane with no WIFI.

I think you are wrong. I just used boundless to checkout and download an audio book. I then turned off wi-fi, cellular, and put my phone into airplane mode.

I then went back to boundless and listened to the book. It was there.

PLEASE NOTE THAT A BOOK CAN BE CHECKED OUT WITHOUT DOWNLOADING IT.

I think that may be your problem. Make sure that you checked it out and downloaded it.

This is from the boundless website.

Can Boundless audio books be downloaded for offline use?

Yes, audio books can be downloaded from the Boundless app for tablets, phones, and any mobile device. When titles are downloaded, they will appear in the user's offline Content Library and can be played back while out of range.

[mgb07]

yes, you are correct. Boundless creates a distinction between eaudio books and ebooks! I am referrring to ebooks!

[Rainger99]

yes, you are correct. Boundless creates a distinction between eaudio books and ebooks! I am referrring to ebooks!

Now I am confused. Were you referring to ebooks or eaudio books?

You originally said that you "attempted to listen to my 5 downloaded e-audio books with some success." And you also said "if you do not have any internet access, forget about listening to that e-book."

But now you say that you were referring to ebooks. Were you trying to read it or were you trying to listen to it?

Did you check it out AND download it?

[dhdallas]

ON a transatlantic Cruise and a recent Caribbean cruise, I attempted to listen to my 5 downloaded e-audio books with some success. Many times at a chapter change, the app would hang and I would have to restart.
The new company BOUNDLESS requires constant internet access even after you downloaded the book. So, if you do not have any internet access, forget about listening to that e-book. If you have internet access via Wi-Fi and far too many people are doing FACETIME, you will encounter timeouts and have to restart.

The same will occur if you are flying on an airplane with no WIFI.

FYI. I download the books to my iPhone and pair the sound to my Bluetooth hearing aids. This works great when it works!

I use a Kindle and download audio books from Amazon. I can listen anytime anywhere, do not need an Internet connection (except for the initial download), and have never had a problem. You don't even need to buy a Kindle. I have the app on my Samsung Android phone, tablet and computer. Everything is synced so you can switch devices and pick up on the same page you left. There are some free books, other's you pay for, or you can get a membership for a low fee like I have for Kindle Unlimited. You can borrow books just like from an online library and keep them as long as you want. No other ebook sites or software can even compare to Amazon's platform.

[retiredguy123]

I use a Kindle and download audio books from Amazon. I can listen anytime anywhere, do not need an Internet connection (except for the initial download), and have never had a problem. You don't even need to buy a Kindle. I have the app on my Samsung Android phone, tablet and computer. Everything is synced so you can switch devices and pick up on the same page you left. There are some free books, other's you pay for, or you can get a membership for a low fee like I have for Kindle Unlimited. You can borrow books just like from an online library and keep them as long as you want. No other ebook sites or software can even compare to Amazon's platform.
Note that if you have a Kindle Ereader and a Lake County library card, you can download ebooks and audiobooks directly to the Kindle device in the Kindle format using the Libby app. You cannot do this with a Sumter County library card because they don't use the Libby app.

[MandoMan]

ON a transatlantic Cruise and a recent Caribbean cruise, I attempted to listen to my 5 downloaded e-audio books with some success. Many times at a chapter change, the app would hang and I would have to restart.
The new company BOUNDLESS requires constant internet access even after you downloaded the book. So, if you do not have any internet access, forget about listening to that e-book. If you have internet access via Wi-Fi and far too many people are doing FACETIME, you will encounter timeouts and have to restart.

The same will occur if you are flying on an airplane with no WIFI.

FYI. I download the books to my iPhone and pair the sound to my Bluetooth hearing aids. This works great when it works!

I’m going on a cruise on Carnival in a week, and I bought internet coverage at the highest level for about $25 a day. The fine print said that it does not cover streaming music. Perhaps it doesn’t cover streaming audio books either.

[JohnN]

I use a Kindle and download audio books from Amazon.

I love my Kindle, wouldn't be without it.

[crash]

ON a transatlantic Cruise and a recent Caribbean cruise, I attempted to listen to my 5 downloaded e-audio books with some success. Many times at a chapter change, the app would hang and I would have to restart.
The new company BOUNDLESS requires constant internet access even after you downloaded the book. So, if you do not have any internet access, forget about listening to that e-book. If you have internet access via Wi-Fi and far too many people are doing FACETIME, you will encounter timeouts and have to restart.

The same will occur if you are flying on an airplane with no WIFI.

FYI. I download the books to my iPhone and pair the sound to my Bluetooth hearing aids. This works great when it works!

On a cruise right now and only had to connect once than books opened just fine without WiFi. Used free WiFi at a port opened each book and disconnected. Never had to connect for rest of 10 day cruise. Not a fan of the new app though.

[NoMo50]

Note that if you have a Kindle Ereader and a Lake County library card, you can download ebooks and audiobooks directly to the Kindle device in the Kindle format using the Libby app. You cannot do this with a Sumter County library card because they don't use the Libby app.

Yes, and you can get a Lake County library card even if you don't live in Lake County. I believe they charge $40 per year for a non-resident. When it comes to ebooks, Sumter County is pathetic. To borrow an ebook at Sumter County, you must use their app, which is not compatible with Kindle.

[juneroses]

Marion and Lake counties have reciprocal borrowing agreements. If you're a Marion county resident, you may get a Lake county library card without cost (and vice versa) by presenting your Marion county library card and proof of your residence.

[mgb07]

Now I am confused. Were you referring to ebooks or eaudio books?

You originally said that you "attempted to listen to my 5 downloaded e-audio books with some success." And you also said "if you do not have any internet access, forget about listening to that e-book."

But now you say that you were referring to ebooks. Were you trying to read it or were you trying to listen to it?

Did you check it out AND download it?

I downloaded 5 e-audio books and listened to each one right after I downloaded them to make sure the download worked. So, my issue is using e-audio ( listen) not ebooks ( read) . sorry for the mixup.. btw: I was using my iPhone 14, airplane mode on, WIFI selected.

[Bill14564]

...

PLEASE NOTE THAT A BOOK CAN BE CHECKED OUT WITHOUT DOWNLOADING IT.

I think that may be your problem. Make sure that you checked it out and downloaded it.

...

I ran into this a couple of times too. The library I was using (not Sumter) recently transitioned to Libby. With the old app, checking out a book automatically kicked me over to Amazon where I chose which reader to download it to. Not so with Libby. Libby allows you to mark the book as checked out and nothing else. I have to go through an extra step to actually download it to my device (a step I sometimes forget about).

[retiredguy123]

I ran into this a couple of times too. The library I was using (not Sumter) recently transitioned to Libby. With the old app, checking out a book automatically kicked me over to Amazon where I chose which reader to download it to. Not so with Libby. Libby allows you to mark the book as checked out and nothing else. I have to go through an extra step to actually download it to my device (a step I sometimes forget about).
With Libby, you click on "borrow" to borrow the book. Then, you click on "go to shelf" and "read with" and "Kindle". But, I think all of these steps are within the Libby app. To me, Libby seems easier to use than the old app, "Overdrive".

[Bill14564]

With Libby, you click on "borrow" to borrow the book. Then, you click on "go to shelf" and "read with" and "Kindle". But, I think all of these steps are within the Libby app. To me, Libby seems easier to use than the old app, "Overdrive".

Yes, I have learned the steps now... but I still forget them occasionally.

If I remember correctly, the old Overdrive app took you through all these steps automatically - no need to remember to go to "holds" then go to "shelf" then go to "read with" which finally takes me to Amazon to download the content.

I don't spend enough time in the app to learn to use it well. For searching and filtering perhaps Libby does work better than Overdrive. No matter, Libby is what we have to work with now.

[JLR333]

I have found Boundless to be unreliable. Several times, I have been unable to read or listen to something on Boundless. This is frustrating when you’re in the middle of a book. The next day or later everything would be OK.
As a retired librarian with a computer background, I have extensive experience with ebooks. There are much better ebook platforms(Libby, Hoopla, Kindle, Nook, etc…) I have been very disappointed since the library changed from Axis 360. I hope they reassess this choice

[retiredguy123]

I have found Boundless to be unreliable. Several times, I have been unable to read or listen to something on Boundless. This is frustrating when you’re in the middle of a book. The next day or later everything would be OK.
As a retired librarian with a computer background, I have extensive experience with ebooks. There are much better ebook platforms(Libby, Hoopla, Kindle, Nook, etc…) I have been very disappointed since the library changed from Axis 360. I hope they reassess this choice
Even with Axis 360, you could not borrow books in the Kindle format. Apparently, Sumter County is too cheap to pay for the Libby app. It's surprising since they use no security for their books and movies. The movies do not even have locking boxes, so anyone can remove the disc, put it in their pocket, and walk out of the library.

[Drakeswood]

Why not address this issue with the librarian (not the clerk/assistant) and if there is a true disconnect, address it with the library system director. Be sure to inquire if your public library is supported by mileage rates from ad valorum taxes (property taxes) as are many library systems. Follow up with your county commissioners if so!

[retiredguy123]

Why not address this issue with the librarian (not the clerk/assistant) and if there is a true disconnect, address it with the library system director. Be sure to inquire if your public library is supported by mileage rates from ad valorum taxes (property taxes) as are many library systems. Follow up with your county commissioners if so!
I have adddressed it with the Sumter County library. They are too cheap to pay to use the Libby app. By the way, the Sumter County libraries are operated under a contract with a private company. Also, they have decided to not use any security measures to protect their books and DVDs from being stolen. Anyone can walk out with books and DVDs and they will not be detected or stopped by any electronic alarm or detection device. I have observed people walk out with at least 10 DVD movies and not check them out. To me, this is a waste of taxpayer money. Shameful.

[AZ SLIM]

I have adddressed it with the Sumter County library. They are too cheap to pay to use the Libby app. By the way, the Sumter County libraries are operated under a contract with a private company. Also, they have decided to not use any security measures to protect their books and DVDs from being stolen. Anyone can walk out with books and DVDs and they will not be detected or stopped by any electronic alarm or detection device. I have observed people walk out with at least 10 DVD movies and not check them out. To me, this is a waste of taxpayer money. Shameful.

I am also disappointed with Boundless. If the Library is run by a contractor, does anyone know what county department oversees the contract? I have listed my complaints on the boundless app in it's feedback section, but with no results. No wonder if it is a contractor.

[Rainger99]

I am also disappointed with Boundless. If the Library is run by a contractor, does anyone know what county department oversees the contract? I have listed my complaints on the boundless app in its feedback section, but with no results. No wonder if it is a contractor.

As far as I can tell, the County Commissioners are in charge of the library. But it does look like they have contracted everything out to a company called Library Systems & Services (LS&S). I am not sure but I think the employees do not work for the Sumter Library but instead are employed by LS&S.

Frequently Asked Questions | Library Systems & Services (https://www.lsslibraries.com/faqs/)


Does anyone know when and where the Sumter County Public Library Advisory Board will have its next meeting and if the public is allowed to attend?

Some of these issues could be addressed at the meeting.

[macawlaw]

I had this problem until my children bought me a Kindle for Mother’s Day. I did not think that I wanted an e-reader, but it is fantastic. As long as the Kindle is charged, it can be read anywhere.

You can download library books onto the Kindle; you do not have to buy the books.

[retiredguy123]

I had this problem until my children bought me a Kindle for Mother’s Day. I did not think that I wanted an e-reader, but it is fantastic. As long as the Kindle is charged, it can be read anywhere.

You can download library books onto the Kindle; you do not have to buy the books.
If you have a Lake County library card, you can download library books directly to your Kindle Ereader in the Kindle format using the Libby app. You cannot do this with a Sumter County card, but you may be able to use a work around in another format. If you read a lot of library books, it may be worth paying for a Lake County card, assuming you don't live in Lake County.