[Rainger99]

This is from the Sumter Library website. It looks like a huge increase in the choices available!

This change will increase our eBook and eAudiobook collection from just over 13, 411 to more than 330,000 titles!

The CloudLibrary App is free and available for Apple and Android devices, computers, Kindle Fire, and other eReaders.

Boundless will be discontinued at a later date, but we will be offering both services in parallel until that time.

[Stu from NYC]

Went to library today and very nice librarian helped me install the app on my fire.

When I went exploring was able to use the app to download one book and put another on hold.

Looks like a much much better system than boundless. Any books that are on hold there will disappear when the changeover takes place.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Went to library today and very nice librarian helped me install the app on my fire.

When I went exploring was able to use the app to download one book and put another on hold.

Looks like a much much better system than boundless. Any books that are on hold there will disappear when the changeover takes place.

Nice to hear that.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

What bothers me is that the Sumter County libraries are operated by a private contractor, and there is zero security. Anyone can walk into a library and take as many books and DVDs they want, with no requirement to check them out or to ever return them.

I would be surprised if there is no security. It is probably hidden with trackers in the books and a sensor in the doors.

A lot of the libraries I have been in sensors you see but more design conscious ones may have them built into something.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I would be surprised if there is no security. It is probably hidden with trackers in the books and a sensor in the doors.

A lot of the libraries I have been in sensors you see but more design conscious ones may have them built into something.

Not correct. I have seen people walk out with 10 or more DVDs. There is no security. They don't even have locks on the DVD cases. So, you can remove the discs and put them in your pocket. There is no security on the books.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Not correct. I have seen people walk out with 10 or more DVDs. There is no security. They don't even have locks on the DVD cases. So, you can remove the discs and put them in your pocket. There is no security on the books.

Sounds like very poor management. Most of the libraries I have been have locks on their DVDs. Just a piece of some kind of material that the library worker needs to take out of the case to access the DVD.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Sounds like very poor management. Most of the libraries I have been have locks on their DVDs. Just a piece of some kind of material that the library worker needs to take out of the case to access the DVD.

The management is provided by a private contractor who doesn't care if materials are stolen or not. They still get paid.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Not correct. I have seen people walk out with 10 or more DVDs. There is no security. They don't even have locks on the DVD cases. So, you can remove the discs and put them in your pocket. There is no security on the books.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The management is provided by a private contractor who doesn't care if materials are stolen or not. They still get paid.

Given your in-depth knowledge of the workings of the library it seems like you must be part of the oversight there. Why don't you use your position to initiate a change if you feel one is needed?

If that is a bad assumption and you are not part of the oversight then have you considered bringing these concerns to a County or Library Board meeting where they can be heard by someone who might be able to effect a change?

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Yep, an e-reader is lighter, smaller, and the brighter the sun the easier it is to read.

If I read enough I would definitely purchase an e-reader to carry as well as my iPad. I would also look into the $40/year at Lake County and possibly Amazon's Kindle Unlimited (which really isn't unlimited which is why I would only possibly look into it).

I’m aware of all that and used to have a Kindle, but I sold it because I preferred my iPad/iPhone. However, I’m not an “outside in the sun” reader, so that’s not an issue for me.

[Tom52]

As stated in an earlier post I use Boundless and Cloud Library thru Lake County Library system. Today I signed into Cloud Library with my Sumter County Library card to compare offerings from each.

I checked availability of two authors, C.J. Box and Linda Castillo. I found the following. Both Sumter County library card and Lake County library card show the same availability thru Cloud Library for both authors. Unfortunately, Boundless currently offers significantly more titles for both authors.

It does not appear to me that Cloud Library is necessarily more comprehensive. I will give one example from my research. Boundless lists 28 ebooks and 33 audio books for C. J. Box. The Cloudless Library lists 17 ebooks and 14 audio books for C.J. Box.

I have noticed that for many authors Cloud Library does not always carry all books in series which is very frustrating. That was something nice about using both systems. You can usually find all the titles between the two. Maybe with Boundless going away it will not be so easy.

As far as the other author, Linda Castillo, Boundless listed 42 ebooks and 31 audio books. Cloud Library listed 17 ebooks and 14 audio books. Quite a difference.

Of course YMMV.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Tom52

As stated in an earlier post I use Boundless and Cloud Library thru Lake County Library system. Today I signed into Cloud Library with my Sumter County Library card to compare offerings from each.

...
Of course YMMV.

Thank you for looking into that.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Tom52

As stated in an earlier post I use Boundless and Cloud Library thru Lake County Library system. Today I signed into Cloud Library with my Sumter County Library card to compare offerings from each.

I checked availability of two authors, C.J. Box and Linda Castillo. I found the following. Both Sumter County library card and Lake County library card show the same availability thru Cloud Library for both authors. Unfortunately, Boundless currently offers significantly more titles for both authors.

It does not appear to me that Cloud Library is necessarily more comprehensive. I will give one example from my research. Boundless lists 28 ebooks and 33 audio books for C. J. Box. The Cloudless Library lists 17 ebooks and 14 audio books for C.J. Box.

I have noticed that for many authors Cloud Library does not always carry all books in series which is very frustrating. That was something nice about using both systems. You can usually find all the titles between the two. Maybe with Boundless going away it will not be so easy.

As far as the other author, Linda Castillo, Boundless listed 42 ebooks and 31 audio books. Cloud Library listed 17 ebooks and 14 audio books. Quite a difference.

Of course YMMV.

I have been trying to figure out how many books were available on Boundless and how many are available on CloudLibrary.

It is very difficult to do that. I have checked the library website and they are not very transparent - or if they are, it is hidden.

It would be nice if they had a website listing their budget and how much they spend for boundless, hoopla, CloudLibrary, the WSJ, etc.

Also, it would be nice to understand why they keep changing their ebook platforms.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

I have been trying to figure out how many books were available on Boundless and how many are available on CloudLibrary.

It is very difficult to do that. I have checked the library website and they are not very transparent - or if they are, it is hidden.

It would be nice if they had a website listing their budget and how much they spend for boundless, hoopla, CloudLibrary, the WSJ, etc.

Also, it would be nice to understand why they keep changing their ebook platforms.

I think they knew that boundless was awful.

Think earlier in this thread the number of books on both was mentioned. My experience with Boundless was awful and already have downloaded several books that I was waiting on for months with boundless