Shhhh... I think I've learned a secret and I don't want the library to find out that I know.
If they know that I know, they may try to tighten up and correct this little quirk in their digital borrowing.
Art was trying to finish his science fiction book on his Kindle Fire when the three week borrowing time expired. He was disappointed.
However when I checked my regular Kindle, the book was still there.
So we switched readers. He finished his book on my Kindle and I started reading my book on his Fire.
I figured it could possibly be because I never turn the WiFi on with my Kindle. That way the battery lasts a lot longer. I'd noticed that several books whose time had already expired were still on my Kindle reader even though I returned it earlier from my Manage Your Kindle site.
After Art had finished reading his book, I decided to experiment. I turned on the WiFi on my Kindle reader and voila! All the overdue library books disappeared.
Now that I know this, I'm feeling the pressure ease a bit. If I don't finish a book, I can just make sure I don't turn on my WiFi and I should be fine. Art just turned off the WiFi on his Fire too.
Now you know the secret. Please don't tell the library I found out. It's made my life a lot easier.
POSTSCRIPT 1: From the comments I've received so far, it surprised me that some people thought others on the library waiting list would not be able to read the book if I didn't turn on my wifi and let the book disappear from my Kindle. That never occurred to me because when I looked into my Manage Your Kindle, it showed that the book loan had expired. I figured that meant the next person was able to read it. I've also returned books early as soon as I finished them. I did not know until this week that the book itself was still there. I looked on line and found many, many people had discovered this little glitch and were divided as to whether or not it really meant the book could not be read by others if you didn't turn on your wifi to truly return it. Some felt it was the principle of the thing that you should turn on your wifi to return a book because that's the rule you agreed to.
We do need the USB connection to borrow books. I wonder why overdue books don't just disappear when you connect by the USB.
POSTSCRIPT 2: I've been researching a bit more on this topic and also learned that this is an Amazon glitch and not a public library glitch. They felt that Amazon would soon discover this and correct it.
Art was trying to finish his science fiction book on his Kindle Fire when the three week borrowing time expired. He was disappointed.
However when I checked my regular Kindle, the book was still there.
So we switched readers. He finished his book on my Kindle and I started reading my book on his Fire.
I figured it could possibly be because I never turn the WiFi on with my Kindle. That way the battery lasts a lot longer. I'd noticed that several books whose time had already expired were still on my Kindle reader even though I returned it earlier from my Manage Your Kindle site.
After Art had finished reading his book, I decided to experiment. I turned on the WiFi on my Kindle reader and voila! All the overdue library books disappeared.
Now that I know this, I'm feeling the pressure ease a bit. If I don't finish a book, I can just make sure I don't turn on my WiFi and I should be fine. Art just turned off the WiFi on his Fire too.
Now you know the secret. Please don't tell the library I found out. It's made my life a lot easier.
POSTSCRIPT 1: From the comments I've received so far, it surprised me that some people thought others on the library waiting list would not be able to read the book if I didn't turn on my wifi and let the book disappear from my Kindle. That never occurred to me because when I looked into my Manage Your Kindle, it showed that the book loan had expired. I figured that meant the next person was able to read it. I've also returned books early as soon as I finished them. I did not know until this week that the book itself was still there. I looked on line and found many, many people had discovered this little glitch and were divided as to whether or not it really meant the book could not be read by others if you didn't turn on your wifi to truly return it. Some felt it was the principle of the thing that you should turn on your wifi to return a book because that's the rule you agreed to.
We do need the USB connection to borrow books. I wonder why overdue books don't just disappear when you connect by the USB.
POSTSCRIPT 2: I've been researching a bit more on this topic and also learned that this is an Amazon glitch and not a public library glitch. They felt that Amazon would soon discover this and correct it.
Interesting switcheroo. But, can they still send you a notice for overdue books and make you pay a fine? If you "find" the book years later, will the library really add up the fee? Don't you feel guilty at all? DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteSince I didn't know for quite a while that those books could still be read on my Kindle and the library never sent me a notice, I doubt very much there's a fine. Do I feel guilty about it? Not horribly since I didn't know. Art made a push and finished the book the next day so I turned on the wifi on my Kindle and let everything disappear from my Kindle also. All the books had already disappeared from his Fire and was noted on my Manage Your Kindle. The books had also already disappeared from my iPad and iPhone.
DeleteI thought everything was automatic, especially since I have to use my USB periodically to borrow books from the library. I didn't know you had to turn on your wifi to truly, truly return a book from your machine. There's a lot I really still don't know about how this works.
I won't tell!!! I haven't ventured into the library with my Kindle yet.
ReplyDeleteI sure won't tell. My lips are zipped. I don't even have a library car. (do they still have cards?)
ReplyDeleteI found this to be true, too. I had a book loan and got the notice that it had expired, but it was still there. It makes sense that they don't have any way to get it back unless they can "reach" in somehow. That is what happens when you connect to the WiFi. BTW, the new header picture is stunning. I remember when you took it. :-)
ReplyDeleteI just read up on this and wrote a second Postscript. Turns out it's an Amazon glitch, not the library.
DeleteThat makes perfect sense. They have to have access and with no WiFi, they just don't have it. I sure wish our library was Kindle ready.
ReplyDeleteYou discover the best tips Kay!
ReplyDeleteYes, if you don't acivate your WIFI you can neither receive nor give.
ReplyDeleteI figure the long arm of the library will find you and fine you sooner or later. As an ex-library worker, I say think about the other guy, especially if you are reading a book that someone else wants to read.
D~
It just never occurred to me that my still having the book on my Kindle meant no one else could borrow it since it was noted on my Manage Your Kindle that the loan had expired.
DeleteOops... and also...
DeleteYou borrow books using the USB connection, not the wifi.
Very interesting an good information to know. I wonder if the library will figure out a fix for that.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of books on my "want to read" list that haven't been available on Kindle for a couple of months. Now I know why!
ReplyDeleteIt never occurred to me that by still having the book on my Kindle, it meant others could not read it. I wish I knew the answer. I'll have to make it a point to remember to turn the wifi on my Kindle to make sure books are truly returned... until I know for sure how this works.
DeleteI won't tell, still read the old fashioned way...lol!
ReplyDeleteWill they charge you for an overdue? ;-) It will work because you also cannot get NEW books with the wi=fi off.
ReplyDeleteYou get new books by downloading it with your USB connection to your computer, not through wifi. However, the books are supposed to be returned by wifi which is what I didn't know before. No, there's never been an overdue charge because it did say on my Manage Your Kindle that the book had been returned... even though it was actually technically still on my Kindle. I guess I still don't understand everything there is to know about digital borrowing.
DeleteIn the words of Johnny Cash's sad song:
ReplyDeleteTHERE WERE TEARS ON THE MAIL
MOTHER SENT ME IN JAIL
I'M IN THE JAIL HOUSE NOW. :-)
But I'm innocent I tell you.... sort of.
DeleteIf you're lucky, your mother might be willing to testify in court. She could say, "But, she's a good girl, Judge."
DeleteHere's the real kicker. They could lend that one electronic book to everyone. But the number of "copies" of each book is conrolled. If your library had bought more "copies", they could lend it to more people. I suppose money must be made.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm more confused than ever now. I never even thought about returning a borrowed book, since I figured the library just takes it away when it expires. I'm currently reading a borrowed library book. I'll have to see what happens. And I hardly even connect to WiFi with my Kindle.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought too and I still don't think that having the book still on your reader would prevent others from reading the book because the glitch is with Amazon, not the library. If you try to read the book on any of your other readers after the expiration date (even though it's still on one of them) it won't let you.
DeleteI was referring to the olden days, when we messed with real books. I still don't have an Ereader, but thought I almost had to buy one. A hospice book I wanted was only on smashwords in electronic form, not in book form. My son told me I just had to buy the book and then choose to print it on my computer. Now I have my paper version.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel guilty, I was just teasing. You know a lot more than I do about this new stuff.
DrumMajor
Interesting tip. I don't think I've ever borrowed a book from the library on my Kindle. Perhaps I would if I read fiction but since I'm a nonfiction reader I don't find a lot that interests me. My reading field is narrow. Good for you using the public library.
ReplyDeleteI haven't used that function of Kindle yet. I'm still hoping to read all the free books I have on my Kindle one day. They are all cooking, gardening, crafting, and organizing how to's anyway. More like reference type books. I downloaded them because one day I hope to organize the information and use it. There are so many DIY type blogs. I guess I'm a homesteader, or even a prepper wannabe lol
ReplyDeleteL...w
Wow! I love your new banner!
ReplyDeleteHere is a tip: I rented a film from Amazon and watched it by myself, and I decided I wanted to watch it again with Terry. It was a 24 hour rental, but even though it was over 24 hours by 20 minutes into the second viewing, the service let us watch it to the end.
Gosh! I didn't even know you could rent movies through Amazon.
Delete