Audiobooks and eBooks

Why doesn't the library just buy more digital books and audiobooks?

The library would love to buy every digital book available to us, but the problem comes down to cost. When the library buys a digital book, what we actually purchase is often a 1-year (or 26 checkout) license to share the digital book. The library never owns a permanent copy of a digital book, unlike when the library buys a physical book, and has to repurchase the license when it either A) reaches the 1-year expiry date or B) has been borrowed 26 times. When you buy a digital book, you have the license to own that copy of the book forever.

The library has no negotiating power when it comes to the costs we pay for digital books. All of these costs are decided by the publishers.

What can I do to help make digital books more affordable for libraries?

If you want to help make digital books more affordable for libraries, you can contact the main five publishers of books to let them know that their prices and pricing models are inadequate.

Visit #eContentForLibraries to learn more about digital books and libraries, see more pricing comparisons, and find contact information for publishers.

Using the Holds Suspension Feature in cloudLibrary (Mobile App)

cloudLibrary Mobile App - Using the Holds Suspension Feature

Patrons may delay the delivery of holds for up to 6 months. See the steps below to Suspend Holds in the Mobile Apps.

To Suspend Holds in the Mobile App:

1. Login to the cloudLibrary app with your library card ID number and PIN (if required).
2. Tap the My Books tab at the bottom of the screen and navigate to the Holds tab.
3. Tap the Manage Hold button next to the desired title.
4. From the Manage Hold screen, you may Suspend or Remove the desired Hold.
   • To Suspend the Hold, select the earliest date you want to receive the title and tap the Suspend Hold button. The title will then become available to borrow on the selected date or shortly thereafter. Note that if there is no one else waiting for the title, it might become available sooner.
   • To Remove the Hold, tap the Remove Hold button.
   • Tap Cancel to navigate away from this screen.

Notes:

•  Access to the Holds Suspension feature requires cloudLibrary mobile app version 5.10.
• To update your hold delivery date, tap Manage Hold, select the most recent date, and tap Suspend Hold.
• To identify whether a hold is present or suspended, patrons can navigate to My Books tab > Holds and select the book cover to pull up the Book Detail page:
  • When a hold is present, an approximate availability date is provided.
  • When a hold is suspended, the suspension date selected will display.

Using the Holds Suspension Feature in cloudLibrary (Web Patron)

cloudLibary Web Patron - Using the Holds Suspension Feature

Patrons may delay the delivery of holds for up to 6 months. See the steps below to Suspend Holds in Web Patron.

To Suspend Holds in Web Patron:

1. Go to https://www.yourcloudlibrary.com and use the Country, Province, and Library drop-down menus to find your library.
2. Login to your library by clicking Login in the upper right corner of the screen. Enter your library card number and PIN, and click the login button.
3. Select the My Books tab in the upper right corner and then select the Holds tab.
4. Choose the desired title and click the Manage Hold button.
5. A pop-up screen will appear. From here you may Suspend or Remove the desired Hold.
   • To Suspend the Hold, select the earliest date you want to receive the title and click the Suspend Hold button. The title will then become available to borrow on the selected date or shortly thereafter. Note that if there is no one else waiting for the title, it might become available sooner.
   • To Remove the Hold, click the Remove Hold button.
   • Select Cancel to navigate away from this screen.

Notes:

• Access to the Holds Suspension feature requires Web Patron version 4.4.0.
• To update your hold delivery date, click Manage Hold, select the most recent date, and click Suspend Hold.
• To identify whether a hold is present or suspended, patrons can navigate to My Books tab > Holds and select the book cover to pull up the Book Detail page:
  • When a hold is present, an approximate availability date is provided.
  • When a hold is suspended, the suspension date selected will display.