Diary of a Book Addict

eBooks have been around for many years. When they first became available, they were largely ignored. I'm not sure what the tipping point was, but more than a decade later, people are coming around to accepting the eBook phenomenon.

I agree with you that the reading "experience" between an eBook and a traditional printed book is different. I prefer one over the other depending on the circumstances I am in. For instance, when I am in my home, at a bookstore browsing, or in the library, I prefer a traditional print book. However, when I am traveling on an airplane, in the waiting room at a doctors office, riding in a car, or if I'll be away from home for an extended period of time (i.e. like on vacation), I definitely prefer eBooks. This is primarily due to their portability. Traditional print books are heavy, take up a lot of space, and are not also convenient to carry around.

Normally, I check out and download my eBooks from the library (using Overdrive) and my personal iPod Touch. I have made exceptions to this and have purchased a few eBooks. The exceptions are rare. Not too long ago, I was on the Hold list for The Help (eBook, because the list was shorter), the Hold became available and I started reading it. The Hold expired when I had only TWO chapters left. I enjoyed the book so much, and I wanted to finish it, but didn't want to wait on the Hold list again, so I bought the eBook (which was less expensive than the traditional print book).

If I wanted a book that wasn't available from the library (a very rare occurrance), or needed a book right away...what I would buy would depend on the cost of it and what I planned on doing with it when I was done. Aside from The Help, the few other books I've purchased in eBook format are "reference" in nature, and I've needed them for a period longer than a library checkout. Since I am able to get most of the books I want from the library, my purchases are few. However, I am most likely to buy a traditional print book, because they are much easier to gift, loan, or sell.

Suspending Holds is very easy. You can or stop by the library and we can do it for you, or you can log into your library account (library card # + 8-digit birthday) and do it yourself. If you have access to the internet, go to our homepage at www.mymcpl.org. Click on the link at the top of the page that says: View My Library Account. This will being you to the sign-in page. After you put in your card number and PIN, click the box that says: View My Account. Once you do that, you will be taken to a summary page of your account. Click on the word: Holds This will bring you to everything you currently have on Hold. Click in the box to the left of any title you want to suspend. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click in the little circle that says: Suspend Selected. Once you do this step, the Suspension Start Date is set for "Today," and then you choose when you would like to end the suspension by clicking on the calendar gadget to the right. While your Holds are suspended, you will continue to move up the list, but the Hold will not be made available to you until the Hold is unsuspended.

Thanks for your great questions, Kim! Happy reading!