Adobe Digital Editions and eBooks

I have not "checked out" an eBook from the library recently, but found one that I wanted to review for a chapter I writing for the Nursing and Informatics 5th edition.  I made several mistakes, but with the assistance of a wonderful University librarian the problems were solved.

The library eBook required Adobe Digital Editions to read the book.  Because of Digital Rights Management (DRM), you cannot download a PDF email, you "check it out."  On the due date, it disappears from your computer.

The problem was I had an OLD version of Adobe Digital Editions, so when I attempted to download the book, it would not open.  After I updated the software, when I went back to the download screen it worked.  The only problem with the Adobe download is that it also downloaded three different types of bloat ware (unwanted software). It changed my search engine and start-up page, too.  Not good!  I had to disable the add-ins in each of the web browsers I use.  I also had to uninstall the software using the Control Panel.

We figured out the problem using the iPad, which is the only computer that I took to the office today.  On the iPad, I was prompted to open the eBook with BlueFire Reader or Kobo.

There are many different readers.  It depends upon the operating system and device as to which you use. 

Transferring an eBook ot the iPad

I just finally finished writing a chapter for a textbook on distance learning.  One of the sections in the chapter had to do with eBooks - so of course, that took some research.  I had already downloaded some eBook readers (discussed in an earlier blog) to my iPad. I knew that I could purchase or in some cases with really old books, like those written by Florence Nightingale, download for free.

The new adventure was to figure out how to check out eBooks from the local public library.  I went to the Twin Lakes Library website and found a tab that had all of the eBooks.  It included both audio books and digital books.  There were not as many digital books  as audio.  One blog I read during the research indicated that eBook publishing companies were hesitant to make their resources available because of concerns about losing sales.  Oh well....

One of the YouTube videos on the topic indicated that Adobe Digital Editions was a free app for checking out an eBooks, so I downloaded it.  It required for me to enter my Adobe ID and password.

On the local public library website, I found a book by a favorite author.  When I tried to check out the book, it was not available.  A couple of days later, I received an email stating that the book was available for checkout.  I downloaded it to Adobe Digital Editions. The following steps were use to get the eBook to the iPad.

• Downloaded the Bluefire Reader from the Apple store onto the iPad
• Synced the iPad with iTunes
• Added the eBook from Documents > Adobe Digital Editions to Bluefire Reader
• Opened the Bluefire Reader and authorized it with my Adobe ID and password
• Done!

Well, that might seem like a complicated process, but in reality, most of the steps had to be accomplished only once.  I have all of the necessary applications downloaded.  The next time I check out an eBook, all that I have to do is to add it to the Bluefire Reader and sync.