KOBO Review Part 2: Library Integration

[@blane1814]

When they do fix this problem I I’ll thank you for it.

[@mikarikichi]

The downsides with borrowing books and buying them directly from their stores is the reason why I just sideload my books onto my kobo. You can buy books from different sites or go to anna's archive and just put it in your device through calibre. Super easy and you get to keep your annotations since you actually own these files I've deleted books with annotations on my kobo before but since they were archived in calibre when I synced the books again everything was still there

[@WhatJobSaw]

Ugh. Not being able to link multiple libraries is killing me! 😫 I’m like 90% of the way there on buying a Kobo but I really want a seamless and synced library borrowing integration.

[@sophier6504]

Totally agree! Especially with the point of not being able to sync with the Libby phone app

[@kei-lynnwheaton2736]

For your library books, you could create a collection called "Library". That's what I did so I could sort what were my library books and what were my purchased books.

[@bee_mailey]

The annotations do stay around if you annotate on a library book, return it, and then buy it from the kobo store. I know because I did just this yesterday. I don’t delete the previews from my device after reading though. I had to sync the device after purchase for the annotations to show back up so I think the annotations are stored in the kobo cloud. Handwritten notes are included.

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

That's good to know!

[@rozreallyreads]

2:49 Libby does work internationally - I use Libby in the UK & it's definitely available in mainland Europe! The issue with libraries and kindles is that Amazon has an agreement with the US Overdrive, that it does not have with Overdrives outside of the US. So, only in the US can you 'send to kindle' a library ebook. We cannot do this on kindles outside of the US. Rakuten Kobo however, has an agreement with Overdrive (in most countries, i'm pretty sure) that allows 'send to kobo' / Kobo Overdrive integration.

[@Hiba-kc5ur]

For +info , in france the overdrive is not available on the kobo sadly 😭😭😭😭

[@nonUniqueHandle]

wow this was super helpful!! I was all set to get a kobo libra colour because i need my buttons but I used the library like you do and can't have all my dead books on my ereader forever and only one library at a time is brutal. the annotations (and color) were a big reason to switch but it sounds like it is a PITA. If amazon would come out with a color oasis that would work but they have moved on from buttons and so i guess i must adjust and hope Kobo improves their software

[@tonigee327]

This is another reason why I have both a Kobo and Kindle. For my kindle I love Kindle Unlimited and theres WAY more books vs Kobo plus. Also for Libby I love the simplicity of being able to browse books on the app from my phone, then able to send it to my Kindle right away from any library without having to mess with Kobo and overdrive but having to switch libraries.

[@TheFonzieCommunity]

I think in general, that book journal or notebooks or archive is potentially helpful to get the notes. Also I wish and hope they give expandable storage at some point, but that’s great to see your pov!!

[@Blush210]

Ohh so basically the kindle app is where the magic happens 🤔 ok this is very helpful thx! I rather read my comics on my iPad too lol I just put my blue light glasses on and go to town as well so I don’t plan on using even a colored e ink device for comics strictly here for turn page buttons and a way to annotate the way I like too. Using colors lol hopefully someone thinks of a way to make us happy 😅😂

[@BinxThinx]

I would approach it the way I would physical books, I wouldn’t annotate library books because they are for the public, and if I really love a book so much I want to annotate it then purchase and annotate the copy I own. But I’m new to being able to have library books on my ereader since Kindle didn’t support that in my country. Sounds super frustrating as it seems like you got used to doing that on the kindle though, hope it gets sorted out one day.

[@gamewrit0058]

9:30 Is it a privacy issue? Kindle is storing and backing up - and probably sharing and analyzing - this information. Does the Kobo not have the capability, or is it an opt-in feature?

[@gamewrit0058]

Ah, you go on to describe some intense experimentation of the process. 😅

[@gamewrit0058]

21:50 Ah, yes, saving on the Amazon side makes sense. Also stinks that the Kobo rep tried to get you to buy a subscription to a third party.

[@TheFonzieCommunity]

I love Libby!! Although I am happy for all of these extra integrations, but hopefully they’ll improve it on kobo.

[@TheFonzieCommunity]

Oh hey welcome to the second part!!! Here we go!!!

[@MsBea100]

I’m still having problems adding more than one library card to my kobo😢

[@TheFonzieCommunity]

I hope or I’d assume that they’ll consider a google docs note integration, if they don’t already have one connected.

[@marctestarossa]

If you get the same book from different sources, they technically are not the same book. They have different identifiers, so annotations that are bound to one specific book from one source cant be easily transferred to another version of the same book. If you used libby in the past you get the exact same book that can be purchased from the kindle shop. But i don’t really care too much about the annotations being in the book. I just need the marked and annotated pieces to be exported to another file. This is then what i work with to write essays, summaries, collect the quote or just think about. I don’t need the actual book for that. Still it would be great if I read the book again in the future to still have ma annotated copy.

[@tananario23]

So, having lots of different library memberships without supporting them. Got it.