Grande Bibliothèque marks 15 years
The Grande Bibliothèque, noted here as a formidable réussite québécoise, is marking its 15th anniversary, closed and locked down. According to Wikipedia, it opened on April 30, 2005, so I’m a little surprised Le Devoir waited till May 7 to run this story – or maybe the first date was the ceremonial opening only.
Has anyone here succeeded in borrowing ebooks from the big library? I’m not entirely inept with electronic devices and methods, but its requirements flummoxed me completely, and now I can’t pass by with my iPad and ask advice.
Alex 10:57 on 2020-05-07 Permalink
If you download the app ‘Libby’ the process is a lot easier 🙂
Daisy 11:02 on 2020-05-07 Permalink
I do it all the time onto my ancient Kobo ereader. I have to download from Overdrive to Adobe Digital Editions on my PC, then connect the Kobo to the PC. But apparently it’s simpler with newer devices.
Blork 11:22 on 2020-05-07 Permalink
My sweetie borrows books from the Big Bib all the time on her older Kobo, although it’s buggy AF. The new Kobos have Overdrive built-in and are supposedly much easier to use and more reliable. AFAIK it’s almost hopeless with iPads, largely due to problems with Adobe Digital Editions behaving like a rabid cat with a mousetrap on its paw whenever it shows up on an Apple product.
Ephraim 11:37 on 2020-05-07 Permalink
You also have access to https://www.hoopladigital.com/ though only a small subsection. You can’t access most of the video. You can borrow 6 titles a month from the music and comics collection.
Some of the other libraries have more access.
Kate 11:49 on 2020-05-07 Permalink
Blork, good to know I’m not the only Apple devotee having trouble.
Mostly I’ve wanted to borrow the occasional book in French, because while it’s easy to acquire books in English that you want to have a look at, French is another matter.
Joey 11:55 on 2020-05-07 Permalink
@Blork and @Kate – borrowing ebooks from the GB is super easy with the Libby app, as Alex noted. You feed it your GB credentials and can easily access the catalogue – borrow books, place holds, etc. You can also access other libraries – the Mtl library network has a smaller but still solid catalogue of ebooks. You can also use Overdrive (certain older ebooks are available there but not via Libby – must be a formatting issue). Borrowing ebooks has been a game-changer for me…
TL;DR download the Libby app, enter your GB digital credentials and you’re good to go.
Kate 12:13 on 2020-05-07 Permalink
Joey, that was too easy! Thank you.
Mark Côté 12:42 on 2020-05-07 Permalink
Libby works with the Montreal library network as well!
John B 13:28 on 2020-05-07 Permalink
You can also browse & borrow on Libby, then sync your newer Kobo and have the book there. That gets me around the problem of the Kobo having some issues remembering my library card, (maybe because I have both GB and Montreal Library cards set up).
Margaret 08:11 on 2020-05-08 Permalink
I borrow lots and all the time and am still using my first (or at least early) generation Sony E-reader.