If you have an e-reader you know the advantages of them. Besides being easier to flip pages, you can also download new books within seconds while going about your daily errands. If it’s been a while since you’ve been out to your local public library, but you want to take advantage of the “free” books you can borrow, try downloading a few.

I came across this great post on the Assistive Technology blog on how “Kindle eBooks From Public Library Are Now Available.” Now this post itself only applies to Kindle’s, but there are other ways to download books from your local library on other e-readers. The app that makes this download possible is OverDrive. Currently it’s compatible with every e-reader on the market. It allows you to search for your library, or certain educational materials needed for class or research purposes. Utilizing your school’s library is always a good way to go as well, but consider this another option when looking for a good book to read in your downtime.

[related: Reduce Research Clutter: There's an App for That]

By: J. Mason

Caught this article at Silicon Valley Insider about how a California startup is working to offer text books for the iPad.

Apple iPad

This could really revolutionize online learning.  While many schools, including American Public University System already utilize ebooks, they are in proprietary formats for simply PDFs.  This can make portability, especially for those folks deployed in the field, a challenge.  An ebook for the iPad, or other e-readers, such as the Amazon Kindle or Sony, could extend portability further.  Personally, I’m a traditionalist and still enjoy my big yellow highlighter for note taking… so we’ll have to see if those of us used to paper-based note-taking can get used to an electronic format.