
An Amazon Kindle (L-R), a Bookeen Cybook Odyssey, and a Sony Reader (Â© Dominick Reuter / Reuters)

In the old days, the hard part of borrowing a book from the library was trying to figure out that blasted Dewey Decimal System. But with today's e-readers and digital downloadable services through the libraries, finding the book is the easy part -- just put it in the search engine. It's actually borrowing it that takes all the work.

Most public libraries, including those in Utah, use a digital distribution system for ebooks called OverDrive, from an Ohio-based company. Unfortunately, it feels like you have to go through a thousand steps to download a book. The various hoops are probably there to ensure that the system protects the book from being pirated.

Still, it's a bit of a pain, but I have found an app for tablets that will make it a little easier. OverDrive has its own mobile application called OverDrive Media Console that connects users with the local libraries to borrow and download books much faster than using a computer. The free app is available for every e-reader format, including iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Kindle Fire, Blackberry and the Color Nook. It does not work with Kindles or Nooks that use E-ink technology, but only with color tablets that can download and launch applications.

After launching the OverDrive Media Console app, users type in a ZIP code or city and state to call up a list of OverDrive-compatible libraries in their area. Tap on the library and it takes you to the mobile version of OverDrive's website. There's no need to call up a mobile browser to go the library's site. And the biggest advantage to using the app is that users can access any library, as opposed to going to each library's individual website.

From there, search for available titles and whether there is an audiobook recording.

From here on, the process can be a little different, depending on which library system you're accessing. With the Salt Lake County Library System, users click the "Borrow" button. Once the book is downloaded wirelessly to a device, press the "Bookshelf" button to find it and begin reading. If the book isn't available, put a hold on it, and an email will be sent when it's available.

Depending on the book, users have up to 21 days before it expires and is automatically locked from a device. To return it early, press the "Return Title" button. You can borrow up to 10 books at one time.

Another great advantage is that the app has a built-in text reader and audio player, so no additional app is needed to read the books or play audiobooks. It also has options to adjust the brightness of the screen, the size of the text, the number of columns, line spacing and more.

It's not the perfect app, however, and could use some finesse. Again, it doesn't work with E-ink readers such as the cheaper Kindles and Nooks (more on that in a minute). There doesn't seem to be a way to skip directly to the beginning of another chapter, and it ought to use your GPS receiver to find the nearest libraries automatically instead of the user having to input a ZIP code or city. Finally, it ought to send you a text or push notification when a book is free, instead of doing it by email.

Over time, I found the app much easier and more convenient to use for borrowing books. Download it either through the iTunes App Store or Google Play.