When I read the news that Amazon has opened up its Kindle ebook format to public libraries, I thought: “Oh boy, this is going to be great for my iPad!”

After all, Kindle books aren’t just for Kindles. You can read Kindle books on your computer, your smartphone or your iPad.

So, already loaded with the Kindle iPad app, I used my iPad’s Safari browser to sign into the website of my local public library, the Philadelphia Free Library, and bolted to the ebooks area of the site — which like many libraries uses Overdrive.com to manage ebook lending.

All online libraries let you browse their virtual shelves by category, but this initial browse can actually be a waste of time for two reasons. First, all the electronic book formats are listed in one place, including audiobooks, so you’ll see a lot of titles that won’t work for you. And then, often, the ebooks that catch your eye on the “shelf” are actually unavailable, because they’re already checked out by other patrons. This disappointment factor might turn off some people to ebook libraries for good.

Quick side note: If the ebooks you want is checked out, you can add your name to the waiting list for that book. I’ve done this with other ebook formats, and received emails from my library telling me when I can check out the ebook I want. But most of the time when I have the urge to read a book, I want to read it NOW.

At the Philadelphia library’s site, you can save yourself from waiting lists by heading to the “Advanced Search” area. Here you can choose the format and book category/subject you want, and check a box labelled “Only show titles with copies available.”

Boom! Now you’re presented with books in your chosen format and category, all available for immediate checkout.

So with my pointing finger twitching I chose Stephen Hawking’s “The Grand Design,” and tapped my way into the library checkout. At this point, I had a choice of borrowing the book for 7, 14 or 21 days. I chose 21 because I’m a lazy, easily distracted reader.

Here an interesting thing happened: I was auto-directed into an Amazon.com page for that book, which had a friendly green box that let me choose where I wanted to send my Kindle book. (I chose my iPad, of course.)

Now I opened my iPad’s Kindle app. At first I was confused because I didn’t see my new library book. On a hunch, I went into the “Archived Items” section of the app. Sure enough, there it was. I tapped on the book title, and went back to my Kindle app’s “Home” screen. I tapped on the title again, and finally I was reading my new borrowed ebook.

This is kind of cool! There are many, many modern-day books that I’ll read from a library that I would never buy. My local library is across town, so I usually don’t make the trip. (And I prefer ebooks.) Now I’m able to borrow Kindle books for free and immediately start reading them all on my iPad. It’s going to open up a whole new world of books.