Amazon to launch Library Lending

[Ron.]

Great in 20 years when my library finally gets ebooks I will be all set. I wonder if my kindle will last that long...

[BoiseShan]

Finally.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

my post from another thread:

Does this mean libraries will have to buy books in Kindle format too? Their budgets are already strained.

If so, how do they decide which format to buy when they're only buying one copy? When buying multiple copies, will they split the order and get 1/2 ePub and 1/2 Kindle; thereby doubling wait times when all copies are checked out?

It also means less titles available at libraries as they will have to spend what budget they do have on yet another format. Amazon, get with reality and go ePub.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It also means less titles available at libraries as they will have to spend what budget they do have on yet another format.

Perhaps they will have to take market share among their patrons into consideration.

[ProfCrash]

Or it could be that Amazon is underwriting the costs. Amazon is clearly very invovled in this move. They are working with Overdrive to make sure that the books work the same way that they would for a Kindle, including the note taking functions and whispersync. That screams Amazon involvement.

Also, the announcement came from Amazon, not Overdrive. Overdrive specifically states that they are working with Amazon to make this happen. Not libraries, but Amazon.

If it is the case that Amazon is underwriting the costs, and I admit it is pure speculation right now, then it is a move of pure genius. It removes a major obstacle for people who are looking for Kindles, now they can read library books. It comes right when they have announced the $114 Kindle with Ads, which makes the Kindle more afforable for people who would want to use it at the library.

"Amazon is working with OverDrive, the leading provider of digital content solutions for over 11,000 public and educational libraries in the United States, to bring a seamless library borrowing experience to Kindle customers. "We are excited to be working with Amazon to offer Kindle Library Lending to the millions of customers who read on Kindle and Kindle apps," said Steve Potash, CEO, OverDrive. "We hear librarians and patrons rave about Kindle, so we are thrilled that we can be part of bringing library books to the unparalleled experience of reading on Kindle.""

[Ron.]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It also means less titles available at libraries as they will have to spend what budget they do have on yet another format. Amazon, get with reality and go ePub.

The only library near me that has ebooks already uses mobi, they have them in mobi or pdf.

When I say near me I mean 200 miles away I'm afraid the library a block from me is never likely to have ebooks.

[soondai]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

my post from another thread:

Does this mean libraries will have to buy books in Kindle format too? Their budgets are already strained.

If so, how do they decide which format to buy when they're only buying one copy? When buying multiple copies, will they split the order and get 1/2 ePub and 1/2 Kindle; thereby doubling wait times when all copies are checked out?

This could really be an issue.

Ideally, Overdrive would license a "copy" of a book to the library and then let the patron choose the format at checkout, but that sounds far-fetched (and sure isn't what they do now).

But this could definitely water down collections as libraries are pushed to buy "big titles" in 2 formats and have nothing left for smaller nonfiction titles and the like.

[FF2]

Originally Posted by abookreader

Holy Smokes!!!!!!

.............runs off to check the thermometer in HELL!!!!!!

Thanks a lot - I'm choking on the last morsel of breakfast!

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

If it is the case that Amazon is underwriting the costs, and I admit it is pure speculation right now, then it is a move of pure genius. It removes a major obstacle for people who are looking for Kindles, now they can read library books. It comes right when they have announced the $114 Kindle with Ads, which makes the Kindle more afforable for people who would want to use it at the library.

Cosign.

I think Amazon is as good at what they do as Apple is at what they do. Two awesome tech firms.

[Penforhire]

This is an obvious and overdue move by Amazon. I'm assuming Amazon's OS will be updated to allow Overdrive in the same fashion as the Sony readers do, no extra burden on libraries.

It could shift some fence-sitters on their next purchase. I know it was one big strike against my chosing a Kindle wifi. Now, add an IR-similar touch screen (minimizing reader dmensions, relative to the screen, but maintaining clarity) and it'll be hasta la vista Sony for me.

[carld]

Originally Posted by 1611mac

A few, but I read the release carefully and it does NOT say the every eBook title will be available and in reality, there is very little said about how this will work. Is the local lib merely a "port" (window) to the entire Kindle lib or will the local library actually be required to have a file sitting on a computer even if the "borrowed" book comes from Amazon, etc, etc, etc.

I'm assuming it will work like Overdrive already does, except that borrowed mobi files will be useable on the Kindle without Kindlefix (most likely), or Amazon will start supporting ePub and Adobe DRM (unlikely). I'd also assume that Amazon will work with Overdrive so they can offer more mobi titles.

[hughes]

Wow. Amazon is playing to win.

Hopefully the details will prove to support how good this sounds (unlike the overly restricted friend lending feature of both Amazon and B&N).

[=X=]

Great news! I like the fact that they are extending their annotation features to library books.

=X=

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Or it could be that Amazon is underwriting the costs. Amazon is clearly very invovled in this move. They are working with Overdrive to make sure that the books work the same way that they would for a Kindle, including the note taking functions and whispersync. That screams Amazon involvement.

Also, the announcement came from Amazon, not Overdrive. Overdrive specifically states that they are working with Amazon to make this happen. Not libraries, but Amazon.

If it is the case that Amazon is underwriting the costs, and I admit it is pure speculation right now, then it is a move of pure genius. It removes a major obstacle for people who are looking for Kindles, now they can read library books. It comes right when they have announced the $114 Kindle with Ads, which makes the Kindle more afforable for people who would want to use it at the library.

"Amazon is working with OverDrive, the leading provider of digital content solutions for over 11,000 public and educational libraries in the United States, to bring a seamless library borrowing experience to Kindle customers. "We are excited to be working with Amazon to offer Kindle Library Lending to the millions of customers who read on Kindle and Kindle apps," said Steve Potash, CEO, OverDrive. "We hear librarians and patrons rave about Kindle, so we are thrilled that we can be part of bringing library books to the unparalleled experience of reading on Kindle.""

What is means (IMHO) is Amazon is letting Overdrive use their DRM servers to be able to serve up Mobipocket eBooks for Kindle users.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by FF2

Thanks a lot - I'm choking on the last morsel of breakfast!

Well, that's one less Kindle user to be using libraries. Or for that matter any other eBooks.