Thread: Amazon to launch Library Lending
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Old 04-22-2011, 03:52 PM   #274
JSWolf
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK View Post
Depends on the library's site. I just tried the Free Library of Philadelphia's mobile ebook site (just to browse the collection) from my 3g Kindle and was actually rather amazed at how well it worked. If more libraries get mobile-optimized sites like that when Kindle books are offered, library lending on a Kindle will be best-in-show.
Not really. The process works like this in a lot of cases...

You browse, find what you want, put it on hold, wait for the email to tell you it's ready, then you go get it. So you need to be watching your email to get the message that the eBook is available.

And another issue with Overdrive is if you request an eBook and the library gets it, there is a very good chance others will see it first and get to have it/reserve it so when you get around to seeing it, you have to get in line.

This is not a joke. This is how it is at the moment and when Kindlers get on board, it's going to be worse as the lines will be longer and the chances of getting a new eBook in a reasonable time will drop considerably.

The Philly Free Library has 18 copies of Water for Elephants and they are all out. There are 100 people in the waiting list. The default check out time is 21 days. So for those at the end of the line, it's almost 120 days (about 4 months) before they can get it. And I'm guessing that the wait time was probably worse at some earlier point before I looked at this listing.

I'm not saying Kindlers should not have access. I'm saying that when they do, goodbye 4 months and expect at least 1 year.

Quote:
Originally Posted by twowheels View Post
I wonder if we'll be able to buy books as gifts for our local library. If so, and especially if I can be the first to instantly 'check it out', I'd gladly buy books for them, since I read most of them once and never read them again anyhow. Anything that I actually plan to read multiple times I would buy in paper anyhow.
Right now you cannot be the first on an eBook you've request and the library gets for you. I don't see being first one one you buy. I think Overdrive would have to revamp the system to allow the library to reserve for users.
Last edited by JSWolf; 04-22-2011 at 04:05 PM.
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