Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc
As I said in another thread. I'm glad to see this because it expands the reach of ebooks and moves us ever closer to that future. I'm sad that it will extend the fractured and incompatible market of both mobi/Kindle and epub instead of coming to a common format.  |
Don't get me wrong. I would love to have an industry standard format. My first preference would be epub because as far as I know Amazon devices are the only that do not support this. But if the standard becomes mobi with all devices supporting that I would also be happy. My objection to the library lending for Kindle as currently set up it with having to go through the Amazon web site and having to have an account with Amazon, versus just being able to use a library card as with the epub and pdf content. That and as I say I went through the Kindle content lending process as I said, and it is apparent that Amazon is not interested in lending, it is after a sale.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emellaich
So, I know that this isn't popular, and I've posted similar thoughts before and met with resounding silence, but here goes (Most of these thoughts are specific to the U.S. situation).
I'm not sure that libraries in there current form should continue to exist. What is their purpose? Some questions that occur:
- Should we take money from taxpayers so that people who can buy books of their own get the books for free?
- Should we take money from authors by looking to buy a single book and making it available to the public?
- Why is there a duplicate library system between schools and the public library?
My thoughts on where libraries are or can be important:
1) Providing access across the digital divide. Not only is this humanitarian, but it makes cold, hard economic sense. For those who are economically disadvantaged who choose to use library (and internet) services we probably see more payback than cost. Those who educate themselves may well increase their future earning, thus increasing their tax payments and decreasing their public assistance costs. However, there doesn't seem to be a reason to lend DVDs to these folks.
2) Providing support for the educational system.
3) Providing access to government resources: Data, meeting minutes, rules, regulations.
4) Providing archival support for Orphaned works. It doesn't necessarily make economic sense to provide 'free' bestsellers to those who can make their own decision to buy them. However, after books have been on the market for five years, they are probably a bargain to acquire, they are probably earning little revenue for their creators, and, if they aren't being republished, they are in danger of being lost.
What other purposes can you think of for public libraries?
|
Yes that is the libertarian point of view. The government should not be in the business of providing any services. Access for any individual, any family, should be based on the how willing or able to pay personally. I totally disagree with this philosophy, but I do believe that this has been debated roundly in another thread not so long ago.
As for the other purposes for a library, see my previous post to this thread.