Quote:
Originally Posted by anamardoll
Says who? I may lend a paper book to hundreds of friends. That same book might otherwise languish unread on a library shelf.
When I purchase a paper book, I receive the right to lend it to someone else. I can, for that matter, give it to a library. Shocking, I know, but I have in fact done this very thing. 
eBooks should not be different, in my humble opinion.
ETA: And no, I do not accept the "eBooks are forever!" explanation. I have books that are several decades old and still in mint condition despite being moved dozens of times and read more times than I can count. |
You are absolutely correct. In several years you could lend a bookto hundreds of friends.
A library could lend it to hundreds of patrons as well. Average loan period being three weeks, library turn around time about 3 days, time for next hold to pick up book after notification 2-3 days, factoring in early returns and overdue average time borrowed at 3-4 weeks a book. About 12-17 times annually.
Assuming hundreds of times means in excess of 200 than if 20 times a year that the book can be borrowed it will take 10 years. At 12 times it would take 16+ years. Factoring in never returned books , wear and tear and declining popularity of the book it could take much longer.
Of course a private owner can lend the book out for an undetermined time or 20 minutes a time so this is kind of apples and oranges.
Helen