Quote:
Originally Posted by murraypaul
Well we were discussing eBooks, so out-of-print doesn't really apply, and for print books I think it is rather unlikely that a local lending library would have copies to lend of an out of print book that you couldn't find for sale if you looked hard enough.
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With all due respect, I believe that the moment the library system is mentioned it is impossible to differentiate books by the medium. A book is a book, and a collection of books is likely to be called "a library" as long as that form exists. Out-of-print is still an issue in this age of e-book ascendancy, and it will remain so until we digitize every book, ever made.
Given enough time and resources, I could, most likely, find any out-of-print title available for checkout from the library. Alas, the time might become an issue (university project deadline), the required resources most certainly are. I refuse to treat a book as an entertainment good (offered for sale), despite the fact that most books printed today essentially
are (cheap or not so cheap) entertainment packages. For me, universal access to medical system and universal access to
knowledge (free internet access offered by the library), happen to be categories treated as civilization achievements, something well worth my tax dollars.