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Originally Posted by applewine
I heard about the Sony's, but as you said the hardware isn't as available. I also heard they shutdown the sony bookstore, but maybe that isn't a problem. The real problem is a lack of overdrive libraries and selection.
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Sony eReaders are available, look for resellers or refurbished models.
Lack of libraries? I guess it depends where you are. My local library has Overdrive and plenty of ebooks to borrow.
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As far as the paid libraries I didn't realize the publishers were opposed to selling books to libraries. The only reason they sell to libraries is because they don't buy a lot of books now? The reasoning being that if a library bought a lot of books then the publishers would sell fewer total books?
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For the last few years only two big publishers were selling ebooks to Overdrive. Two of the other publishers decided to dip a toe back into the water this year with some of their books, with restrictions on how Overdrive can loan the books, of course.
The reasoning, if you can call it that, seems to be fear of piracy or lack of friction (easy access to books) according to the publishers. No data or proof that piracy or ease of borrowing impacts sales exists, but it's the bogeyman the publishers chose.
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Is there anything stopping me from just buying printed books and starting a for-profit library? Is there anything stopping the same thing with e-books? Is there some kind of terms of sale when you buy an e-book that says you can't put it in a shared library? I'm talking about a direct-sale from a publisher, not from a reseller like kindle or Barnes and Noble which is not really ownership, but a special copy in their library reserved for you all the time.
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Copyright prevents any unauthorized use of books, e or otherwise. Direct sale from a publisher is no different from purchasing from Amazon or another bookstore as far as rights go.
Publishers/authors dictate what is allowed and what isn't. For instance they often allow one instance of loaning a book via Amazon or Nook's proprietary sharing system (within the US). They give Overdrive specific permission to loan the books, with whatever restrictions they deem necessary (ie. 26 loans maximum then the license expires and the library has to stop loaning the ebook and buy another copy to loan out).