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Just over a year ago I decided to give away a print library of about 300 books. I finally found a great-niece excited to take them. Several years ago I gave my son an 1853 Shakespeare edited by Thomas Bowdler, first editions of Stanley in Africa and other rarities of similar age, and an 1855 book on the history and care of roses with the spine uncracked, pages crisp, and still containing order forms. I later learned that he took them to Half Price Books and that he was amazed that he received more than a few dollars.
Am I worried about bequeathing my digital books? Not in the least.
But if others have relatives clamoring for their digital books, good for them. If friends or family want to read one of my ebooks I lend them an ereader. Almost all books on my readers have DRM. Books purchased from Diesel, BoB, Fictionwise, etc. are placed on the ereader at the time I want to read them and later removed. What happens to them when I shuffle off this mortal coil is of no interest to me.
I am among those with little to bequeath. Yet I feel that my life is and has been meaningful. About fifteen years ago I distributed most of my possessions among my children. Now I am free and unencumbered by things that need dusting.
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