Librarians Threaten Boycott Over HC e-Book Terms

[abookreader]

Does Amazon's license agreement allow for that? I don't think so, for what that's worth.

There have been several libraries (you can Google to find them) which have implemented Kindle loaning. There are blogs of librarians being told that nothing in the Amazon TOS prevent it.

For what it is worth, our local Public library also has a couple of Sony Readers, a couple of iPODS (for audiobooks) and a Wii that you can reserve and borrow if they aren't using it for some Youth Activity. So loaning out Kindles isn't all that unique. They mostly utilize the Sony Readers to get people interested in Overdrive and they hold one back for training. I think that for the Kindle they just keep a list of books that the Library "owns" and then they'll load them onto the Kindle before you take it.

I think they require you to put your Driver's License # on the check-out form and sign an agreement for damages.

Why would Amazon do this? I'm not sure if it is prevalent enough for them to even care right now. Libraries are heavily investing in the Overdrive option right now. But pretty much for the same reason they'll sell a Kindle to anybody else. Sell a Kindle, sell Kindle books. That's what they do.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by abookreader

Why would Amazon do this? I'm not sure if it is prevalent enough for them to even care right now. Libraries are heavily investing in the Overdrive option right now. But pretty much for the same reason they'll sell a Kindle to anybody else. Sell a Kindle, sell Kindle books. That's what they do.

Also the same reason car companies supply cars to driving schools at discount prices, someone who learns in a particular model is more likely to buy that model, because it is what they are familiar with. Amazon could treat them as essentially demo units. (Not that I think this will happen, but there are arguments for it from Amazon's point of view.)

[Anthem]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Also the same reason car companies supply cars to driving schools at discount prices, someone who learns in a particular model is more likely to buy that model, because it is what they are familiar with. Amazon could treat them as essentially demo units. (Not that I think this will happen, but there are arguments for it from Amazon's point of view.)

Interesting. We trained on Malibu's when I was in Driver's Ed. and not only did I get incredibly good training for driving but I also learned I would never want to own a Chevy Malibu.

Educational in all kinds of ways.

[faithbw]

Originally Posted by Anthem

Interesting. We trained on Malibu's when I was in Driver's Ed. and not only did I get incredibly good training for driving but I also learned I would never want to own a Chevy Malibu.

Educational in all kinds of ways.

It was the opposite for me. I took driving lessons in Corollas and I like them. They're pretty expensive for my budget though.

I never knew about the discount for driving schools but it makes sense.

[rogue_librarian]

Originally Posted by abookreader

There have been several libraries (you can Google to find them) which have implemented Kindle loaning. There are blogs of librarians being told that nothing in the Amazon TOS prevent it.

Well, let's put it that way: I have a legal background but wouldn't be comfortable doing this over here (rightpondia). But then, I don't know US copyright law that intricately; if it works, more power to them!

[Darqref]

Originally Posted by abookreader

For what it is worth, our local Public library also has a couple of Sony Readers, a couple of iPODS (for audiobooks) and a Wii that you can reserve and borrow if they aren't using it for some Youth Activity. So loaning out Kindles isn't all that unique. They mostly utilize the Sony Readers to get people interested in Overdrive and they hold one back for training. I think that for the Kindle they just keep a list of books that the Library "owns" and then they'll load them onto the Kindle before you take it.

I think they require you to put your Driver's License # on the check-out form and sign an agreement for damages.

I would LOVE to have a library with this sort of system. One reason is that this would enable a true "donate an ebook" functionality. I could donate a particular purchased ebook to the library's account (with the acceptance of the librarian, who need to maintain control of their collection).

It couldn't be any worse than loaner laptops, when I'm pretty sure are available in many libraries.

[bgalbrecht]

If I were a librarian wanting to loan ereaders, I'd be looking into buying refurbed Nooks from B&N on ebay and buying ebooks from B&N and sideloading them onto all of the Nooks. Unlike the Kindle and Adobe DRM, the B&N DRM doesn't need to go to a DRM server to unlock the books, and there's no hard limit to the number of Nooks on which the ebooks can be loaded.

[carld]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

If I were a librarian wanting to loan ereaders, I'd be looking into buying refurbed Nooks from B&N on ebay and buying ebooks from B&N and sideloading them onto all of the Nooks. Unlike the Kindle and Adobe DRM, the B&N DRM doesn't need to go to a DRM server to unlock the books, and there's no hard limit to the number of Nooks on which the ebooks can be loaded.

The Kindle doesn't need to go to a DRM server to unlock its books, nor is there any limit to the number of ebooks which can be loaded, other than memory size.

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

If I were a librarian wanting to loan ereaders, I'd be looking into buying refurbed Nooks from B&N on ebay and buying ebooks from B&N and sideloading them onto all of the Nooks. Unlike the Kindle and Adobe DRM, the B&N DRM doesn't need to go to a DRM server to unlock the books, and there's no hard limit to the number of Nooks on which the ebooks can be loaded.

only flaw there is even if the library has a dozen Nooks they still need a dozen licenses for the books if they are all to have the same titles. On the Amazon setup all that needs done is to create the correct Amazon account then add, I think the number mentioned in this thread is correct, five different devices (could even be a given user's own device as long as it can read Kindle books, heck it could even be the user's own Kindle as long as they temporarily deregistered it from their account). Those devices can then share ALL the titles associated with that account.

I sort of like the idea of being able to register my own device with a special collection of the library then having access to the books for a period after which my device is automatically deregistered.

Of course there are issues here as well. I suspect once the Kindle API is really running full steam ahead a special library app might be possible as well. But I also suspect with the Agency thing the ability to share a title between devices registered to the same account is also in jeopardy if the publishers can gain the leverage to do so.

Still, it is an interesting idea for libraries but the overhead IT wise might be too much for most libraries.

[BakerBug]

Originally Posted by rogue_librarian

If they do have different collections it would be necessary to keep track of which books are loaded on what Kindle, store them securely and safely, retrieve the correct one from storage, make sure they work OK upon return... then there's service and maintenance, they need to be charged periodically (give the user a charger?), broken ones need to replaced, new books be added... I don't see why it couldn't work on a small scale, but it'd require somewhat more effort, I think.

And, yes, sometimes libraries do need to acquire lending rights in addition to just obtaining the actual books or media so there's all kind of legal issues I see, too; depending, of course, on your jurisdiction as usual. Does Amazon's license agreement allow for that? I don't think so, for what that's worth.

It would make sense if Amazon made a "Library Kindle". No 3G or WiFi on it. The librarian would be the only person who could load content onto it. Then you just load it with whatever books the patron wants.

It would be a similar process to the magnetic keys used by hotels. They have a stack of blank keys, and program it with your room number when you check in. A library could keep a stack of blank e-readers, and load the books you want to check out onto them. No need to track what e-reader has what book on it.

[JSWolf]

So people go to the library, borrow a Kiindle, decide they like it, get one, and then get pissed because the eBooks the library has are not compatible. Sounds like a really bad idea to me.

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So people go to the library, borrow a Kiindle, decide they like it, get one, and then get pissed because the eBooks the library has are not compatible. Sounds like a really bad idea to me.

LOL I'm sorry but I just had to laugh at that. It's so true!! I know I'd be pissed if that scenario happened to me.

Our Mississauga library, which just got eBooks in June 2010, is doing demos and instructional courses on what an ereader is and how to get books etc with Kobos.

[KingAl]

Originally Posted by snipenekkid

only flaw there is even if the library has a dozen Nooks they still need a dozen licenses for the books if they are all to have the same titles.

If you use the same credit card number (not sure how that would work for library purchases), you can put a nookbook on as many nooks as you want.

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So people go to the library, borrow a Kiindle, decide they like it, get one, and then get pissed because the eBooks the library has are not compatible. Sounds like a really bad idea to me.

hahahaha...freaking priceless!!

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by KingAl

If you use the same credit card number (not sure how that would work for library purchases), you can put a nookbook on as many nooks as you want.

ummmmm, no.