Amazon to launch Library Lending

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by Jean

According to Library Journal (http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/hom...nding.html.csp) library's won't need to purchase additional ebooks - ebooks they already own will be available for kindle download.

Quote:
The lending will be available for all generations of the Kindle as well as Kindle reading apps, and it will integrate with all the existing ebook catalogs in the United States powered by OverDrive. In other words, the libraries-including schools, colleges and public libraries-will not have to add a new format, and the ebooks now available on the OverDrive sites will be immediately integrated with the Kindle, Dan Stasiewski, a marketing associate with OverDrive, told LJ.

"There will be no additional cost to acquire new files to make them compatible," David Burleigh, OverDrive's director of marketing, told LJ.

Great! This is sounding better and better

[murraypaul]

Interest comment on one of the linked articles:

I'll be curious to see if Overdrive/Kindle ebooks will have a message that pops up right before it is about to expire that says, "Your ebook is about to expire - click here to purchase a copy." Talk about direct-marketing to your target audience.

Amazon aren't stupid
Even cleverer would be: "Your library doesn't have a copy of the next book in this series, but you can buy it from us by clicking here."

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Interest comment on one of the linked articles:


Amazon aren't stupid
Even cleverer would be: "Your library doesn't have a copy of the next book in this series, but you can buy it from us by clicking here."

That will never happen. You know eBook series have to remain screwed up.

[Fbone]

This is great news. However, library lending is still controlled by the publishers. I hope this announcement doesn't deter them from adding their titles to Overdrive. We still have two major publishers missing from the system. Plus one with restrictions.

[pilotbob]

Thanks Jean. That is one item removed from the naysayers list of "yea buts".

BOb

[Asawi]

I think the term "Kindle-books" just refers to books that can be read on a Kindle to make things easy to get for "the general public" that doesn't know about different eBook formats. I'm guessing it will be the existing ePub books going through a process similar to what the MR community Kindle-owners already use.

(Now, if Amazon just could present a nicer piece of hardware my interest to get one would be slightly raised. I'm guessing come fall we'll see thing happening on that front as well, but that's another topic.)

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Asawi

I think the term "Kindle-books" just refers to books that can be read on a Kindle to make things easy to get for "the general public" that doesn't know about different eBook formats. I'm guessing it will be the existing ePub books going through a process similar to what the MR community Kindle-owners already use.

It will have to be something different for the whyspersync to work. Since Amazon is involved in the discussion I would suspect that they will be authentic Amazon formatted ebooks.

I have been known to be wrong before but I would be stunned to find out that DRM stripping and conversion was in play here. That would violate the terms of agreement with ADE.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Asawi

I think the term "Kindle-books" just refers to books that can be read on a Kindle to make things easy to get for "the general public" that doesn't know about different eBook formats. I'm guessing it will be the existing ePub books going through a process similar to what the MR community Kindle-owners already use.

Given:
a) The licensing concerns that would raise
b) The fact that Amazon have said that these books will work with Whispersync in the same way as normal purchased books
That seems exceedingly unlikely.
Overdrive will provide (or make a gateway for Amazon to provide) Kindle versions of the books.

[SyJ]

Originally Posted by Fbone

This is great news. However, library lending is still controlled by the publishers. I hope this announcement doesn't deter them from adding their titles to Overdrive. We still have two major publishers missing from the system. Plus one with restrictions.

This is exactly my worry. With Amazon finally getting with the idea of library lending...I can see all the publishers now pulling support for all library ebooks.

Publishers, as we all know, are very suspicious of how ebooks are changing their selling model...and tend to react stupidly. I really can see them not allowing libraries to have any ebooks or making it so cost prohibitive that libraries can't afford to offer them.

I guess it was nice while it lasted....but Amazon getting on board with library lending is not going to be a good thing in the long run....for anyone.

[elemenoP]

Yay Jean, that's great news!

[1611mac]

Originally Posted by Jean

According to Library Journal (http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/hom...nding.html.csp)

In an unusual feature for library lending, patrons will be able to make margin notes and highlight passages in books that they have borrowed on the Kindle, using the device's Whispersync technology.

Does this mean Whispersync will also finally work on non-purchased (public domain) books between my Mac Desktop and my iPad Kindle apps?

The current one does not. the Mac mbp file does not work on the iPad although the iPad mbp file works on both.

[Loosheesh]

Some more information, from the Overdrive Blogs:

Kindle Library Lending and Overdrive:

- what it means for libraries and schools

- what it means for publishers

[DiapDealer]

I have been known to be wrong before but I would be stunned to find out that DRM stripping and conversion was in play here. That would violate the terms of agreement with ADE.

You're right. Overdrive is simply going to serve up a fresh-baked azw(mobi), hot out of Amazon's time-sensitive DRM oven.

Epub for you... mobi for you. Easy, peasy.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by 1611mac

Does this mean Whispersync will also finally work on non-purchased (public domain) books between my Mac Desktop and my iPad Kindle apps?

The current one does not. the Mac mbp file does not work on the iPad although the iPad mbp file works on both.

I doubt it.

BOb

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by abookreader

Holy Smokes!!!!!!

.............runs off to check the thermometer in HELL!!!!!!

ROFLU

Thanks, I noticed it was at about -4 this morning. )