Amazon to launch Library Lending

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

Link?

Why do you need a link to something that's just so obvious.

Most people do not know that they can change the time they borrow an eBook. Most people do not know that they can return an ePub early.

Given that, let's take a 14 day borrow. That's a maximum of 26 borrows in a year. a 21 day borrow is 18 per year.

Do you really think it won't be years?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

The fee increase is because their use of OD has increased 10x what it was in 2006 (the fees have stayed the same even though usage has increased). OD has to pay Adobe every time a DRM license is created for a book, I don't know what fees get paid to MS for the DRM on WMA audiobooks.

If downloads increase then I would suppose fees would too.

I have seen in one library DRM free ePub. That would mean not using Adobe's DRM servers. But that's an aside.

But the problem we have is the way Overdrive increasing fees. They want to double them in 2012, 2013, & 2014. So here we have an 800% increase in three years. That's just wrong and I can see a lot of libraries dropping out and guess who loses? We do. Also, because Overdrive would not be getting the money they were before, will they then go an raise fees to those libraries still with contracts even more and thus even more libraries drop out aka CATCH-22.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Right now, most libraries are buying in ePub and/or PDF. SO in some cases the same eBook with have x copies in ePub and y copies in PDF. The ePub can only be borrowed x times at once and the PDF can be borrowed y times at once. There is no ePub can possibly be borrowed x+y times and the PDF could be borrowed up to x+y times. It would be totally unfair if Kindle users can check out a PDF and get an AZW in return.

That is exactly what is going to happen; epubs or pdfs checked out by Kindle owners will one way or another be replaced on the fly with azw files so yes, Kindle users will have a bigger license pool to draw from.
They will also be able to get the files sent directly to their readers without having to use a pc and read the book on multiple devices with their progress, bookmarks, highlights, and annotations automatically sync'ed for them.
Unfair?
Yes, but life is unfair and complaining isn't going to make any difference.
Amazon just raised the ante; the competition can either find a way to match or better the deal or they can concede the game and go home.
Anything else is just meaningless whining.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

That is exactly what is going to happen; epubs or pdfs checked out by Kindle owners will one way or another be replaced on the fly with azw files so yes, Kindle users will have a bigger license pool to draw from.
They will also be able to get the files sent directly to their readers without having to use a pc and read the book on multiple devices with their progress, bookmarks, highlights, and annotations automatically sync'ed for them.
Unfair?
Yes, but life is unfair and complaining isn't going to make any difference.
Amazon just raised the ante; the competition can either find a way to match or better the deal or they can concede the game and go home.
Anything else is just meaningless whining.

Yes, Kindle users may be able to get the library eBook sent directly, but they will still need a computer to browse the library.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SCION

With regard to increased wait times, perhaps the lending period should be reduced to 5 or 7 days. This 21 day thing is too long. I'm sure there are some who "return" their copies early; I do.

That could very well happen for new releases and popular titles. I can see libraries doing that to reduce wait times.

Other options could include restrictions being placed upon borrowers from reciprocating libraries; ie, shorter lending periods, not being allowed to checkout new releases and popular titles, etc.

[SensualPoet]

Exactly, fjtorres. Amazon has been working in the background trying to figure out how to participate in library lending AND improve the customer experience. This arrangement does exactly that.

For ePubs, you need to download an ASCM file, open that in Adobe Digital Editions Reader, plug in your ereader, and transfer that to the device.

For Kindle library books, you can sit on the beach, click on the library link from your Kindle, and it magically arrives on your device.

A reminder that the public library does NOTHING except create your library account based on your local residency rules and gives you a password. When you log in to the local library collection, your library is passing through your valid credentials and ALL transactions -- the catalog you see, the shelf, the holds, the cart -- it's all Overdrive. Your library has no ebooks on any server -- they all reside at Overdrive. Even the email notice that a title is ready ... that is sent by Overdrive provided you have supplied an email address for these alerts. The library merely selects the ebooks it wants to license, and the number of copies, and pays for the service ... and pays for you to use it.

If the fees increase to the local library, they can cut back on licenses, allow wait times to increase, or shuffle funds from underused library programs to those which actually serve its local rate payers. If that happens to be you reading library books, bravo! You are getting your taxpayer dollars worth.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

For Kindle library books, you can sit on the beach, click on the library link from your Kindle, and it magically arrives on your device.

We don't know that will be possible. If Amazon is serving up the eBooks, then I don't see any reason not to get them delivered wirelessly. But it could be entirely possible that a computer would be needed to go to the library. We won't know until it happens.

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

We don't know that will be possible. If Amazon is serving up the eBooks, then I don't see any reason not to get them delivered wirelessly. But it could be entirely possible that a computer would be needed to go to the library. We won't know until it happens.

Yes, we do know how this aspect works. It's in the press releases. Kindle was designed from the ground up to be connected. Overdrive will be delivering Kindle books directly to the Kindle over Amazon's 3G Whispernet or wifi Whispernet where available at no cost to the user. It's a huge plus for Kindle users and the reason Kobo, Nook and especially Sony users are left out in the cold.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Amazon has been working in the background trying to figure out how to participate in library lending AND improve the customer experience.

Why haven't Sony and the rest been doing this?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Yes, we do know how this aspect works. It's in the press releases. Kindle was designed from the ground up to be connected. Overdrive will be delivering Kindle books directly to the Kindle over Amazon's 3G Whispernet or wifi Whispernet where available at no cost to the user. It's a huge plus for Kindle users and the reason Kobo, Nook and especially Sony users are left out in the cold.

I think you are reading more into it than what was said. But, it sounds like deliver will be through whispernet... but that doesn't mean you can access the library via your Kindle.

At this point most of how it will work is speculation. Time will tell.

BOb

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

Why haven't Sony and the rest been doing this?

Sony has been sitting on the sidelines for about two years now; the only thing they have done is update to Pearl. Nook has been innovating: the Nook Color is an attempt to redefine the ereader and expand past novels. And Kobo has been innovating, turning itself into a device agnostic platform and adding social media aspects. It would not surprise me if they had a "deliver direct to the device" solution in preparation -- delivering "kepub" to Kobos and Kobo apps instead of ePubs. But, I'm speculating.

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think you are reading more into it than what was said. But, it sounds like deliver will be through whispernet... but that doesn't mean you can access the library via your Kindle.

At this point most of how it will work is speculation. Time will tell.

A user will be able to browse for titles on any desktop or mobile operating system, check out a title with a library card, and then select Kindle as the delivery destination. The borrowed title will then be able to be enjoyed using any Kindle device and all of Amazon’s free Kindle Reading Apps.

Source: http://overdriveblogs.com/library/20...s-and-schools/

With respect, that's not speculation ... that's pretty plain. The process is not "select Kindle as the format" ... but "select Kindle as the delivery destination".

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Sony has been sitting on the sidelines for about two years now; the only thing they have done is update to Pearl. Nook has been innovating: the Nook Color is an attempt to redefine the ereader and expand past novels. And Kobo has been innovating, turning itself into a device agnostic platform and adding social media aspects. It would not surprise me if they had a "deliver direct to the device" solution in preparation -- delivering "kepub" to Kobos and Kobo apps instead of ePubs. But, I'm speculating.

Sony has done more then just switch to a Pearl screen. They added the best touch and a very nice interface to take advantage of the touch.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Sony has done more then just switch to a Pearl screen. They added the best touch and a very nice interface to take advantage of the touch.

I agree... Sony's touch screen is very nice. Although, ever demo unit I have seen in stores has not worked.

BOb

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Sony has done more then just switch to a Pearl screen. They added the best touch and a very nice interface to take advantage of the touch.

Sorry, I thought it already the touch screen in the pre-x50 series models. I was focussing on the changes in the past two years which I thought was primarily the Pearl screen and tweaks to the user interface. My mistake.