Amazon to launch Library Lending

[copyrite]

We have three weeks for hard back books, that can be extended to six.

I'm not too thrilled with the OverDrive system. I thought I'd see what was available and how long it took to get a book when I was Nook vs Kindle shopping. It took six months for two of the books I wanted to become available. It's never taken near that long when I've put hard copy books on hold.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Write me when you finally get rid of the annoying keyboard.

Why we should get rid of the keyboard ... in order to get touch screen? I actually don't mind the physical keyboard, but if removing it or adding a touch screen means $100.00 or $200.00 more, for the same device, thanks but no thanks ...

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by Ron.

I don't see why the lending times need to be 14 or 21 days, 3 to 4 days seems more reasonable a week tops. How long does it take to read a book?

It depends of the type of book, the person, and his reading skills.

I read mostly computer books and those are impossible, well let's say extremely difficult to read (and fully understand) in 3 days.

[elemenoP]

Originally Posted by jocampo

It depends of the type of book, the person, and his reading skills.

Not to mention how much time the person has for reading. And also how many of the books on hold came in at the same time.

eP

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Not to mention how much time the person has for reading. And also how many of the books on hold came in at the same time.

eP

True.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by Ron.

I don't see why the lending times need to be 14 or 21 days, 3 to 4 days seems more reasonable a week tops. How long does it take to read a book?

I respectfully disagree. Not everybody can spend hours a day reading a book, there are other things in life. I usually checkout with 14 days (I get the choice of up to 21), and return early whenever possible.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by Jim Lester

BTW, I would be extremely surprised if the Kindle had early return (since the technology behind that is patented by Adobe).

Patents aside, I believe Mobipocket DRM never had the return early feature, and I don't think Amazon has changed anything about the way it works in the Kindle platform. The 'if it isn't broke' principle would suggest they not change it now, and it sounds like doing so would invite a legal challenge.

That said, it annoys me that you can't go to your Overdrive bookshelf and return early there, and that Overdrive's iOS app doesn't let you do it either (even though they license RMSDK). So, the world is not perfect...

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by afv011

I respectfully disagree. Not everybody can spend hours a day reading a book, there are other things in life. I usually checkout with 14 days (I get the choice of up to 21), and return early whenever possible.

+1

Depending what I'm checking out, I may choose as little as 7 or as many as 21 days. I once had 4 holds come in at the same time (a lot of people must have canceled some holds on two of them or they added copies), and I already had a book checked out. I'm pretty good about remembering to return books early, so if I finish early I do that, but I don't want to cut myself short either.

[Barty]

The waiting time is undoubtedly exacerbated by people not knowing how to return their books when they're done reading; instead they just leave the book until it expires.

Idiotically, overdrive's web interface dies not allow you to return books.

[Ron.]

Fair enough, everyone's different I spend two days on a book, maybe three if it's war & peace or something like that.

[SensualPoet]

Toronto Public Library allows early return of ePubs but you need to select the title from the Adobe Digital Editions ereader desktop app. TPL offers 7, 14 and 21 loan periods; you set a default in your settings area. The nice thing is you can change that period individually at checkout (I extended to 21 days when a book became available while I was on holiday).

I don't see why this can't be implemented on the Kindle / Overdrive version since the Kindle is always connected via Whispersync.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by Barty

Idiotically, overdrive's web interface dies not allow you to return books.

I agree that it would be easier, but I think if it did allow returns, it would require the download of another "ticket" to sync the return status with ADE. I could be wrong about that, of course.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Toronto Public Library allows early return of ePubs but you need to select the title from the Adobe Digital Editions ereader desktop app. TPL offers 7, 14 and 21 loan periods; you set a default in your settings area. The nice thing is you can change that period individually at checkout (I extended to 21 days when a book became available while I was on holiday).

I don't see why this can't be implemented on the Kindle / Overdrive version since the Kindle is always connected via Whispersync.

Unless it's not.

BOb

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Does this mean libraries will have to buy books in Kindle format too? Their budgets are already strained.

I wonder if we'll be able to buy books as gifts for our local library. If so, and especially if I can be the first to instantly 'check it out', I'd gladly buy books for them, since I read most of them once and never read them again anyhow. Anything that I actually plan to read multiple times I would buy in paper anyhow.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by twowheels

I wonder if we'll be able to buy books as gifts for our local library. If so, and especially if I can be the first to instantly 'check it out', I'd gladly buy books for them, since I read most of them once and never read them again anyhow. Anything that I actually plan to read multiple times I would buy in paper anyhow.

Nice idea. Although, I think a library pays a different price for an ebook than the retail price. Or don't they? Also, you would be buying a single copy.

BOb