Amazon to launch Library Lending

[ProfCrash]

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.

I know that my library has a list of books that they want to buy. I think you donate the money to the library and the library buys the book. No idea if they have ebooks on that list.

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

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

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Unless it's not.

BOb

Unless it's not switched on? If you've turned off 3G/WiFi then of course it won't work ... the title will expire on the expiration date. Or if you are on some mountain somewhere for an extended period of time where there is no 3G/WiFi service? You may not have access to a USB cable, computer and Internet connection either.

One cornerstone of the Kindle platform is that it is always connected; that's why I said there's no reason to believe early returns can't be implemented via this new Kindle / Overdrive version.

[SensualPoet]

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.

This is complicated: by allowing patrons to buy ebooks from Overdrive on behalf of the library system and "gift" the purchase to it, librarians lose control of managing the content available in their system. Plus, you'd probably not like the Overdrive prices. And, some people will expect tax receipts and then you need the whole extra layer of managing that and the payment system.

But you can contact your library directly and simply give them a donation.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ApK

Depends on the library's site. I just tried the Free Library of Philadelphia's mobile ebook site (just to browse the collection) from my 3g Kindle and was actually rather amazed at how well it worked. If more libraries get mobile-optimized sites like that when Kindle books are offered, library lending on a Kindle will be best-in-show.

Not really. The process works like this in a lot of cases...

You browse, find what you want, put it on hold, wait for the email to tell you it's ready, then you go get it. So you need to be watching your email to get the message that the eBook is available.

And another issue with Overdrive is if you request an eBook and the library gets it, there is a very good chance others will see it first and get to have it/reserve it so when you get around to seeing it, you have to get in line.

This is not a joke. This is how it is at the moment and when Kindlers get on board, it's going to be worse as the lines will be longer and the chances of getting a new eBook in a reasonable time will drop considerably.

The Philly Free Library has 18 copies of Water for Elephants and they are all out. There are 100 people in the waiting list. The default check out time is 21 days. So for those at the end of the line, it's almost 120 days (about 4 months) before they can get it. And I'm guessing that the wait time was probably worse at some earlier point before I looked at this listing.

I'm not saying Kindlers should not have access. I'm saying that when they do, goodbye 4 months and expect at least 1 year.

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.

Right now you cannot be the first on an eBook you've request and the library gets for you. I don't see being first one one you buy. I think Overdrive would have to revamp the system to allow the library to reserve for users.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Ah, the nostalgia I feel from when Sony had this ability years ago.

Have fun, my Kindle friends.

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

Donnageddon

* written in jest, the kindle is a fine bit of kit. My great-grandma loves hers, almost as much as her bloomers.

But you can have more fun talking off bloomers then you can talking off a Kindle.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I know that my library has a list of books that they want to buy. I think you donate the money to the library and the library buys the book. No idea if they have ebooks on that list.

If you donate money, you can specify that the money is to be used for eBooks.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

My kindle doesn't have an annoying keyboard on it.

BOb

Actually, the virtual keyboard on the x50 line works quite nicely without the need to make the x50 bigger. I cannot say if the Kindle keyboard is annoying or not. I've not used one enough to make a valid decision.

[JSWolf]

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).

So why is it that Overdrive and/or Adobe is/are not getting the info about early returns out there to the public so the wait times can decrease faster?

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.

Early returns were not available for Mobipocket eBooks. But that doesn't mean that Amazon cannot implement that. You return it early on the Kindle and the eBook get deleted from the Kindle and from the users account and back into the pool it goes. That would work well.

I have returned a book once the day after I got it because another was available that I wanted more and my check outs was full.

[JSWolf]

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?

Do you really expect people to be able to read all the eBooks in 3 or 4 days? I think not. I do think 14 days tops should be it. Forget the 21 days.

Originally Posted by 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.

That's because people know how to return a paper book when they are done. Most do not know that using ADE they can return them early. So they finish reading and whatever time is left is wasted. So if say someone finishes a book in 14 days and has it for 21 days, that's an entire week wasted.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do you really expect people to be able to read all the eBooks in 3 or 4 days? I think not. I do think 14 days tops should be it. Forget the 21 days.



That's because people know how to return a paper book when they are done. Most do not know that using ADE they can return them early. So they finish reading and whatever time is left is wasted. So if say someone finishes a book in 14 days and has it for 21 days, that's an entire week wasted.

Then the library should edjumacte them about this. Explain that if everyone returns their ebooks when they are done with them, wait times will be reduced, blah blah blah.

BTW: All the concern about increased wait times is a red herring anyway. Most kindle users will continue buying ebooks if that is what they are doing. Kindle users didn't like waiting for a book to come in a few days when ordered from amazon... they didn't like having to go out in the cold (or hot) weather to visit a book store... do you really think the majority of them will want to wait 1-6 months to read a book. Hell no! they will just buy the thing and read it.


BOb

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Then the library should edjumacte them about this. Explain that if everyone returns their ebooks when they are done with them, wait times will be reduced, blah blah blah.

BTW: All the concern about increased wait times is a red herring anyway. Most kindle users will continue buying ebooks if that is what they are doing. Kindle users didn't like waiting for a book to come in a few days when ordered from amazon... they didn't like having to go out in the cold (or hot) weather to visit a book store... do you really think the majority of them will want to wait 1-6 months to read a book. Hell no! they will just buy the thing and read it.


BOb

I have to disagree. You'd be surprised how long people will wait for something that is free. But I 100% agree that Overdrive should put info up at every library about early returns so more people will know how to return early.

[ProfCrash]

Well, not all Kindle owners are that impulsive. There are books I would happily wait for because I am interested but not interested enough to spend the money on them.

And then there are the folks who bought Nooks and Sonys because it was difficult, for most impossible based on their knowledge levels, to borrow books from the library. Now that people do not have to worr about that, there will be a new type of person buying a Kindle, the active library goer.

The longer wait times argument is likely to come true but I have a feeling that people are using it to hide behind the fact that they would prefer that Kindle books not be available at the library because it means that more people are going to buy Kindles and that bothers them.

[copyrite]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have to disagree. You'd be surprised how long people will wait for something that is free. But I 100% agree that Overdrive should put info up at every library about early returns so more people will know how to return early.

I dunno, that One Click button is evil I tell ya!

[jocampo]

I'm a Kindle user and even when I'm happy with the new or future Kindle's lending feature, I'm not planning to make use of it. I actually prefer to buy my books instead of lending. Last time I visited a public library was in my country, not USA and I was not working; I was 13 years old.

This is how I check a nice book before actually buying it online, my options:

A trip to B&N
Drink a coffee with wife there, while she enjoys magazines :-) ... and I take a quick look on the book. If I like it, I buy it from Amazon. Yeah, I know, really ironic!

Download a sample
Use the "sample" option and read it on my Kindle

Amazon reviews
This is my favorite, and 90% of the time people are right (talking about computer books) So if I like the topic and I see lot of nice reviews, will be mine in a single click ;-)

Of course, it's just my opinion but I doubt that a big majority of Amazon customers will stop buying just for reading free. With gas prices going up, a trip to a Public Library will cost you more than buying the 5 or 10 dollars book online. I believe people will continue buying and using the new lending feature sporadically or if there is a Public Library really close to home.

[ProfCrash]

I used the library a lot when I was unemployed. I walked too and from the library three or four times a week. It gave me something to do, got me some exercise, and let me read new material without spending money.

I don't use the library right now but I am going to check it out. I think my Mom and Dad will end up using it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by copyrite

I dunno, that One Click button is evil I tell ya!

It's not evil enough to get me to impulse buy something I didn't want to buy.