West Vancouver library adds Kindles

[TomF]

"The West Vancouver Memorial Library is giving people an innovative new way to read a book.

As of July 12, library cardholders have been able to borrow a Kindle."


Full story: http://www.nsnews.com/news/library+a...987/story.html

[Zyzomys]

The article states that their Kindles come preloaded with fifty books but does not discuss adding new books. I wonder how that is going to work when library patrons are looking to read something a little more current.

[abookreader]

Our local Senior Center loans out Kindles and it is an extremely popular program. I've seen the pamphlet they hand out and their is a suggestion that if it is possible you return the Kindle along with a small donation and a suggestion of what book you'd like purchased on the account next - but they don't require it.

I think the program was originally set up with a grant from a local foundation. I find it interesting because while our library has Overdrive the books 1. Generally cost more than Amazon/Barnes and Noble etc and 2. Have limited availability thanks to such wonderful Publishers such as Macmillan and Simon and Schuster withholding content.

After the announcement last night I was wondering if they'd attempt to add some new WiFi only Kindles on at the cheaper prices. There's no need for 3G since the devices mostly remain unregistered.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by TomF

"The West Vancouver Memorial Library is giving people an innovative new way to read a book.

As of July 12, library cardholders have been able to borrow a Kindle."


Full story: http://www.nsnews.com/news/library+a...987/story.html

for those of us living in the PAC NW it is always nice to specify Vancouver WA or Vancouver BC. it is the BC one if anyone is interested

[Zyzomys]

All those stories in the news concerning the "other" Washington must drive you crazy.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by Zyzomys

All those stories in the news concerning the "other" Washington must drive you crazy.

you can only imagine! I wish they would change the state name!

[corona]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

for those of us living in the PAC NW it is always nice to specify Vancouver WA or Vancouver BC. it is the BC one if anyone is interested

Actually, West Vancouver is an entirely independent municipality from either of those other Vancouvers. There's even a North Vancouver. West Van is, or was until recently, also the wealthiest city in Canada.

Oh, and it would be nice if the B.C. (Canada) libraries would get some more ebooks to lend out! There seems to be far more demand than supply.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by corona

Actually, West Vancouver is an entirely independent municipality from either of those other Vancouvers. There's even a North Vancouver. West Van is, or was until recently, also the wealthiest city in Canada.

Oh, and it would be nice if the B.C. (Canada) libraries would get some more ebooks to lend out! There seems to be far more demand than supply.

my Vancouver experiences are mostly limited to (numerous) horse shows at the PNE and driving through to Whistler. so is West Vancouver kind of west of the Lions Gate Bridge?

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

so is West Vancouver kind of west of the Lions Gate Bridge?

Both west and north of the bridge. You cross it to get there. It's actually further north than most parts of North Van.

Anyway, I think it's great that they're having the Kindles. There's apparently a huge senior population there, and anything that makes books more accessible to people with vision/hearing difficulties is well worth it, in my opinion. Especially if some of them end up leaving some nice bequests to the library.

If it proves successful, I hope they expand the program. Should be easier to argue the funding now that the prices have dropped.

[corona]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

It's actually further north than most parts of North Van.

And North Van is east of the Lion's Gate Bridge (and farther south than most of West Van). You're lucky you've just got the one Vancouver down there in the USA. Even if everybody confuses it with the other Vancouver.