Kindle Lending Library to end Jan 4, 2021

[SeaBookGuy]

Didn't see a thread on this, so thought I would post it as a piece of news based upon an email I received a few weeks ago.

As far as I could tell, it was a little known, little used benefit for Amazon Prime members. Was useful for me in trying out new historical fiction series to save a few bucks here and there. From my understanding of the message, any book taken out during the first few days of January will automatically expire after 60 days; previously, books would never expire, rather that you could not take out the next book until you returned that one. I'm assuming that this is meant to steer towards Kindle Unlimited, as many of these titles were a subset of that availability.

[GoSharks]

@SeaBookGuy.... Thanks for the update. I actually used the Lending Library and will be sad to see its demise as it meant 12 free reads a year. Bah, humbug!

[tomsem]

This benefit is separate from Prime: it was specific to people who owned a Kindle (or I think a Fire tablet).

https://the-digital-reader.com/2020/...-on-4-january/

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by tomsem

This benefit is separate from Prime: it was specific to people who owned a Kindle (or I think a Fire tablet).

https://the-digital-reader.com/2020/...-on-4-january/

I actually used this a few times... when I remembered it. I might have to try to find something for "old times sake."

[DrNefario]

That was one of the key benefits of Prime, to me. I'm resting my subscription at the moment, and this news doesn't encourage me to rejoin.

[Quoth]

Though compared with UK & Ireland actual libraries it cheats the content providers. As do many other aspects of Amazon.

[Ripplinger]

When I went to see if there's a free book this month that I'd read, I was offered 3 months free. I wonder if that promotion will still be available through January 4th, as I'm very tempted to sign up for it. There's not enough of the authors I buy that are free on Kindle Unlimited, so for me I don't think it's worth it after the free period is up. But who knows, if I find a few new authors, it might be worth it then for me.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Though compared with UK & Ireland actual libraries it cheats the content providers. As do many other aspects of Amazon.

On top of my wishlist is that people would stop comparing real books with virtual books and real libraries with virtual libraries. They’re not the same thing. Moreover, “cheats” is a loaded term, implying bad faith or outright dishonesty. Something along the lines of, “provides inadequate compensation” and then saying why would be an improvement.

[mitford13]

I would guess the Venn diagram of Prime members who *also* read on a Kindle device *and* were even aware that KOLL existed any more was dwindlingly small and not worth the extra tracking. And to those of us who are aware, the fact that I pay for Prime and own Kindle readers yet can’t read a KOLL title on my preferred reader iPad is an irritant. The newer Prime Reading, while more limited, makes more sense to me since it’s available to all Prime members.

But I’m fairly certain authors do/did get compensated for KOLL loans.

[leebase]

Originally Posted by issybird

On top of my wishlist is that people would stop comparing real books with virtual books and real libraries with virtual libraries. They’re not the same thing. Moreover, “cheats” is a loaded term, implying bad faith or outright dishonesty. Something along the lines of, “provides inadequate compensation” and then saying why would be an improvement.

It might also be worth mentioning that most of these books (judged by me in a very unscientific method of "all the books I looked at", which admittedly isn't many)

....uh, where was I?

Oh yes, the authors in this lending library are Amazon's own authors. The exposure and opportunity to gain readers is the real payment. Unlike, say, a Steven King who would lose money from anyone reading from the Kindle lending library...IF...Amazon didn't pay him anything.

I have enjoyed many of the Amazon authors...but I consider "in general" that they are not really at the level of my favorite authors from traditional publishing houses.

[septentrion]

This service has been discontinued in France for months now.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

That was one of the key benefits of Prime, to me. I'm resting my subscription at the moment, and this news doesn't encourage me to rejoin.

Again, this was and is not a Prime benefit: it is/was for people who own a Kindle or Fire.

Prime includes Prime Reading, which is not tied to Amazon devices, as well as First Reads (free book every month). Prime Reading is not as extensive as KOLL was, but you can borrow as many items as you like (one at a time I think).

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Again, this was and is not a Prime benefit: it is/was for people who own a Kindle or Fire.

Prime includes Prime Reading, which is not tied to Amazon devices, as well as First Reads (free book every month). Prime Reading is not as extensive as KOLL was, but you can borrow as many items as you like (one at a time I think).

It is a Prime benefit in the sense that the books are only available to Prime members! It is not as you imply available to all Kindle or Fire owners without Prime memberships.

I was under the impression that KLL authors received some sort of modest compensation?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I was under the impression that KLL authors received some sort of modest compensation?

From what I remember reading, I thought it was pretty much the same as a KU book payment based on pages read.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

It is a Prime benefit in the sense that the books are only available to Prime members! It is not as you imply available to all Kindle or Fire owners without Prime memberships.

I'm pretty sure the Kindle Lending Library existed before Prime. It was (is for a couple more weeks) a bonus attached to owning one of the Kindle E-Ink devices. I don't even think the Lending Library was ever available for the Fire tablets or any tablet or smartphone using the Kindle App.

I'm open to correction on this, however.

EDIT: It looks like the Kindle Owner's Lending Library is already gone. I went to the Store on my Kindle Voyage, hit the Menu and there was still an option for the Kindle Lending Library. I went there, found nothing but Unlimited books listed (my wife subscribed to that and forgot she done so and we had it (unused, except for one book) since April, now due to expire on December 21st). When I went back to the Store Front and Menu, the entry for Kindle Lending Library was gone. I tried to find it on my Kindle 3, and it's gone there too. So, it looks like those with (at least those with Prime) have already lost access to it.

EDIT 2: I found it on the Kindle 3. It just shows Kindle Unlimited because (I'm guessing) these also include titles in the Kindle Lending Library.