Apr 20, 2011
Dear Amazon: Love the “Lending Library.” Now let me give my e-books to the local library.
One of the many bookcases at Baltimore's Book Thing, a free book exchange. Photo by Knile, cc at flickr.
Amazon announced today that, later this year, 11,000 libraries across the United States will be participating in the Kindle Lending Library, which will allow library patrons to borrow Kindle books.
Great idea, and long overdue.
But I want more. Or, if we’re getting technical about it, less.
I want to be able to donate my “used” Kindle editions to my local library. I’ve read most of them exactly one time. My wife and daughter could technically read them as well, using my login, but that’s as far as it goes.
With physical books, it’s simpler. Several times a year, I fill up the trunk of the Element with anything I’ve already read and won’t be holding onto for reference and take them to Baltimore’s Book Thing, an amazing and free book exchange where a sign near the exit encourages visitors to “Be Greedy” with their armloads of books.
And, yet, somehow the shelves are never empty. Because there’s an ongoing inbound supply of books.
Why not transition this model to e-books as well? I should be able to transfer my license to a public library. Why not? I give my paper books away all the time.
Apr 21, 2011 @ 15:14:20
I think that we should be able to transfer anything to someone else that we’ve already paid for, at least for them to use in the same capacity. As far as cost, it should be cheaper for the consumer since the authors don’t have to go through all of the technicalities of actually having a physical book manufactured.