That's useful, I guess... No wait time as the book is ordered from another library, no having to deal with a really old and broken down copy of the book, etc. My main issue with going to the library is that it involves going to the library though, and that I prefer to have my own copies of books anyway. So I find it unlikely that I will be utilizing this service, unless they include campus libraries as well, in which case I would probably end up checking it out from sheer boredom.
There is often a wait time for the books you want. Even though they're electronic, each library system only has so many "copies" to give out, and you have to wait on a hold list just like for physical books if they're popular. Some titles are always available, though. That said, you do not physically have to go to the library at any point (unless you don't have a library card and need to get one to use this service, but that's something else entirely).
It's good if you need a book for a school project, but you don't feel like buying it and you can't find a physical copy at your local library. That's how I would use it personally.
Again, as has been mentioned, the selection isn't brilliant. I'm not sure how much "school project" material you could find on there. But with Amazon entering the market and (presumably) driving up the popularity, perhaps the available materials will increase as well.
Taking a break from being Ella
Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books
20/04/2011 03:18:34 PM
- 1532 Views
Excellent news!
20/04/2011 06:58:09 PM
- 884 Views
Paper books will not die for quite some time I'm sure.
20/04/2011 07:44:39 PM
- 961 Views
I guess it depends on what you mean by "death."
21/04/2011 05:04:40 PM
- 1176 Views
Of course an online bookshop is going to sell more e-books than physical books.
21/04/2011 06:14:51 PM
- 897 Views
That's exactly right.
21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM
- 1185 Views
I'm talking about the "Amazon sold more e-books than physical books in 2010" argument.
21/04/2011 06:39:45 PM
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Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
20/04/2011 07:13:02 PM
- 957 Views
Also: Terrible news. Another nail in the coffin of physical books. *NM*
20/04/2011 07:13:32 PM
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Not so much. *NM*
20/04/2011 07:39:17 PM
- 409 Views
A bit too melodramatic? Another blow to the desirable dominance of physical books, then. *NM*
20/04/2011 10:24:20 PM
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No. I just don't think this spells the end of physical books at all.
21/04/2011 06:11:53 PM
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Assuming you're right, that will still wreck the business of physical books.
21/04/2011 06:47:45 PM
- 1171 Views
I take perverse pleasure in watching the decline of physical books.
21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
- 1208 Views

You are right, of course. But all the rationalizing in the world doesn't make me happy about it.
21/04/2011 05:57:12 PM
- 938 Views
Re: Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
20/04/2011 07:41:00 PM
- 963 Views
I'm not sure I understand how this works...
20/04/2011 07:30:51 PM
- 1048 Views
Re: I'm not sure I understand how this works...
20/04/2011 07:43:19 PM
- 948 Views
You download them from the Internet using your library card as an ID. *NM*
21/04/2011 01:07:54 AM
- 552 Views
What Ghavrel said, but...
21/04/2011 03:14:07 AM
- 1103 Views
Obviously none of you have used Overdrive. It's horrifically bad.
21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
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Never heard of it. *NM*
21/04/2011 01:08:00 AM
- 433 Views
It's an already existing library ebook service, and it's terrible. *NM*
21/04/2011 02:19:25 AM
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What makes it terrible? *NM*
21/04/2011 02:20:12 AM
- 395 Views
The selection is awful, the interface is awkward, and it requires bizarre DRM installations.
21/04/2011 02:40:55 AM
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To be fair, Overdrive's problems are software issues, and not inherent to the business model.
21/04/2011 05:23:54 PM
- 1079 Views
I definitely agree; I'm just irritated they're sticking with Overdrive. Ebook libraries make sense. *NM*
21/04/2011 07:14:38 PM
- 445 Views
Will a borrowed Kindle book have "fuck" underlined when it appears?
22/04/2011 01:59:39 AM
- 952 Views