Though I imagine with so many lazy people (like me) now having access to the library books, they'll all get taken out really quickly. Maybe that'll prompt libraries to increase their stock though...
On the one hand, you're right, there would probably be more total rentals due to the convenience factor. On the other hand, there will be no more problems with people forgetting to return the book, or people losing the book and making the library have to order another copy, etc. As soon as the rental period is up, the book will be instantly deactivated from the person's device, and will be available for checkout once more.
It's obviously hard to say for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if we actually saw a DECREASE in library book wait times.
Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books
- 20/04/2011 03:18:34 PM
1531 Views
Excellent news!
- 20/04/2011 06:58:09 PM
883 Views
Paper books will not die for quite some time I'm sure.
- 20/04/2011 07:44:39 PM
960 Views
I guess it depends on what you mean by "death."
- 21/04/2011 05:04:40 PM
1175 Views
Of course an online bookshop is going to sell more e-books than physical books.
- 21/04/2011 06:14:51 PM
895 Views
That's exactly right.
- 21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM
1182 Views
I'm talking about the "Amazon sold more e-books than physical books in 2010" argument.
- 21/04/2011 06:39:45 PM
1027 Views
Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
- 20/04/2011 07:13:02 PM
955 Views
Also: Terrible news. Another nail in the coffin of physical books. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 07:13:32 PM
526 Views
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
421 Views
No. I just don't think this spells the end of physical books at all.
- 21/04/2011 06:11:53 PM
870 Views
Assuming you're right, that will still wreck the business of physical books.
- 21/04/2011 06:47:45 PM
1168 Views
I take perverse pleasure in watching the decline of physical books. 
- 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
1207 Views
- 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
1207 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
936 Views
Re: Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
- 20/04/2011 07:41:00 PM
962 Views
I'm not sure I understand how this works...
- 20/04/2011 07:30:51 PM
1047 Views
Re: I'm not sure I understand how this works...
- 20/04/2011 07:43:19 PM
946 Views
You download them from the Internet using your library card as an ID. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 01:07:54 AM
551 Views
What Ghavrel said, but...
- 21/04/2011 03:14:07 AM
1102 Views
That's pretty cool then
- 21/04/2011 06:25:03 AM
899 Views
Yes and no.
- 21/04/2011 05:10:24 PM
1198 Views
Obviously none of you have used Overdrive. It's horrifically bad.
- 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
920 Views
- 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
920 Views
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
419 Views
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
955 Views
To be fair, Overdrive's problems are software issues, and not inherent to the business model.
- 21/04/2011 05:23:54 PM
1077 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
444 Views
Will a borrowed Kindle book have "fuck" underlined when it appears?
- 22/04/2011 01:59:39 AM
951 Views