It's been the #1 reason cited by many people as to why they bought an ereader other than a Kindle and one of the most asked for features by those who do have a Kindle for quite some time: the ability to check out books from the library. Actually, the original Kindle could quite easily be used to check out books from the library (and to buy books from non-Kindle sources that sold Mobi books), but you "fix" the file a bit so that the Kindle would recognize the PID (similar to the fixes people use today to correct the title and author using Calibre). The DRM wasn't broken and the lending period was respected, so, yes, the original Kindle had the ability to support Library Lending except for one, tiny detail: Amazon/Mobipocket forced Overdrive to modify their software so that the Kindle's PID could not be entered.
Now, that they are firmly established and prices have come down on the hardware, they have no doubt realized that many of their customers have been buying two ereaders: one for Kindle books and one for library use. That second reader then opened up the customer to price shop their ebook purchases (although not on Agency titles). With Library Lending on your Kindle, the need for a second reader vanishes for many Kindle customers, which should also neatly corral their ebook purchases into the Amazon kingdom.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Amazon will support lending: it's an important consideration for those who have to choose which one reader to purchase for their family and it's a big consideration for those with kids (who are big users of both public and school libraries). It will provide a foundation for textbook lending, which is already supported by the nook, as well. What it won't do, though, is provide access to large numbers of books that you can read without paying (other than the property taxes you pay to support your library, already), as the selection for most libraries is very, very limited. Those who have complained of poor book choice on Kindle are comparing the selection to paper books; other ebookstores have more limited selections (although they are rapidly expanding) and libraries the most limited yet (many have spent most of their digital budgets on audiobooks in past years and some still do). That looked like it was starting to change (some libraries are actively adding books at a fast pace, rather than adding physical locations, but one I belong to hasn't added any new ebooks in months), but the modification of lending terms by publishers such HarperCollins will put an end to that, if their terms become the norm. No library will be able to afford more than a few very popular ebooks, if they have to repurchase ever 26 lends (theoretically a year, but that's only if no one ever returns one early, which many do with EPUB and ADE). Any book that is destined for many hundreds of lends will instead get most of their purchases on paper (as the publishers want).
I've included
the announcement from Amazon, but have one question: if they can keep my location and annotations between a library lend and a purchase of the same book from Amazon, why can't they do so when I am reading a sample from Amazon and decide to purchase the book? They don't even have to track annotations (since they disabled those in samples), but if they could just keep my reading location when I purchase, so you don't have to do the location dance to figure out where to resume reading; it's a trivial exercise in programming for samples, yet they add this feature for a much more complicated transaction? Obviously, they are going to be adding a new format to Overdrive (Kindle) rather than just supporting Mobi, so this means that existing books your library has in the Mobi format will probably still be off limits (as are the ones they have in EPUB); unless they work out some type of special deal to grandfather in past purchases (in one or both formats), which would take cooperation from the publishers, the number of Kindle books you'll be able to borrow from your local library will initially be zero (I do see one other option: they could give libraries access to the entire Amazon catalog and just let them set a limit on purchases ... rather than the librarian having to make decisions on what to purchase and lend out, their customers would do so by requesting a book). Also, note that "later this year" could be December 31 and still be factual, so I foresee this as a big feature announcement around the Christmas shopping season (which is better than B&N, who announced gifting of books last year and still don't have that feature implemented).
Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books
Customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 local libraries to read on Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
Whispersyncing of notes, highlights and last page read to work for Kindle library books
SEATTLE, Apr 20, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
(NASDAQ: AMZN)-- Amazon today announced Kindle Library Lending, a new feature launching later this year that will allow Kindle customers to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 libraries in the United States. Kindle Library Lending will be available for all generations of Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps.
"We're excited that millions of Kindle customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from their local libraries," said Jay Marine, Director, Amazon Kindle. "Customers tell us they love Kindle for its Pearl e-ink display that is easy to read even in bright sunlight, up to a month of battery life, and Whispersync technology that synchronizes notes, highlights and last page read between their Kindle and free Kindle apps."
Customers will be able to check out a Kindle book from their local library and start reading on any Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone. If a Kindle book is checked out again or that book is purchased from Amazon, all of a customer's annotations and bookmarks will be preserved.
"We're doing a little something extra here," Marine continued. "Normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no. But we're extending our Whispersync technology so that you can highlight and add margin notes to Kindle books you check out from your local library. Your notes will not show up when the next patron checks out the book. But if you check out the book again, or subsequently buy it, your notes will be there just as you left them, perfectly Whispersynced."
With Kindle Library Lending, customers can take advantage of all of the unique features of Kindle and Kindle books, including:
- Paper-like Pearl electronic-ink display
- No glare even in bright sunlight
- Lighter than a paperback - weighs just 8.5 ounces and holds up to 3,500 books
- Up to one month of battery life with wireless off
- Read everywhere with free Kindle apps for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry and Windows Phone
- Whispersync technology wirelessly sync your books, notes, highlights, and last page read across Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
- Real Page Numbers - easily reference passages with page numbers that correspond to actual print editions
Amazon is working with OverDrive, the leading provider of digital content solutions for over 11,000 public and educational libraries in the United States, to bring a seamless library borrowing experience to Kindle customers. "We are excited to be working with Amazon to offer Kindle Library Lending to the millions of customers who read on Kindle and Kindle apps," said Steve Potash, CEO, OverDrive. "We hear librarians and patrons rave about Kindle, so we are thrilled that we can be part of bringing library books to the unparalleled experience of reading on Kindle."
Kindle Library Lending will be available later this year for Kindle and free Kindle app users. To learn more about Kindle go to www.amazon.com/kindle.
Forbidden ($4.24 Kindle), by Samantha Sommersby, the first in her The Sacrifice series, is today's free book from AllRomanceeBooks. This book has been a free selection on Amazon and B&N in the past, so some of you may have it already.
