Amazon will be teaming up with OverDrive, a leading provider of digital content for thousands of libraries across the country, to enable a borrowing system analogous to that available with Barnes & Noble's Nook. As far as I know, there are no details yet on exactly when this feature will be ready, but I expect it will be well in advance of the holiday season (to help persuade yours truly, among others, to buy one).
So! This leads me to a two-part Prithee, Inform Me:
1. If you own a Nook, how often do you use the library lending feature? Do you enjoy it?
2. Does Amazon's announcement impact your desire to own a Kindle in any significant way? If you don't yet own an e-reader (but would like one), would this cause you to purchase a Kindle over a Nook?
I realize the devices differ in a number of ways apart from the question of lendability (I've played with a lot of e-readers for "work"), but I think the question is interesting and useful regardless, especially as libraries scramble to figure out what role they'll play in the publishing world of tomorrow.
Thoughts? Theories? Tholiloquies?
I only wish ... My library system considers the Gutenberg project it's e-book lending service. But my sister-in-law bought the NOOKcolor expressly because her library lends books that way, and she loves it. I have the NOOKcolor and love it even if I can't borrow books from the library with it. I can share with others, though.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Being able to borrow from a library would absolutely increase my desire to purchase an ereader.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be, "The kindle will catch up with the nook later this year?"
ReplyDeleteThey can talk that game all they want but until they actually do it, it's just another Dance with Dragons.
I own a Kindle and I am very excited about this announcement.
ReplyDeleteI have a nook but I haven't tried to borrow or lend yet. So far I've only been reading free stuff. I'm thinking of jailbreaking it.
ReplyDeleteI use the library quite a bit. It's pretty simple to use. The libraries are getting more and more electronic titles. And the local library system just got a bunch of nooks to loan out as well. It's a pretty cool system.
ReplyDeleteI purchased a Kindle in December the full expectation that, while they did not yet service libraries, they would do so in the future. It was the only sound business decision they could make. Anytime someone asks a librarian what kind of e-reader they should buy, they're told not to buy a Kindle. That's not really the kind of PR you want, if you're in the book business.
ReplyDeleteI'm VERY excited about that announcement. Got my Kindle as a gift. Never thought it'd turn into an appendage.
ReplyDeleteOur school's librarian loaned me a kindle almost a month ago. At first I was quite excited, as I love gadgets. But after tinkering with the thing for a solid hour and reading a short children's book just to get the idea of using it, I found the whole use of the kindle annoying and cumbersome, It may be the thing of the future, but until it's as easy to use as an iPod is for music, I'm not bothering with one.
ReplyDeleteOh, I should add that I do have a kindle app on my laptop, and I don't mind that.
ReplyDeleteI own a kindle and love it. But I also bought a cheap nook wifi *specifically* to borrow books from overdrive through my library. I read about half and half my ebooks on the kindle vs the nook. I prefer reading on the kindle because it's a slightly lighter device and the font is easier for me to read.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely pleased as punch that overdrive is getting kindle books. Pleased as PUNCH.
I still fully intend to purchase an iPad for an ereader (among other things), but props to Amazon!
ReplyDeleteI already have a Kindle (it was a gift) and the news that I'll be able to borrow library books makes me SO HAPPY as there are a few series I'd love to read but don't necessarily want to buy. And other than not being able to borrow books from the library yet, I love the Kindle.
ReplyDeleteStill married to my Nook. The lending feature is good. I trust will not be bombarded by advertisements like some newer readers are doing, and in the Chicago area at least, libraries and school districts are making them available to staff and students. I hear less about Kindle than iPad in these parts.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to read books, not on an ereader, but my computer. It's still a bit harder on my eyes than a printed book. Here's also a question I have of you and other authors: with all the giving away of books on the web and Kindle library, etc - in what way will this help an author's piggy bank ¢¢ grow? I do give, and understand promotions and for the sake of (hopeful) reviews, but is there any funds to be made?
ReplyDeleteI'm stoked. I did a lot of traveling for work last year and my Kindle saved my life. (Generally, I'm a pro-real-book person, but there is literally nothing like the convenience of packing a tiny little tablet in your purse instead of a few paperbacks.) I had no idea about the Nook's library feature until recently and I was completely jealous. Really glad the Kindle is getting on board.
ReplyDeleteI own a Nook, but I'll be honest... I have problems borrowing books. I don't want to give them back. I would owe millions of dollars to my library if I borrowed books. I buy them, preferably from standalone sites where I own the .epub forever and ever and ever.
ReplyDeleteI have the Nook Color, and there were just several other options that made it a better choice for me, least of all that I could borrow books on it.
It’s a fantastic feature to have, but for me, the Nook Color still wins the ereader war. Because it offers … color. And I also like that it offers some additional functions like email.
ReplyDeleteBut really, in the age of tablets, I don’t think it makes a lot of sense to have a technology that only does one thing well. If I’m going to spend $250 for a Nook Color, I’m willing to wait a few more months to save up and purchase a $600 Xoom that will offer dramatically greater functionality.
Whatever happened to that idea I read a while back about libraries only being able to lend out a ebook 26 (?) times. after that it disappeared into the ethers?
ReplyDeleteThat's the best news I've heard so far about ebooks and readers. I always have material signed out from the library. In fact, that was about the only thing holding me back from getting a reader.
ReplyDelete