Comments on: The Amazon Lending Library is NOT the Library Apocalypse

By: 25 E-book Resources for Libraries « Librariopolis

25 E-book Resources for Libraries « Librariopolis — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:53:51 +0000

[...] The Amazon Lending Library is NOT the Library Apocalypse [...]

By: iLibrarian » E-Books and Libraries: 25 Resources

iLibrarian » E-Books and Libraries: 25 Resources — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:23:56 +0000

[...] The Amazon Lending Library is NOT the Library Apocalypse [...]

By: iLibrarian » 16 New Library Tech Stories You May Have Missed

iLibrarian » 16 New Library Tech Stories You May Have Missed — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:09:37 +0000

[...] The Amazon Lending Library is NOT the Library Apocalypse – Agnostic, Maybe [...]

By: Not The Apocalypse? - Musings of the Monster Librarian

Not The Apocalypse? - Musings of the Monster Librarian — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 04:04:49 +0000

[...] look at what Amazon is offering shows that really, it’s not that great. There’s a great analysis of it by Andy Woodworth at Agnostic, Maybe, where he assures us that the Kindle Lending Library [...]

By: Amazon and the library redux | Escape Reality, Read Fiction!

Amazon and the library redux | Escape Reality, Read Fiction! — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:13:13 +0000

[...] personal favorite is the post at Agnostic, Maybe that The Amazon Lending Library is NOT the Library Apocalypse. For one thing, the library apocalypse is more likely going to come as a result of shrinking [...]

By: LMorse

LMorse — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:46:54 +0000

Based on the FAQ page of Lendle.me I have to disagree with you. Maybe Lendle has changed the way that you personally obtain books but that doesn’t denote a worldwide library apocalypse.
First, Lendle is only availalbe in the U.S., so most of the world;s population doesn’t have access to this service.
Second, in order to just borrow books from Lendle: “You must own Kindle books and be willing to lend them. Lendle aims to be the fairest lending service available. To that end, we have implemented an algorithm that determines whether or not you’re allowed to borrow books. When you first join the site and add at least one book you own, you’ll be given two borrow requests. After that, the more books you add and the more books you lend, the more you’ll be able to borrow.”
At a public library there is no algorithm from who gets to borrow books or how many, anyone can borrow as many items as they like for no cost at all. One does not have to own a book in order to borrow more.

By: iLibrarian » The Amazon Lending Library is NOT the Library Apocalypse

iLibrarian » The Amazon Lending Library is NOT the Library Apocalypse — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:36:40 +0000

[...] his post, The Amazon Lending Library is NOT the Library Apocalypse, Woodworth explains that reading between the lines, Amazon’s epic announcemnt reads more [...]

By: La veille apprivoisée #7 « La bibliothèque apprivoisée

La veille apprivoisée #7 « La bibliothèque apprivoisée — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:16:27 +0000

[...] May Be ». L’arrivée du service de prêt de livres numériques d’Amazon n’annonce pas l’apocalypse pour les bibliothèques, pour la simple raison que la valeur ajoutée des services de bibliothèque ne se résume au simple [...]

By: Jean Costello

Jean Costello — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:10:27 +0000

You hit the nail on the head, Sally. I agree that support for library funding erodes with each new means of conveniently and inexpensively accessing books.

By: Sally

Sally — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:34:42 +0000

I agree that Kindle’s Lending Library on its own is not going to have a huge impact on libraries, especially in New Zealand where I’m located.

But this announcement will add to the perception by many members of the public that libraries are less and less relevant in today’s world. Why? Simply because whenever someone thinks of ebooks they think of Amazon, and not libraries – for both lending and purchasing. This is the case in New Zealand too, even though Kindles have only been on sale here since October 2011.

You mention your amusement at Amazon promoting “You can borrow a new book as frequently as once a month”. I applaud them for promoting this (regardless of how silly it sounds). Why? Because they’re clearly communicating their offer. I’d struggle to find the borrowing period for library ebooks (and how to use them) so clearly communicated. Libraries are not trying to “sell what they have as best they can”.

Yes, the Kindle Lending Library is not free and you do need a Kindle reader but in my view that’s the fine print, and how many members of the public do you know who read the fine print?

In New Zealand we are starting (in December) a national tour to demonstrate and educate the public on library ebooks and how to download them, because if we don’t the library apocalypse will come much sooner than we think. Based on the number of library closures around the world I don’t think “libraries would still survive on the basis on access and instruction.”