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
1630 Views
Excellent news!
- 20/04/2011 06:58:09 PM
980 Views
Paper books will not die for quite some time I'm sure.
- 20/04/2011 07:44:39 PM
1055 Views
I guess it depends on what you mean by "death."
- 21/04/2011 05:04:40 PM
1412 Views
Of course an online bookshop is going to sell more e-books than physical books.
- 21/04/2011 06:14:51 PM
999 Views
That's exactly right.
- 21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM
1421 Views
I'm talking about the "Amazon sold more e-books than physical books in 2010" argument.
- 21/04/2011 06:39:45 PM
1125 Views
Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
- 20/04/2011 07:13:02 PM
1054 Views
Also: Terrible news. Another nail in the coffin of physical books. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 07:13:32 PM
600 Views
Not so much. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 07:39:17 PM
484 Views
A bit too melodramatic? Another blow to the desirable dominance of physical books, then. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 10:24:20 PM
501 Views
No. I just don't think this spells the end of physical books at all.
- 21/04/2011 06:11:53 PM
973 Views
Assuming you're right, that will still wreck the business of physical books.
- 21/04/2011 06:47:45 PM
1407 Views
I take perverse pleasure in watching the decline of physical books. 
- 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
1443 Views
- 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
1443 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
1038 Views
Re: Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
- 20/04/2011 07:41:00 PM
1059 Views
I'm not sure I understand how this works...
- 20/04/2011 07:30:51 PM
1146 Views
Re: I'm not sure I understand how this works...
- 20/04/2011 07:43:19 PM
1044 Views
You download them from the Internet using your library card as an ID. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 01:07:54 AM
629 Views
What Ghavrel said, but...
- 21/04/2011 03:14:07 AM
1217 Views
That's pretty cool then
- 21/04/2011 06:25:03 AM
997 Views
Yes and no.
- 21/04/2011 05:10:24 PM
1441 Views
Obviously none of you have used Overdrive. It's horrifically bad.
- 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
1017 Views
- 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
1017 Views
Never heard of it. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 01:08:00 AM
514 Views
It's an already existing library ebook service, and it's terrible. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 02:19:25 AM
495 Views
What makes it terrible? *NM*
- 21/04/2011 02:20:12 AM
472 Views
The selection is awful, the interface is awkward, and it requires bizarre DRM installations.
- 21/04/2011 02:40:55 AM
1059 Views
To be fair, Overdrive's problems are software issues, and not inherent to the business model.
- 21/04/2011 05:23:54 PM
1321 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
521 Views
Will a borrowed Kindle book have "fuck" underlined when it appears?
- 22/04/2011 01:59:39 AM
1050 Views