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
1542 Views
Excellent news!
- 20/04/2011 06:58:09 PM
893 Views
Paper books will not die for quite some time I'm sure.
- 20/04/2011 07:44:39 PM
971 Views
I guess it depends on what you mean by "death."
- 21/04/2011 05:04:40 PM
1187 Views
Of course an online bookshop is going to sell more e-books than physical books.
- 21/04/2011 06:14:51 PM
907 Views
That's exactly right.
- 21/04/2011 06:34:28 PM
1196 Views
I'm talking about the "Amazon sold more e-books than physical books in 2010" argument.
- 21/04/2011 06:39:45 PM
1037 Views
Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
- 20/04/2011 07:13:02 PM
967 Views
Also: Terrible news. Another nail in the coffin of physical books. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 07:13:32 PM
532 Views
Not so much. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 07:39:17 PM
415 Views
A bit too melodramatic? Another blow to the desirable dominance of physical books, then. *NM*
- 20/04/2011 10:24:20 PM
429 Views
No. I just don't think this spells the end of physical books at all.
- 21/04/2011 06:11:53 PM
882 Views
Assuming you're right, that will still wreck the business of physical books.
- 21/04/2011 06:47:45 PM
1182 Views
I take perverse pleasure in watching the decline of physical books. 
- 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
1217 Views
- 21/04/2011 05:45:59 PM
1217 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
948 Views
Re: Amazon being so successful at controlling the ebook medium makes me uneasy.
- 20/04/2011 07:41:00 PM
972 Views
I'm not sure I understand how this works...
- 20/04/2011 07:30:51 PM
1058 Views
Re: I'm not sure I understand how this works...
- 20/04/2011 07:43:19 PM
958 Views
You download them from the Internet using your library card as an ID. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 01:07:54 AM
557 Views
What Ghavrel said, but...
- 21/04/2011 03:14:07 AM
1111 Views
That's pretty cool then
- 21/04/2011 06:25:03 AM
907 Views
Yes and no.
- 21/04/2011 05:10:24 PM
1212 Views
Obviously none of you have used Overdrive. It's horrifically bad.
- 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
932 Views
- 21/04/2011 01:07:14 AM
932 Views
Never heard of it. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 01:08:00 AM
440 Views
It's an already existing library ebook service, and it's terrible. *NM*
- 21/04/2011 02:19:25 AM
425 Views
What makes it terrible? *NM*
- 21/04/2011 02:20:12 AM
401 Views
The selection is awful, the interface is awkward, and it requires bizarre DRM installations.
- 21/04/2011 02:40:55 AM
967 Views
To be fair, Overdrive's problems are software issues, and not inherent to the business model.
- 21/04/2011 05:23:54 PM
1089 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
451 Views
Will a borrowed Kindle book have "fuck" underlined when it appears?
- 22/04/2011 01:59:39 AM
960 Views