But I think I read somewhere that Kindle files are non-transferable – once they’re downloaded to a device, they’re only good on that device. It’d be great if Amazon opened up a service of this kind of libraries, like NetLibrary and others do. So, in this case, like so many others, it all comes down to the vendor creating DRM policies that allow for library use – which is rarely the case.

Plus, if we did buy books for them, I think each copy can only go on one Kindle – which means either we’d have to buy multiple copies of books for each device, or else you know the two most popular titles would end up on the same Kindle, causing everyone would wait for that one device.

And Lee might be right – it’s not that I’m poo-pooing all ebook readers; I just don’t think the model is quite right yet for libraries. For it to really work, the device would have to be separate from the book: a patron would check out a (cheap) device, and then be able to download whatever title(s) they wanted to it from our (vast) ebook library – while at the same time other patrons could access the same books.

Not to mention that any ebook device should not only display the text (in variable font size), but also be able to read it out loud to you, too – ebook and audio book in one.

And then when you’re done with one book, you can rate it, and click some link right on the device to “read more like this.”

Yes, that’s what I’m waiting for.

Another really good take on the Kindle was the review by Walt Mossberg in the WSJ.

Regards,
LW
Ecards: http://www.hdgreetings.com