Great news! Patrons of many public libraries across the country have been able to borrow e-books for their Barnes & Noble Nooks and other "e-pub" readers, but not for the Amazon Kindle. Not until yesterday, September 22, 2011. Now, as a Kindle user (love my Kindle!) I can browse the available e-books at the Fargo (ND) Public Library website and download selections to my Kindle.
The borrowing process for Kindles is very straightforward. You do need both a library card and an Amazon account, which was no problem for me because I am signed-up at both. There is no charge for borrowing books for your Kindle from the Fargo Public Library. Amazon's electronic process is slick and fast, typical of all Amazon transactions. Their technology never ceases to amaze me. Interesting how the word amaze and Amazon are similar.
Most e-books can be borrowed from public libraries for 21-days. When that time period expires, guess what? No fine! The book simply becomes unreadable on your device. And unlike a physical book, you don't have to return it.
If, however, you finish reading an e-book before the 21-day period is up, please return it electronically! Reason: each library pays for the availability of "x-number" of copies of each e-title. If those copies are checked-out, Kindle, Nook and other e-pub readers are put on a waiting list. When the book becomes available, the next person in linet is sent an email informing them the e-book is ready for downloading. You're helping readers get e-books sooner if you return the copy you're done with as soon as you're finished.
After Amazon announced they would be offering library borrowing for the Kindle, I checked with my son and daughter-in-law's library, the Summerlin branch of the Clark County Library System in Las Vegas (NV) area. Sure enough, the chief librarian there told me they'd be offering it as soon as it became available from Amazon. With the Fargo Public Library now offering Kindle borrowing, I'm sure most other libraries around the country who offer e-format lending will now offer the same for Kindle users.
While I don't believe that electronic books will cause printed books to disappear--there are many facets to this debate--I really enjoy how e-readers serve-up text for pure reading enjoyment. The portability is outstanding. This is why you're seeing a good number of folks in clinic waiting rooms, on airplanes, city buses and other public transportation, reading Nooks and Kindles. Although I haven't counted lately, I must have several hundred books parked on my Kindle and most I received free through a special newsletter I receive almost daily from Amazon. I'm guessing Barnes & Noble offers a similar number of free books each week and I would know more about that if I had a registered Nook (which I may someday; might be good to have both types of e-readers!).
Thanks to the Fargo Public Library for making this service available for those of us using Kindles! For more information, click on over to the Fargo Public Library's website or check with the public library in your area.
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