Electronic Book Readers in Libraries
An electronic book reader (e-reader
) allows you to store a number of books you can carry around with you and read in your own convenience, at home or on the go. The beauty of the technology is that 10, 15 or even hundreds of books can be easily carried in one thin, lightweight device.
Now think about a library where you can borrow an e-reader or where you can bring your own to borrow books. If such a library exists, it can be available as an online service and you can also drop by for a real "visit to the library" experience. The library itself doesn't need a big building really. All they really need are some tables for those who want to read their e-books in the comfort of a library-like environment.
I think it is time that we start re-thinking the library of the future. Online bookstores are one thing. But a library where you can just borrow an e-book makes a whole lot of sense to compliment the electronic publishing industry.
Today, companies like Amazon.com
, Barnes & Noble
and Sony
make e-readers priced to novelty. If a library would allow people to borrow e-books through rent-able e-readers, these libraries may actually push that price down to be more appealing to the masses. In fact, with libraries as the "actual" customers of e-readers, library users don't really need to buy their own e-reader anymore! Rent one from the library, load them with the books you want to borrow and you're ready to go.
Looks like these are pretty good ideas to me. In case you pick up from this blog and capitalize on it, please don't forget to send me my royalties. But in case you came up with the libraries described here out-of-the-blue, send me the royalties anyway.
) allows you to store a number of books you can carry around with you and read in your own convenience, at home or on the go. The beauty of the technology is that 10, 15 or even hundreds of books can be easily carried in one thin, lightweight device.Now think about a library where you can borrow an e-reader or where you can bring your own to borrow books. If such a library exists, it can be available as an online service and you can also drop by for a real "visit to the library" experience. The library itself doesn't need a big building really. All they really need are some tables for those who want to read their e-books in the comfort of a library-like environment.
I think it is time that we start re-thinking the library of the future. Online bookstores are one thing. But a library where you can just borrow an e-book makes a whole lot of sense to compliment the electronic publishing industry.
Today, companies like Amazon.com
, Barnes & Noble and Sony make e-readers priced to novelty. If a library would allow people to borrow e-books through rent-able e-readers, these libraries may actually push that price down to be more appealing to the masses. In fact, with libraries as the "actual" customers of e-readers, library users don't really need to buy their own e-reader anymore! Rent one from the library, load them with the books you want to borrow and you're ready to go.Looks like these are pretty good ideas to me. In case you pick up from this blog and capitalize on it, please don't forget to send me my royalties. But in case you came up with the libraries described here out-of-the-blue, send me the royalties anyway.
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