[Publib] The Kindle Issue...What's Your View?

[ROBIN BEERBOWER]

I don't have a Kindle and don't have any experience with them but I think it would be fantastic to loan them homebound patrons who need large print.  They would be easier for them to hold, plus it would be a bonus for them to get a book that's not published in large print as they could enlarge the print to where they could easily read it.  The problem for most of us, though, is expense.

Robin


Robin Beerbower
Outreach/Homebound Services
Salem Public Library
PO Box 14810 (97309)
585 Liberty SE (97301)
Salem, OR  
503-588-6089


>>> Patrick Sweeney <coastaleducationproject at yahoo.com> 2/17/2009 11:52 AM >>>
I think that loaning Kindles is a fantastic idea. It just occurred to me while at the airport this weekend.  There were a number of people who were reading kindles.  When I talked to them they said that they loved having so many books at their fingertips although they preferred reading physical books (which made me happy).  So my thought is that someone (much smarter than me) try circulating kindles but in specific genres.  So for example kindles with the romance collection preloaded, or mystery, or classic fiction etc....  A patron could check out a romance Kindle and have a thousand romance books to choose from, or travel kindles with a thousand travel books loaded on it.  You get the idea. Talk about a book mobile!!  There are a number of technical issues I see with this but I think most of them could be solved.  Again, by someone much smarter than me :)

 Patrick Sweeney
www.pcsweeney.com 


Library Coordinator
Lincoln Public Library
www.libraryatlincoln.org 


Executive Director
Coastal Education Project
www.coastaleducationproject.org 




________________________________
From: Cesar Roel Garza <crgarza at mcallen.net>
To: publib at webjunction.org 
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 7:47:30 AM
Subject: [Publib] The Kindle Issue...What's Your View?


Hello Colleagues,
 
My library is currently exploring the possibility of acquiring a set of Amazon Kindles to loan to patrons, and I was wondering who among us has done that, is thinking about it, or has something to say about the whole Kindle issue.
 
I'm aware that a library in New Jersey started loaning Kindles with success back in 2007, and that Amazon discourages the practice because of licensing issues and the like.
 
The planning, execution and maintenance of this practice is, I gather, complicated, and it brings to the fore the larger issue of impact on certain facets of the library environment. 
 
I'm sure Kindle has been addressed before on this listserv, but I'd be grateful for your thoughts and insights.
 
___Cesar_Garza_________________________________________________
Reference Librarian ][ McAllen Public Library ][ http://www.mcallenlibrary.net 
crgarza at mcallen.net ][ P: (956) 688-3300 ][ F: (956) 688-3301