Amazon and the For-Fee Library

So the rumour goes that Amazon is trying to convince its publisher friends to allow it to create an e-book rental service. The story is that this service might be like Netflix and offer unlimited (?!) borrowing for a set monthly fee. Amazon has the reader client base already, software/hardware (Kindle) and the publisher relationships. They already have piloted a limited textbook rental service. Not surprisingly the model is difficult for publishers to swallow. Like the music industry pre-iTunes, it seems like publishers don't see that there is money to be made here.

What of brick and mortar libraries? A blogger for The Guardian has suggested "If I were a librarian, I confess, I'd be putting the career-change plan into action just about now." Yes, yes, I know, we have been hearing about the end of libraries for some time. I noted recently a book by the title "The End of Libraries" published in 1982. Thirty years on, still hanging in there.

But let's talk about this. As the blogger noted, "If you can "borrow" the ebook instantly from your living room, why would you bother schlepping into town to pick it up in person?" That was my experience with movie rentals (sorry Blockbuster, but I did pick up a few good movies at the close out sale.)  Many public libraries offer e-books but offerings are usually limited to popular leisure reading. Academic libraries also offer some e-books, but with a variety of vendor platforms, and tight use restrictions.

Can these e-book services withstand the competition? Or more specifically, would I pay a fee for access to an online library? Yes, I probably would, even though I could borrow the books for free at my library, and even though I enjoy holding a paper book. The deciding factor for me would be the scope of the collection. At present few of the books I would use for academic research are available in digital format. I would buy a digital copy of the Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research today! (Sad I know.)  I would love to have a core research collection on my iPad in the field. Until publishers are prepared to release ALL books in digital formats, libraries as book lenders will continue.

Here is the great mystery: in a time when library budgets are under attack, Amazon believes people will pay to borrow books. If they make it convenient and simple. That begs the question, what of libraries?