On Wednesday, September 21, Amazon announced that they have kept their promise. Public libraries can now allow patrons to borrow ebooks onto their Kindles. To read the full announcement, click here.
"You can check out a Kindle book from your local library and read it on any generation Kindle device or free Kindle reading app.
When you borrow a Kindle public library book, you'll have access to all the unique features of Kindle books, including real page numbers and Whispersync technology that synchronizes your notes, highlights, and last page read. After a public library book expires, if you check it out again or choose to purchase it from the Kindle store, all of your annotations and bookmarks will be preserved.
Kindle books are available at more than 11,000 libraries in the U.S."
As a Kindle owner I am excited that that Amazon has allowed Kindle to borrow books from public libraries, as the Nook, tablets, and other eReaders have had this option for some time. Part of the drive to allow Kindle to borrow books from libraries is not only because of Barnes and Noble's Nook but also because of a new Sony e-Reader that is coming out next month.
From a Library Journal article, author David Rapp states:
"Sony unveiled its latest ereader device today, Reader Wi-Fi, which will be the first dedicated ereader—though not the first device—to offer wireless borrowing of OverDrive library ebook titles. The Reader Wi-Fi, which the company calls "the lightest touch screen 6" eReader device ever" in the announcement, will be available for purchase in October.
According to Sony Electronics spokesperson Maya Wasserman, the ereader will feature a dedicated icon on its touch screen's main menu to connect to the OverDrive system, in a similar manner as the OverDrive Media Console app currently available for other devices.
Sony has had a cross-promotion deal with OverDrive since 2009, but this is the first time that Sony has offered direct wireless OverDrive borrowing with its Reader device; previously, a physical connection and sync with a computer was required."
For more information about eReaders and free ebooks, please read my previous blog. Library card will be needed to borrow books onto the Kindle and currently only in the United States at this time.
More information can be found on Amazon's Help page for Kindle, which includes Frequently Asked Questions. To find a location of a library in your area that uses OverDrive, use this link: http://search.overdrive.com/classic/default.asp.
