September 13, 2011, 12:37 PM —
flickr/Natalie Maynor
According to a story behind the Wall Street Journal paywall, Amazon now wants to recreate a library in your Kindle. Modeled after Netflix, the subscription service would make books, and possibly magazines, available for a limited time.
Detractors point out this is another slice of the book market Amazon hopes to control. After laying waste to brick and mortar bookstores, the Kindle now wants to kill libraries, as if local government budget cuts weren't doing that enough already.
Can Amazon tempt publishers to go along with this new service? Will a subscription model boost or bury the book publishing business? Not surprisingly, book lovers have strong opinions.
Killer Kindle idea
I will sign up for amazon digital library on day 1.
Nitin Virmalwar on wsj.com
The publishing industry will continue to morph into a unique and very different monster. One of the most powerful forces in the universe is knowledge. The more accessible it becomes, on more devices, the more empowered we become. And the revolution continues.
Mark Alan Effinger on wired.com
But I do understand the fear publishers probably have -- should have in dealing with Amazon. Talk about a 200-lb. gorilla in the library! But seriously, they need to either go with Amazon (vs. Google) or get proactive about setting up their own digital, reader-friendly future in the marketplace.
Angela McConnell on wired.com
RIP libraries
"If I were a librarian, I confess, I'd be putting the career-change plan into action just about now." Well, I would too. But that would not be because of some overhyped 'ebrary', but because of of government policies which see libraries as some horrid socialist hangover to be gotten rid of as soon as possible.
KrustytheKlown on guardian.co.uk
Because Amazon makes reading cool, not local libraries.
Sean Reyes on wired.com
I belong to the rabid readers. I have a kindle and can get from Amazon access to books I can't find anywhere else. The service is excellent. Who needs a library anymore, or a book shop?
Armstrongx15 on guardian.co.uk
This might make sense for publishers because it would guarantee them an income stream rather than a one-off sale, while allowing Amazon to keep the up-front cost to the customer low. It might make sense for readers, particularly those who don't expect to re-read the book in question. But it would definitely mark a move away from the principle of free book lending.
PaulBowes01 on guardian.co.uk
Just another ebook gimmick
Buy a Nook and connect with your local library!
Peter Eckle on wsj.com
An increasing number of libraries are already offering ebooks for instant download, so my question would be more along the lines of 'Since people can get ebooks for free from their public library already, why would they pay to do so in the future'.
Philbradley on guardian.co.uk
My local library already has this service. Obviously there are some differences but for the most part with older books I never have to wait to check out their eBooks.
Mike Jones on wsj.com
Raise your hand if you've been to a physical library this month? How about a physical bookstore?
