Library Lending for Kindle
Yesterday, April 20th, 2011, Amazon announced the development of Library Lending, a new feature being launched later this year. If you own a Kindle device or use free Kindle reading apps (available on the Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, Blackberry, and Windows Phone) you will be able to borrow library books and read them on your Kindle. OverDrive, provider of digital content solutions for over 11,000 public and educational libraries in the United States, is working with Amazon to offer this new library service to Kindle users. Kindle customers will be able to borrow a book from their local library and read it using the Kindle. And just like you would in any library, once you finish the book, you return it.
There are many benefits to using a Kindle; its light weight, its able to hold thousands of books, it does not glare in the sun, and most importantly, it allows users to take notes and highlight pages. We all know that when you borrow a library book it must be returned in the same condition. Taking notes in these books is definitely not allowed. However, with Library Lending, users will be able to make annotations just like they can in a purchased book! Whispersync technology allows Kindle readers to write in the margins of library books. When the book is returned, the next person to pick up the book will not be able to see any of your notes, but your notes are not gone forever! If you decide to go back and re-rent or purchase the book, your notes will reappear just as you left them!!