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Ash HN: Why are “rented” eBooks at the library a thing?
I've never understood the concept of "renting" or "borrowing" an eBook from the library.
What is it's purpose? What problem does it solve?
I get that eBooks may need to expired access after a given amount of time, but I'm not sure why.
- jleyank 4y agoProbably to limit the number of simultaneous rentals, handle people forgetting to return or delete books and preventing them from wandering off to others. Win for the libraries if the cost of the service < handling all those dead trees.
- fmitchell0 4y agoWhat is wrong with people 'simultaneously' being able to read an eBook? I feel like I'm missing something obvious.
- tmpburning 4y agoBecause the copyright industry is stuck in the past... But to their defense, I don't know what the best alternative is.
- tamaharbor 4y agoAre you suggesting eBooks be free? How would the authors be compensated?
- fmitchell0 4y agoHow does it work with borrowing physical books from the library and me not paying a late fee?
- maltalex 4y agoBecause the economic relationships between libraries, publishers, and authors was established on the basis of physical books. And that relationship mostly works. Ebooks break that model, so the solution is to treat ebooks like physical books.
- toast0 4y ago> What is it's purpose? What problem does it solve? Patron wants to read a book. Library wants to let them read a book. Publisher wants to get paid. Library doesn't want to buy a whole book for the patron.
- fred_is_fred 4y agoIs someone on hacker news asking how libraries work?