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Except for the digital part. Though actually I've heard rumors of ebook sharing/trading sites similar to a digital library, though I'm unsure exactly how that w

Except for the digital part. Though actually I've heard rumors of ebook sharing/trading sites similar to a digital library, though I'm unsure exactly how that would work; heavily DRM-based, I would guess

mkr-hn 12y ago
Most of the books I check out from the library are ebooks.
alex_anglin 12y ago
Many libraries offer digital lending, with DRM-laden content as you suggest. IEEE Spectrum ran a podcast on this back in 2013: http://spectrum.ieee.org/podcast/at-work/education/do-libraries-have-a-future http://spectrum.ieee.org/podcast/at-work/education/do-librar...
shaggy 12y ago
Even the digital part. There is a thing called the Sails Library Network (http://www.sailsinc.org http://www.sailsinc.org) that offers full digital catalogs for libraries. They have mobile apps and it works with Kindles or Kindle apps. It's also not back catalog stuff only as is the case with Oyster. Libraries have been the "Netflix for Books" for centuries before there was a "Netflix". Maybe people should use them more, they are wonderful things and you're already paying for them to exist and serve you.
stinkytaco 12y ago
The ebooks are DRM yes (either ePub/Digital Editions style or Kindle). Most e-audiobooks are now MP3.