SURVEY: Do You Borrow Ebooks from the Library?

In Discussion by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka, Editor-in-Chief

If you have a library card these days, you likely have at least some access to borrow ebooks from your local branch. Take the survey.

Alas, library ebook lending has proven to be very contentious, with publishers committing and then withdrawing support, librarians clamoring for standardization, and on and on. Nevertheless, companies are working slowly toward a solution. Ingram, for one, has put forth MyiLibrary, whose lending model is discussed in today’s feature story, “Ingram’s MyiLibrary Tackles Thorny Ebook Lending Scenarios.”

I, like many, live in a multi-device household. And I, like many still find the process of borrowing ebooks from the library somewhat inconvenient. Will they have the book I want available? More than likely, no, especially if it is a popular title. And there’s no option to resort to inter-library loan. Will Adobe Editions recognize my ereader, and will my computer play nice with the DRM? Well, sometimes.

Aside from these inconveniences, even having the option to borrow an ebook is a boon to all readers. So tell us, do you borrow books from the library? Take our survey and share your experiences, thoughts and suggestions with us in the comments.

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About the Author

Edward Nawotka

A widely published critic and essayist, Edward Nawotka serves as a speaker, educator and consultant for institutions and businesses involved in the global publishing and content industries. He was also editor-in-chief of Publishing Perspectives since the launch of the publication in 2009 until January 2016.