Kindle News for Libraries to Chew on

2/20/09 Update with conflicting information from Kindle support at end of this post.

Since Amazon is fixing to birth the bouncing baby Kindle 2, discussions about loaning Kindles to library patrons, including the legality of doing so, are cropping up on blogs, email lists and elsewhere. My Kindle posts from last year are getting lots of action, and it seems only responsible to update them. I've been looking for information and articles following up on the libraries that decided to loan Kindles, but most of what comes up are the gee-whiz articles from last year.  Thankfully, I received a new comment on an old Kindle post about one library's successful Kindle program. After a few emails back and forth between Mary White, Director of Howe Library in Hanover, NH, I decided to give her a ring and get the full scoop.

White said that before the Kindles were ordered, they "did their homework" by calling Kindle support to make sure that they were legally able to loan the machines. She was assured by the support rep, John, that it was indeed legal to circulate content to patrons. (I have a question into Kindle support to verify this.)  The rep also gave her this tip: "when you purchase a title, it can be loaded onto a maximum of six Kindles attached to your account." So, she said, the purchase of 13 titles at $10 each, cost the library $130, rather than $390.   (I cannot find this same policy on the Kindle 2 page.)

Here are the elements of the Howe Library Kindle collection :

 

• Three Kindles, funded with money donated in memory of a long-time library volunteer
• Each Kindle has the same 13 titles, including best sellers, local authors and book club selections
• Check-out period is one week, no renewals (currently, there is a wait list of 60+ patrons)
• The Howe account is deactivated on all the machines, so patrons cannot load new content
• Because they are a big-ticket item, borrowers must be 18 or older and sign an agreement that they are financially responsible for loss or damage.

White's enthusiasm was unqualified. Her patrons have enjoyed the experience and have not had ANY trouble figuring out how to use the machine (translate: no frantic "how does this work?" calls to the check-out or reference desks). Before I heard from White today, I was talking with our IT manager, who wondered if it was time for us to check out some Kindles. I did some math and could not come out with a number that made me think "good value." We're cancelling a bunch of databases for abysmal cost-per-search numbers, and a Kindle, loaded with a small number of titles didn't come out with a good cost-per-circ. When I mentioned this to White, she said that they looked at loaning Kindles as a try-this-tech program. It's not about the content, according to White, but about the experience.

 

I asked her if there was an identifiable demographic for patrons who were checking out the machines. She said that she wasn't aware of one, but did say that "senior citizens are not afraid of them." One of the benefits of Kindles for older adults and others with low vision is that you can transform any title into a large-print book with adjustable font sizes.

 

At this time, Amazon still has backorders on the first Kindle. Those buyers will automatically be upgraded to Kindle 2. It will be interesting to see if the economy is a Kindle 2 buzzkill. Kindle 2 lists for $359, with $29 extra for the protective cover. Used Kindles and new-in-box ones from non-Amazon vendors are selling for $250-500. I'll start considering when the price is under $100. And if my library decides to buy a 2, I'll dutifully review it.

 

************

On Feb 20, 2009, I received a conflicting reply from Kindle support rep Forrest B that said:

Thank you for asking about using kindles in libraries. As stated in the terms of service, a library issuing loaded or unloaded kindles to individuals is against the TOS.

I have emails out to a couple people who are working directly with Amazon and who have been told that it's a-ok for libraries to check out Kindles. Stay tuned!

 

Comments

[icemonkey]

i think amazon would be frankly insane not to approve this -- or some kind of special kindle account structure -- for libraries. it can only breed greater consumer desire for the product, or at least the technology.

for such new technology, it *isn't* that expensive (a buck a day for less than a year? i spend more than that on cups of coffee. compare that to the earliest pocket calculators); but not available in stores for demo.

however. based on amazon's inability to sensibly manage library accounts for print books, i think they may never have a consistent message or infrastructure to support library accounts for the devices.

by the way, i did not buy k1; did buy k2 -- and adore it.

[Michael Golrick]

One of the demographics LaCrosse shares with Hanover (besides being on a major river) is that Hanover is a college town (Dartmouth). It is my recollection that their population is above average for the area/state/region/nation in most socio-economic demographics. That is a consideration in their willingness to try what the director clearly understands is an experiment. Thanks for following up!

[mikhail r.]

"Because they are a big-ticket item, borrowers must be 18 or older and sign an agreement that they are financially responsible for loss or damage"

There should ba an additional requirment that men who get sh!tfaced drunk and walk along the Mississippi River late at night agree to leave the Kindle at home...

...Mike
(posted from Peaberry's on the way home from Red Wing.)

[eby]

I'd be interested in hearing. The TOS seems rather clear that it is not unless expressly approved by Amazon. I guess if the library got it in writing then they would be ok.

[jessamyn]

Fascinating. I know Mary and I'll have to ping her about this. Thanks for the update!