Amazon's popular Kindle eReader device and its many different Kindle apps now have a new option for its users. The company announced today that the Kindle can now access books for free from over 11,000 public libraries in the United States.
The library must have a web site with "OverDrive" features in order to enable borrowing for the Kindle device or app. Users can surf through the books that are available to borrow from their local library's web site, and once they find a book they want to read they can then sign onto their Amazon account and have the book transferred via a WiFi or USB connection to borrow. There's one catch, though; it doesn't sound like the Kindle eReader supports using its 3G connection for downloading library books.
Using the Kindle to borrow electronic library books allows the user to do things that they are not supposed to do with a physical library book, such as the abilty to write in notes inside the electronic text, sharing those notes with other Kindle readers and highlighting select parts of the book. The Kindle keeps those notes and highlights you made inside the library book even if borrow the same book again. Kindle library books also have Twitter and Facebook integration features.
Amazon is reportedly working on a new Android-based tablet that will have a Kindle app built in. The tablet was previewed a few weeks ago by TechCrunch, but so far Amazon has yet to officially announce the tablet which is reportedly due for release later this fall. Amazon is also rumored to be working on a monthly electronic book subscription service.
4 Comments - Add comment