What the heck is the point of that?
I have a Nook, and it's a great consumer device, but what the heck does a library need with one? You could fill one up with Project Gutenberg-type works, but there is still no point to it, because you can do that just as well from a computer.
Are they lending Nooks?
Yes. They are lending nooks and kindles as well. I spoke to a librarian who told me he expects most to disappear. They have a tremendous problem with book theft as it is. He indicated the librarians don’t want the electronic readers but the administrators above them are convinced they have to do this to serve the patrons. Meanwhile, the physical book acquisition and replacement budget has been slashed to fund this new program.