[pieceofthepuzzle]

“Hint: It’s NOT the library.”

Clearly, and I understand your point. I was just trying to say that for a private business to charge for internet access and limit the amount of time someone ‘hangs out’ without purchasing anything is legitimate to me. Whether you agree or disagree with the concept of a publicly funded library, the fact is that they exist, and they are not private businesses.

Actually, I wonder what is going to happen to libraries as the printed word becomes more and more digital. For a library to have one or two copies of a particular book, and lend it out free of charge, is not a threat to booksellers. On the other hand, there's no way libraries can obtain digital copies of a book etc. and make them available online for free. No one would buy books (or online access to them) anymore.

[saltlick]

. . ."Actually, I wonder what is going to happen to libraries as the printed word becomes more and more digital. For a library to have one or two copies of a particular book, and lend it out free of charge, is not a threat to booksellers. On the other hand, there's no way libraries can obtain digital copies of a book etc. and make them available online for free. No one would buy books (or online access to them) anymore.

Hi,

I can offer a little insight: many libraries already offer digital books; the way the agreements with the publisher works in some of these cases is that a limited number of virtual "copies" of the books are available for "check-out" at a time. For example, if 2 people were currently viewing/reading the 2 digital copies of a book the library had in its catalog, that you wanted read, you would have to wait until one of the people closed their browser (returned the book, so to speak) before you could view the digital version.

Best regards,
Saltlick

[sionnsar]

On the other hand, there's no way libraries can obtain digital copies of a book etc. and make them available online for free.

My library does this. But the digital copy is time-limited, so like the paper copy you only have it for a time.

[CajunConservative]

My library has digital online services. I use it all the time. I also still buy books as I’m a book person and am addicted.

http://www.overdrive.com/products/dlr/

[Still Thinking]

I wonder what is going to happen to libraries as the printed word becomes more and more digital. For a library to have one or two copies of a particular book, and lend it out free of charge, is not a threat to booksellers. On the other hand, there's no way libraries can obtain digital copies of a book etc. and make them available online for free. No one would buy books (or online access to them) anymore.

I don't see why you couldn't do a digital version of the same thing. Let people open digital versions of the books, but limit the total simultaneous number to 5 or something.