Amazon Aims to Take Out the Library

Amazon Aims to Take Out the Library November 3, 2011

Amazon made another big announcement today, one that will likely spur lots of Kindle purchases for the holiday: If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can now borrow books for a month at a time.

Amazon has already arguably put Borders out of business, and they’ve crippled Barnes & Noble.  Retail bookstores offer us readers little anymore that Amazon cannot.

Now they’re aiming at the public library.  I belong to mine, which has recently announced that patrons can borrow ebooks, but the process is something of a hassle.  Amazon, for the cost of a Prime membership, today announced that they will be loaning books to you on your Kindle (or device with a Kindle app).

Some will think this is a troubling trend.  Not me.  I think it’s great.  My new book (now only $2.99 on the Kindle) won’t even make it into any libraries.

What do you think?


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