Amazon Aims to Take Out the Library

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?