Do Kindles have a home in the library?

[Lisa Roe]

What do you think about this? A Pennsylvania library will be running an experiment in April. They will be the first library to loan out Kindles to their patrons.

It's an interesting concept. Offering digital materials will save on space, allowing libraries to stock more materials then they normally have room for. It will also be feasible to provide materials they traditionally would not have purchased.

There's risk involved, too. Should they only be offered to patrons with clean check-out records? Do deposits need to be made?

What are your thoughts? Would you check one out?

[Book Calendar]

Kindles are expensive. I can understand them being used in the library, but having them go out of the building is questionable. We have laptops and they are used in the building. Try in library use first.

[Jillian Raymundo]

I worked at a library before, and imo, sometimes even the cleanest check-out records make mistakes too. (sometimes even the library staff) They might forget when it's due, might be too lazy to return or sometimes even renew, or just completely ignore it.
If books are being stolen at times, how much more Kindles?

Like BookCalendar said, the best way would be if these materials are used only in the library, but not to be taken out of the building. This would be more effective, safer, easier, and organized.

Jillian - Random Ramblings.

[Lisa Roe]

In-library use only is a great suggestion! It is a risky venture and I hope that testing the waters with the Kindles doesn't hurt them financially.