rent-a-book?

Alex · 10-31-2007, 02:19 PM

Not a bad idea, but the only reason I'm willing to deal with Netflix is because the envelopes are pretty standard sized and can fit in a normal mail box. With this I would have to deal with shipping boxes and go to the post office to mail a book back.

Too much hassle when I have a B&N across the street.

I don't know if they still do it, but when I was a kid the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System (severing Clark County, Washington) would mail books for free; also, there were no overdue fees and you didn't have to have a library card. It worked pretty well for them and I've never understood why more systems didn't go that way (when they went electronic in 1992 they did put library cards in place).

Kevy Baby · 10-31-2007, 05:27 PM

What they do need is AUDIO books. That would make for simpler shipping.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom

I haven't had a chance to peruse the site at length, but if they had a selection on the order of Netflix, that would give them a big advantage over my local library, at least, and would make them something that might interest me.

Quote:

Whether it's New Releases, Bestsellers, or Classics, we've got 150,000 titles to choose from...

Kevy Baby · 10-31-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

...when I was a kid the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System (severing Clark County, Washington)...

It must have been a huge library if they were able to sever an entire county

Ghoulish Delight · 10-31-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

It must have been a huge library if they were able to sever an entire county

"Library System", I would presume that the system would include more than a single branch. I'd also imagine that the Clark County system covers fewer people than either, say, the Orange County library system, or even the LA City system.

katiesue · 10-31-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

It must have been a huge library if they were able to sever an entire county

Growing up our library served the whole county - Lassen County. Still does. They moved into a larger location but it's still not that big (it's the old Sprouse Ritz store).

Cadaverous Pallor · 10-31-2007, 09:10 PM

Ha ha, Kevy meant to make a one liner joke, but mistakenly made conversation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

What they do need is AUDIO books. That would make for simpler shipping.

Audio books are many CDs in length - anywhere from 5 to 25 CDs for something like the longest Harry Potters. Mailing those would not be as simple as Netflix. (That is, unless that was supposed to be a joke too

)

Of course then it begs the question - why not have downloads? We tried a text e-book thing that was a complete flop. No one wants to read novels on computers. Audio downloads involve large servers and copyright protections, so I do not see most libraries indulging in such expenses and possible problems. Anyone that has worked in a government job can understand why a question about downloadable audio books gets a laugh and a head shake from our tech department.

As for delivery books via snail mail, I've heard of it, but I'd guess it is only implemented by very large, very wealthy libraries.

Kevy Baby · 10-31-2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Audio books are many CDs in length - anywhere from 5 to 25 CDs for something like the longest Harry Potters. Mailing those would not be as simple as Netflix. (That is, unless that was supposed to be a joke too

)

Nope; serious on the Audio CD's. I forgot that they could be so many disks.

Moonliner · 11-01-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Ha ha, Kevy meant to make a one liner joke, but mistakenly made conversation.

Audio books are many CDs in length - anywhere from 5 to 25 CDs for something like the longest Harry Potters. Mailing those would not be as simple as Netflix. (That is, unless that was supposed to be a joke too

)

That's only because they still use redbook audio. Where are all the MP3 audio books?

Oh yeah, you can only get those on bit torrent.

10-31-2007, 02:19 PM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Not a bad idea, but the only reason I'm willing to deal with Netflix is because the envelopes are pretty standard sized and can fit in a normal mail box. With this I would have to deal with shipping boxes and go to the post office to mail a book back. Too much hassle when I have a B&N across the street. I don't know if they still do it, but when I was a kid the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System (severing Clark County, Washington) would mail books for free; also, there were no overdue fees and you didn't have to have a library card. It worked pretty well for them and I've never understood why more systems didn't go that way (when they went electronic in 1992 they did put library cards in place).
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