Of Kindles and Libraries

I like my Kindle3. Kid bought a Kindle Touch and I have been comparing them side-by-side. I am not sure Touch is any better, just smaller. I do have several pet peeves regarding Kindles.

• It can’t lend or transfer books to others easily. Physical books are so easy to pass around. Other ebooks are copied as files. But Amazon makes it hard.
• No Chinese books. I would read a lot more Chinese books if they were easier to get. For now, my only way is to buy and ship them from Beijing or Taipei. Really, Amazon? There are billions of us who read.
• Can’t borrow or check-out books from the library. Honestly, the greatest thing to all readers is the library. But Amazon seemed lukewarm on supporting libraries.

For all these flaws, I loyally pack my Kindle around the world with me. I love cuddling up in bed with my Kindle in one hand. It is light, it turns easily, it remembers where I was, it looks up words for me instantaneously. So I tolerate and accept the flaws, like those regrets we reluctantly bury when we accept the facts of life.

Then Kid showed me Seattle Public Library’s Kindle collection! Really? I searched some books on my list, and wow. One of them was available. I clicked several buttons and ended up on Amazon.com that, as the last step, delivered the book to my Kindle. Magic! So delighted.

Supposedly, I have the book for 21 days. Unlike real library books, I don’t seem to have a way to return the book before the due date. I also don’t know if I can “renew” the book. Most of the Kindle books are already checked out and I need to wait for the them to be returned by others.

This is still a good step forward. Good job, Seattle Public Library and Amazon!