Digital rights management is not for the faint of heart. And so it is with eBook borrowing rights. That's right, you heard me - you can borrow eBooks, just like regular books. From libraries, and from friends.
Or so it would appear.
I must say I have yet to borrow an eBook, but the idea certainly is a sound one. Why not? Libraries can purchase the titles and then circulate them to members.
But not so fast - publishers are balking (yes, balking!) at the idea, and some are insisting on limits on the number of times an eBook can be circulated, effectively limiting the shelf life of Library eBooks. This would make sense if eBooks were SO much cheaper than regular books, but they're not any more - and in fact, some are now as expensive (or more!) as buying the book. So, why expire the borrowing privileges? It doesn't make any sense.
Publishers are, I suppose, the New Dinosaurs resisting technological change. More recently, film studioes and recording labels have resisted digital innovations, but the publishing business is now doing better than ever before. eBooks have effectively boosted publishing.
So why the resistance to eBorrowing? Just the usual - fear.
Check with your local library to see if they have a list of eBook titles you can borrow.
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