Amazon e-book subscription? Publishers should join

from the web page http://www.readability.com/learn-more

From Stephen Shanklin in the “Deep Tech” column of cnet News:

Once upon a time, you might tell your children, there were buildings called libraries. A resident of a city or town, you would explain, could walk into one and borrow books–for free!

Libraries aren’t likely to fade into history just yet, of course, but the possibility is more plausible given Amazon’s discussions about offering an annual subscription plan for e-book access described in a Wall Street Journal report Sunday. Amazon’s library option would be part of Amazon Prime, the gradually broadening subscription plan, Larry Dignan at CNET News sister site ZDNet expects.

As I see it, the move makes perfect sense for Amazon. Plenty of people would probably rather rent e-books through an all-you-can-eat plan rather than purchase copies they might well never read a second time. And with e-books, selling used copies isn’t allowed, and lending is constrained if it’s allowed at all, so the value of a book that’s been read drops dramatically. (Amazon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.)

But of course Amazon isn’t the only party in the discussions. Publishers are a critical part of any such service, and that’s where things get messy.

Both “book” and “library” are words in flux as digital publishing finds its shapes and processes.

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