Borrowing books on the internet?
Jul. 31st, 2002 02:16 pmOkay, I've just got an odd bit of junk mail. This company called 'booksfree.com' is offering to lend me paperback books, complete with return mailers, for seven bucks a month.
Why would I want to do this? Have these people not heard of libraries? They lend out books for free. I suppose there are some places where people can't find a library, or somesuch, but I don't know if these people are going to stay in business with only people who live in the middle of nowhere as customers.
I don't think these people have picked up on the latest library technologies. I can sit down here at my computer, browse for whatever books I want anywhere in the library system, and have them all sent to my closest library. When they arrive my closest library will call me up and tell me that I've got a week to wander by and pick up the books. It's magic! It's great! And it doesn't cost me anything!*
So, I wish them luck, but I'm afraid I've got doubts.
*Well, okay, I had to pay for the computer and the internet connection, but that was necessary to pay for to use booksfree.com anyway.
Why would I want to do this? Have these people not heard of libraries? They lend out books for free. I suppose there are some places where people can't find a library, or somesuch, but I don't know if these people are going to stay in business with only people who live in the middle of nowhere as customers.
I don't think these people have picked up on the latest library technologies. I can sit down here at my computer, browse for whatever books I want anywhere in the library system, and have them all sent to my closest library. When they arrive my closest library will call me up and tell me that I've got a week to wander by and pick up the books. It's magic! It's great! And it doesn't cost me anything!*
So, I wish them luck, but I'm afraid I've got doubts.
*Well, okay, I had to pay for the computer and the internet connection, but that was necessary to pay for to use booksfree.com anyway.