Here in Norway the public libraries are debating with the -publishing houses how to handle electronic books. Surprisingly, the -libraries seem to be willing to accept digital restriction mechanisms -(DRM) on books and renting e-books with artificial scarcity from the -publishing houses. Time limited renting (2-3 years) is one proposed -model, and only allowing X borrowers for each book is another. -Personally I find it amazing that libraries are even considering such -models.
- -Anyway, while reading part of -this debate, it occurred to me that someone should present a more -sensible approach to the libraries, to allow its borrowers to get used -to a better model. The idea is simple:
- -Create a computer system for the libraries, either in the form of a -Live DVD or a installable distribution, that provide a simple kiosk -solution to hand out free e-books. As a start, the books distributed -by Project Gutenberg (abount -36,000 books), Project Runenberg -(1149 books) and The -Internet Archive (3,033,748 books) could be included, but any book -where the copyright has expired or with a free licence could be -distributed.
- -The computer system would make it easy to:
- --
-
-
- Copy e-books into a USB stick, reading tablets, cell phones and - other relevant equipment. - -
- Show the books for reading on the the screen in the library. - -
In addition to such kiosk solution, there should probably be a web -site as well to allow people easy access to these books without -visiting the library. The site would be the distribution point for -the kiosk systems, which would connect regularly to fetch any new -books available.
- -Are there anyone working on a system like this? I guess it would -fit any library in the world, and not just the Norwegian public -libraries. :)
- -