Susan, We own 6 kindles and 2 Nooks that we check out to patrons after they sign a permission form knowing the replacement cost. But we do not pre-load books onto them. I don't see why we should be the ones to decide what people might like to read. Since it is an almost instantaneous download, we tell them it is by request. When a patron comes in, they tell us the book they want and we buy it right there. We have never refused a book request with the exception of "Fifty Shades of Grey" ----someone asked about it because she had heard it was a best seller but did not know the content was something we wouldn't buy for this library!
We have decided that our collection policy guidelines are not going to be followed exactly for the kindle. That means, we will load requests that are bestsellers and not necessarily Judaic in content. We will not purchase the hard copy book for something like that because we have limited space, but on the kindle it doesn't matter and it is used as a bit of carrot and stick approach to get people in here. We originally started with a $500 gift card (as the Amazon payment, instead of a credit card) that was depleted in about a year, and we added $200 for this year and may add about $200 a year as we go. We only buy books under $15.00. We also give out kindles to people who just want to read or try an e-reader and they can choose from the dozens of books on them and they are happy with that. Our e-readers are always checked out and sometimes there is a waiting list. Our color nook is the least checked out because it is so heavy. If I could do it over, I would have preferred to wait and buy the touch screen kindles, because we own the original kind and I think the touch screens are more popular with people. But the good thing about that is that if we upgrade in a couple of years, we still own all the books we bought and don't have to transfer media-like we have had to do with videotapes to dvd's, for instance. I can't attach a copy of our permission form to a HaSafran post, but if anyone wants one, email Barbara Goelman at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. Good luck! Make sure you have a lot of publicity that you own them. We allow anyone over age 12 to check them out and we separate our purchases into two "bookshelves" on the device-one that says "adult books" and one that says "young adult books". Lisa Silverman Library Director Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library 10400 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-481-3215 ________________________________ From: Susan Fried [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 12:02 PM To: Lisa Silverman; Andrea Rapp Cc: [email protected] Subject: RE: [ha-Safran] lending e-readers Dear Lisa, It looks like we're going to follow your example, and purchase e-readers, and preload them with books. We have a limited amount of money, so we're probably going to start with 4 Kindles. I had some questions: 1. How many books did you preload on each kindle? 2. Did you preload with themes in mind? Just Fiction and Biography, or other subjects as well? 3. Do you have a copy of the contract that you could share with us? 4. How popular are the readers you have? Thank you Lisa! Susan Fried Koopman Senior Librarian 860-231-6375 ________________________________ From: Lisa Silverman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 8:11 PM To: Susan Fried; Andrea Rapp Cc: [email protected] Subject: RE: [ha-Safran] lending e-readers We lend kindles and nooks and have not had this problem. First, we have all patrons who check out the device sign a permission form that states clearly what it costs to replace the item if lost, and also that they are not allowed to download anything on their own. We disable the feature to do that with a password protection. One time we did not disable it and a student downloaded a book over the weekend that she borrowed the kindle. It was a book we would have purchased, so we let it go and told her that she did not have to pay for it, but we would have been asked to do that if we had decided to because her parent had signed the form. We have loaned out our 8 devices dozens of times and have only had that happen one time. We also did not store a credit card on the book site (Amazon or Barnes and Noble.) We stored the number of an American Express gift card that was worth $200. When the credit is gone, we can add a little at a time. But it is not a line of credit like a true credit card so not as dangerous to use. Lisa Lisa Silverman Library Director Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library 10400 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-481-3215 ________________________________ From: hasafran-bounces+lsilverman=sinaitemple....@lists.service.ohio-state.edu [mailto:hasafran-bounces+lsilverman=sinaitemple....@lists.service.ohio-state.edu] On Behalf Of Susan Fried Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 3:53 PM To: Andrea Rapp Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] lending e-readers I believe it's necessary to enter a credit card into a Kindle or a Nook in the settings in order to be able to purchase books. Most people could probably figure out how to access the credit card on the reader. By allowing a reader to be "checked out" by a patron, could be (I believe) like lending out one's credit card. Susan Fried Koopman Senior Librarian 860-231-6375 ________________________________ From: hasafran-bounces+sfried=jewishhartford....@lists.service.ohio-state.edu [mailto:hasafran-bounces+sfried=jewishhartford....@lists.service.ohio-state.edu] On Behalf Of Andrea Rapp Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 12:03 PM To: Hasafran Subject: [ha-Safran] lending e-readers All, I am thinking of buying a couple of e-readers--putting some fiction on one of them and some biographies/memoirs on the other, and offer them for borrowing. To adults. I've recently read wording in the Kindle license that leads me to veto Kindles for this purpose. I would go with the Nook, which is eager to work with libraries, and offers nearby stores where real human beings are there to help. I'd like to hear from anyone who has dipped toe in water in this way. Andrea
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