Amazon today announced Kindle Library Lending, a new feature launching later this year that will allow Kindle customers to borrow Kindle books from many U.S. public libraries.
Kindle Library Lending will be available for all generations of Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps.
Amazon's customers will be able to check out a Kindle book from their local library and start reading on any Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone. If a Kindle book is checked out again or that book is purchased from Amazon, all of a customer's annotations and bookmarks will be preserved.
"Normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no. But we're extending our Whispersync technology so that you can highlight and add margin notes to Kindle books you check out from your local library. Your notes will not show up when the next patron checks out the book. But if you check out the book again, or subsequently buy it, your notes will be there just as you left them, perfectly Whispersynced," said Jay Marine, Director, Amazon Kindle.
With Kindle Library Lending, Amazon's customers wil lbe able to take advantage of all of the features of Kindle and Kindle books, including:
- Paper-like Pearl electronic-ink display
- No glare even in bright sunlight
- Lighter than a paperback - weighs just 8.5 ounces and holds up to 3,500 books
- Up to one month of battery life with wireless off
- Read everywhere with free Kindle apps for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry and Windows Phone
- Whispersync technology wirelessly sync your books, notes, highlights, and last page read across Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
- Real Page Numbers - easily reference passages with page numbers that correspond to actual print editions
Amazon is working with OverDrive, the provider of digital content solutions for over 11,000 public and educational libraries in the United States, to bring a library borrowing experience to Kindle customers.
Kindle Library Lending will be available later this year for Kindle and free Kindle app users.