BookSwim the new library competition?
I heard about this new company called BookSwim, http://www.bookswim.com/ which advertises itself as an online book rental library. Similar to blockbuster.com or Netflix, you build a cue of books you want to read and they send them to you! They offer no late fees, free shipping both ways and a selection of over 150,000 titles. What are the possible implications of companies like this on libraries? Do we need to rethink how and where we serve our customers? Thoughts?
Comments
If nothing else, we should probably rethink our dependency on fines as a revenue source. We are already being hurt by our refusal to ditch an antiquated fine system at many public libraries. If we continue on this path, services like this one will leave us choking in their dust.
Posted by: Doris Wahl | June 12, 2007 12:08 PM
Libraries are a "free" resource and they don't charge the user to check out a book. As long as that doesn't change, I think many people will avoid using services like Bookswim so they won't have to pay to read. Nonetheless, as an avid Netflix user, it is an intriguing idea.
Posted by: Beth Staats | June 13, 2007 11:39 AM