Publishers Weekly has an article in PW Daily about book rentals by mail(book rental library club) a la Netflix. The primary player is Booksfree, but now there is also Bookswim. Founders George and Shamoon write about how Bookswim came into existence:
“March 2006 — we spent our Thursday night as always, freeloading books in our local behemoth bookstore cafe. When asked to pay for the books along with the coffee, No, we’re just gonna read them and put them back; but thanks for asking.”
Now this kind of behavior should never be condoned, but we noticed a pattern; everyone else was doing it, although maybe not so openly. If all of these people are simply reading, why aren’t they vagrantly loitering at a library? It’s free! Well, there’s no double mocha lattes at the library; but through our research to find answer we discovered that the whole literary distribution model needed to be turned upside down.”
Anyone had any experience with either of these clubs?
Well…
People probably aren’t hanging out and reading at the library because that’s what homeless bums do. It’s classier at the bookstore. Hell, I don’t even sit around reading at my local libraries because their selections aren’t as good, they’re decorated awfully, and they’re full of the neighborhood idiots I spend most of my time trying to avoid. They also smell funny.
Of course, I don’t hang out and read at the bookstore either but that’s more because I prefer reading in privacy and on my bed in general.
Re:Well…
hey there!
BookSwim offers the best online book rental period.
If I have to sum it up:
150,000 titles. AND GROWING.
shipping is free for you. ALWAYS.
no late fees. EVER.
I hope you check us out.
p.s. the next time I am in my local library, with its leather seats and bombay-type lighting arrangements, I’ll be sure to dress for the occasion in the fear of looking like a so-called “bum”. ha!
S.Negraval
we have to do a better job
Public libraries have to improve their collections (and seating and lighting and even their cafes) if we are going to survive against this sort of competition.
Re:Well…
Hey Shamoon, c’mon out of your shell and identify yourself.