Amazon will transform 11,000 library environments with Overdrive. On April 20, 2011, Amazon and Kindle e-reader will work with libraries to provide downloadable e-books. The Kindle library lending feature will debut later this year. Indeed, more than 11,000 US public libraries will have easy access to e-books. This will create new opportunities to transform the library into a learning environment.
In the future, we will see more spaces that provide plug-play technology. We will see libraries with more seats and less collection shelving. The library will strive to be a social space in this new environment. This will increase access to library content and generate communities of practice. Libraries will need space to integrated information literacy programs and offer scholarly aggregation tools.
Watch out – the e-book Overdrive / Kindle is the first out of the gate to transform the way we read at the library.
