Amazon Kindle users can begin checking out e-books at more 11,000 libraries throughout the United States, the company announced today (Sept. 21).
E-books will be delivered to customers’ devices using Amazon’s wireless delivery service, Whispersync, which automatically synchronizes their margin notes, highlights and bookmarks, real page numbers, Facebook and Twitter integration, and more.
"Normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no. But we're fixing this by extending our Whispersync technology to library books, so your notes, highlights and bookmarks are always backed up and available the next time you check out the book or if you decide to buy the book," Amazon Kindle director Jay Marine said in a statement.
Kindle users don't need to visit their local library to check out an e-book. They just need to visit the library website. From there they can search for and select a book to borrow.
[Read also ‘ eReader Buyers' Guide.’]
Once a book is chosen, customers can choose "Send to Kindle" and they will be redirected to Amazon.com to log in to their account. The book will be delivered to their device via Wi-Fi, or it can be transferred from their computer via USB.
Library e-book checkout will work on any generation of Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry or Windows Phone, as well as in the user's Web browser with Kindle Cloud Reader.
Kindle ebook lending will be free, Amazon said, and the availability of books and length of loan will vary by library.