Penguin suspends ebook library lending

AP reported earlier today that Penguin Group has suspended making e-editions of new books available to libraries and won't allow libraries to loan any e-books for Amazon.com's Kindle e-readers and tablets.

Why? "We have always placed a high value on the role that libraries can play in connecting our authors with our readers," the publisher announced in a statement Monday according to AP. "However, due to new concerns about the security of our digital editions, we find it necessary to delay the availability of our new titles in the digital format while we resolve these concerns with our business partners."

You could only wonder if this is really the issue here or it's actually about revenues, or more specifically lost revenues Penguin is worried about. Somehow I got the feeling that a financial arrangement will sort this out, not an extra safeguard on Penguin's digital editions.

More updates on ebook lending can be found on our ebook lending page.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

What can you do with your old phone books and lottery tickets? How about building a new house!

Here's an innovative green idea (thanks for Grist! for sharing it): Texas Tech researchers are testing a new type of building block from Mason Greenstar. The new material called Blox are marketed as an energy efficient and environmentally friendly building material. The blox are made partially from recycled shredded Texas Lottery tickets and shredded phone books.

How cool is that? Students from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas Tech are conducting the research and you can further learn about their work in this video:




For more information on the Greenstar blox visit http://www.masongreenstar.com/

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!