Lending Kindle e‐book readers: first results from the Texas A&M University project

This paper aims to evaluate the reception of the Amazon Kindle e‐book lending program at the Texas A&M University Libraries.

The paper presents an analysis of genre of titles requested to be loaded onto the e‐book readers as well as a general review of the e‐book lending model.

The Kindle e‐book readers were extremely popular, and users selected titles for them that were mostly of a general reading nature; academic titles were rarely selected. The Texas A&M lending service has been successful and will continue. Other libraries should investigate e‐book readers to supplement their bestseller and new book collections.

E‐book devices offer sophisticated users a reading option that fits many needs. This is a relatively new way that libraries can offer sophisticated users options for reading; libraries must continue to invest in new ways of delivering content.

This is the first study on e‐book reader lending services in libraries.