[WEB4LIB] Booklend??

[Jerry Kuntz]

If the guy was trying to start a peer-to-peer book lending network, I'd at least give him points for trying to tap a great potential. After all, there is a wealth of unique resources collecting dust on home bookshelves. However, the benefit of such a network compared to library ILL networks is so marginal that few people would ever take the time to catalog their personal libraries (assuming your average Jane or Joe could catalog!) 
If any media found Booklend newsworthy, they either don't have a clue or are promoting the idea that publicly funded libraries aren't necessary. 

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Andrew Mutch <amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us>
Reply-To: amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us
Date:  Fri, 22 Mar 2002 15:39:55 -0800 (PST)

>I've seen a few references lately to "Booklend" and I guess I just don't see
>what the excitement is all about. The premise behind "Booklend" is that this guy
>in Boston will loan out books from his collection to people across the US and
>Canada who request them through his site.  He'll even pay for the shipping to
>send them to you and ship them back and there's no due date. OK, so if you get a
>book through ILL, they normally expect it back at some point. But other than
>that, it sounds like this guy is spending a lot of money to try and duplicate
>what libraries all over the country are doing.
>
>Maybe people don't realize that many libraries allow you to place online
>requests and that they can get titles from all over the country via ILL?
>Someone needs to tell this reviewer:
>
>"If the awkward mating dance of libraries and the web could break into a smooth
>waltz, it'd look something like Booklend..."
>
>or this
>
>"...Booklend is a thrilling example of web's power to democratize reading and a
>love of books."
>
>http://www.centralbooking.com/readfreeordie_current.shtml?readFreeOrDie=18
>
>OK, there are some awkward issues involving libraries and the web but the
>ability to request items from libraries via the web has only been a huge
>positive in my experience.  Even "Booklend" admits this:
>
>"...If the book you're interested in is always unavailable, keep checking back
>or check out some of our other fascinating books. And think about looking for
>the popular book at your local library. Remember, Booklend is like your local
>library. Except smaller. And less convenient."
>
>http://www.booklend.net/faq.php
>
>Or maybe start by checking your local libraries online catalog.
>
>OK, it's cool that this guy is willing to provide this service and it's his
>money and he can do what he wants with it. But it is frustrating to see people
>and the press coo over a service that libraries provide every day like its never
>been done before.  I guess it's one more example of how libraries need to work a
>lot harder to make people aware of the range of services that are available
>online.
>
>Andrew Mutch
>Library Systems Technician
>Waterford Township Public Library
>Waterford, MI
>
>
>

--
Jerry Kuntz
Electronic Resources Consultant
Ramapo Catskill Library System
jkuntz at rcls.org

--