Local libraries should try to rival Amazon and Tesco in the push to attract a new generation of youngsters, a minister said today.
They should lend out books by post in the same way that LoveFilm sends out DVDs and offer loyalty cards that will give regular readers free DVD loans.
And Culture Minister Margaret Hodge advised librarians to give library tickets to newborn babies in the hope that they will get an early love of books to 'last them through life'.
[Snip]
The Culture Minister told the Public Library Association conference yesterday: 'In a nutshell, this is all about getting whatever the library equivalent might be for bums on seats. If we make our service popular; if we ensure it is well and widely used, it will be much more difficult to chop it when times are tough.
[Snip]
We need to offer young people something new and distinctive. You're absolutely right to get cross when politicians like me deal in stereotypes of the libraries of our own childhoods, and ignore all the great work that does go on.
[Snip]
Among her suggestions were that libraries should sell books as well as lend them. Mrs Hodge said: 'How about a tie-in with Amazon: you've borrowed the book, now send a brand new copy to a friend.'
Source; Daily Mail
Ed. Note: Things are a bit different here in the United States. I can't speak for other nations. Many libraries including public libraries provide free (with a library card, of course) immediate online access to full text, full image articles. More and more libraries are also offering free immediate access (no envelopes required) to e-books, audiobooks, and video content (including movies) that can be downloaded to any computer and played back on a wide variety of players. A few weeks ago we posted about how one company in this space, Overdrive, is beginning to allow users to download content over the air. They've started with Windows Mobile with iPhone and Blackberry versions in the works. Other players in this space include NetLibrary,ebrary, and Safari Tech Books.
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