Renting a Book

“Today convenience is the success factor of just about every type of product and service that is showing steady growth.” –Charles G. Mortimer

For the movie buffs, there’s NetFlix. You select a movie, it’s delivered to your door, and you return it when you’re finished. Now someone has taken that same concept and applied it for book lovers. It’s called BookSwim. The books are shipped to your home in recycled packaging and you keep them as long as you wish.

BookSwim cannot be good news for bookstores or online booksellers. I’m torn as to whether this service will help or hurt authors. On the one hand, there’s the added exposure. On the other, like a library, the book is borrowed—not purchased, although there is that option.

Because I couldn’t find The Ride listed, I assume the selection is not as great as on Amazon.com. However, they did have many titles from which to choose, including textbooks.

I haven’t signed up because I’m a bookstore fan. I love browsing. I also enjoy owning the books I read. But, I do think it is a very clever idea and offers a valuable service to readers, especially for anyone who doesn’t live near a library or bookstore.

Would you use a service like BookSwim?

Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: NetFlix, BookSwim, The Ride, Charles Mortimer, Amazon