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August 09, 2006
NetFlix or Amazon for home delivery of items to library users?
Okay, strokes of brilliance happen few and far between, but I think Helene Blowers (of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County) had one in a conversation she had with Michael Casey, Michael Stephens, and Carol Myers.
Instead of using the Netflix model to distribute materials to our users at home, why not use Amazon Library Processing? The user can request the item, we purchase it, have Amazon process it with spine labels, cataloging and all, and have them ship it directly to the user. Once the user is done with it, (s)he can return it to the library, and since it's already been processed, it can now enter the general library collection. What a great idea! To quote Mr. Michael Stephens himself: HOT!
August 9, 2006 | Permalink
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Comments
Thanks Helene! I think many of us are watching with hopeful hearts.
Posted by: Sarah Houghton (LiB) | August10, 2006
I definitely think libraries should be exploring a wide variety of different models for delivering content (books, e-books, audiobooks and more) to patrons.
Posted by: Richard Akerman | August10, 2006
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the nod of approval. It's definitely an idea worth pursuing. I'll let you know when we give it a try.
Helene
Posted by: Helene Blowers | August10, 2006
I like it Sarah! Very much along the lines of what we've been trying to do in Western Canada with direct delivery to the end (distance) user for document delivery, but with a commercial supplier instead of another library.
Posted by: Paul R. Pival | August 9, 2006
What an incredible idea! And what a great customer service concept...
Posted by: Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran | August 9, 2006
