Library Lending on the Amazon Kindle

It was announced last week from Amazon that you will soon be able to read e-books borrowed and downloaded from libraries on the Amazon Kindle. This was quite exciting news because that was one of the few things lacking in the Kindle as an e-Reader compared to all the other ones (NOOK, Sony, etc.)


Here is the blurb from Amazon's website:

Later this year, Kindle customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from more than 11,000 libraries in the United States through the new Kindle Library Lending feature.

When Kindle Library Lending is launched, you will be able to check out a Kindle book from your local library and start reading on any Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone. Kindle Library Lending will provide the same unique features as Kindle and Kindle books, including the ability to read on any Kindle or free Kindle app, Whispersync technology that synchronizes your notes, highlights and last page read, real page numbers, and more. After a library book expires, if you ever decide to check it out again or purchase it from Amazon, all of your annotations and bookmarks will be preserved.

You'll be able to borrow Kindle library books from any of the more than 11,000 libraries that work with OverDrive, the leading provider of digital content solutions for libraries.

Availability of books and length of loan will vary by library. Kindle Library Lending will only available for U.S. customers at launch.

That is awesome! While I am still mulling over my decision to buy an e-Reader or not, this definitely adds a whole new element to the decision. I was sold on a Kindle last year, but when I found out that it wouldn't read ePubs (which is the file that libraries offer), I quickly changed my mind. I might have to change it back. My birthday is coming up in a few months! *ahem* hubby *ahem*


What do you think about this new feature? Do any of you currently have a Kindle? Does this added feature change anyone else's mind about purchasing on in the future as well?