I wondered when someone would...

[susandennis]

jimcarson first mentioned the idea a couple of years ago when I was bitching about our library's hold process.  Invariably, they would send me a notice that they had a dozen of my holds in when I could not even carry that many home much less read them all in time.  And this after waiting for weeks with nothing.

He said they should have a system like Netflix.

Well... someone has done it.  www.bookswim.com (edit to fix typo - thanks, Dawn!) - rather an odd name, I think.  And rather a puny selection.  I tried 5 books I was interested in reading and they had none of them. BUT, I applaud their effort.

Back in the dark ages when I lived in Manhattan, every corner had a Sundries shop that sold hair spray and toothpaste and newspapers and coffee and they rented books.  They had a little library of 25 or so of the latest hotest fiction best sellers.  I do not remember how much it cost to rent them but I do remember it was amazingly cheap.  The NYC library's copies were checked out with a waiting list into the next century but the corner shop had a copy just waiting for me.  It was great.

I wonder if they still do that?