The library now has ebooks in the Kindle format available for checkout through eMedia Library.

That is awesome! Thanks for the post.

Yay!! thanks for the head's up!

That's different - Amazon is thinking about starting up a netflix like rental system where there will be a monthly charge. This is free.

Well, I suppose it may cost the library something. I think the library has to purchase a copy of the book in each format, i.e epub, .pdf and/or .azw

The GEPL is a member of the Aurora-based DuPage Library System... I suspect this Kindle deal was negotiated by the County and applies to all of its libraries.

When I was on the GEPL board some 8-10 years ago a majority of the trustees were anti-technology... the overall Luddite view was that libraries should be about paper-and-ink only, and that any information storage and distribution that had to do with non-print media — computers, video, audio etc. — did not belong. Modern audiovisual and online services were mostly forced on the GEPL by its participation in the County system.

If things are still the same, the GEPL trustees did not welcome this new service — it would “compete” with “real” books — but they had no choice. Hope I'm wrong and that times have changed.

Here's an article that elaborates a bit:
NYT Link

Pollux - As I read it, the library (or library system) buys x copies and can "e-lend" to x patrons concurrently.