There's no reason the iPad can't have a library application just like iBooks, tied to my account at my local public library. But I just hate the implications.

I'm strongly against DRM because we've already seen that DRM'd purchases become worthless as soon as the seller goes out of business, or even shuts down their DRM server. And of course I want the freedom to move my media around on my various devices. DRM is the opposite of future-proof. Heck, it's practically present-proof.

But non-DRM e-book in an open format? Yeah, I'd buy those.

But... for libraries to distribute e-books they just have to be DRM, right? I can't see any way around it. Otherwise they literally can give away an unlimited number of copies for free. Which I don't imagine publishers would like. A library "purchasing" a limited number of DRM'd e-book licenses makes a certain amount of sense, from a practical standpoint. And since I'm just borrowing the e-book for a short time my personal issues with DRM go away. DRM is a perfectly acceptable short-term solution.

But then the library has the problem - their purchases are subject to the whims of the publisher. Really they are just renting the books. And maybe that's a good business model for libraries, but it certainly goes against a lot of tradition.

Not sure if this helps answer your question, but after the iPad announcement had spurred some patrons to ask if our ebooks would be compatible with it, I contacted Overdrive (my personal favorite of the downloadable vendors we offer). This is the email I got in response:

"At this time, we are continuing to monitor information on the device as Apple makes it available. Once the device is commercially available, we will test the device firsthand and work to determine compatibility with content provided by OverDrive. In addition to technical support, we are also working to confirm specifics on the ultimate end-user experience before we more formally comment on compatibility."

I think we need to wait and see how folks use them once they get them this March/April...

I am concerned that the DRM EPUB and PDF files we can lend as libraries will not be able to work on the iPad. I have an iPhone right now and can't get them on, even though I can download them with Adobe Digital Editions and read them on my mac. Stanza has said they are working on a way to allow DRM versions to be transfered to the iPhone, but haven't come up with a way yet.

If there isn't a way to add your own DRM EPUB or PDF files to the "bookstore" on your iPad, then it probably won't work.

However, if it syncs well with Adobe Digital Editions, it will be AWESOME! I will definitely buy it in that case...otherwise, I may still get it, but I'll have to weigh it against other tablet/slate PCs out there.

I have a PC and a Mac at home and would probably sync it with my PC since there are so many limits on the Mac still.

In the tech community, there's been plenty of discussion on the pros and cons of the iPad. Granted, it hasn't been entirely focused on ebook reading, but that was an expected function that many expected Apple to capitalize on. The main cons of the iPad as an ebook technology seem to be its shorter battery life, its price, and an uncertainty about its management of ebook access (especially tricky in a library setting).

If what your library is looking for is a cheaper pseudo-laptop that may function as an ebook reader, the iPad is the way to go. But until there is further feedback from users, with a more developed understanding of the functionalities of the iPad, I can't see that it makes sense to purchase one straight off. The price, for one, is not prohibitive but is still more than most (reflecting the fact that it's more than an ebook reader, of course). Not to mention that within a few cycles, the iPad will undoubtedly be cheaper and better. If you've already got functional Kindles (or whatever), jumping on the Apple bandwagon makes no sense to me. Apple deserves to be doing well because of their innovative products, and as consumers we ought to pay for innovation, not reputation. I think we have yet to see how that will play out in the case of the iPad.

Before I begin, let me lay out my mac background, so I don't sound like some windows\microsoft fanatic: My first computer was an Apple IIe. I went to a high school that used exclusively apple computers, and I was, eventually, the Volunteer Tech Support staff for my high school (As part of a "real life learning" program). I love Macs, for their simplicity of use, and the design and functionality of the hardware. I love the fact that my older relatives never have to call with questions. That being said, I still believe the following statements.

First of all, The Ipad is going to be ridiculously expensive, relative to any other e-book reader I've seen.
Secondly, legally speaking, "working around" the legally allowed system created for it's acquisition of e-books is probably a bad idea.
Third, I've been reading about apple's plans for e-book distributors, which generally seems to involve strong-arming anyone who wants to work with them into having higher prices, and I'm not in favor of paying more for the e-book than I would for the regular hardcopy version of the book. Fourth, as far as I can tell, the Ipad is simply a larger version of the Ipod touch(with only a few additional features), which already does e-book reading, through a variety of apps, and costs significantly less than the ipad will, presumably, cost.

In summation, I think that the current Ipad, and it's e-book business model, as I've seen it layed out, are a horrible idea, and should never be considered by any library.

That all being said, since the Ipad isn't actually out yet, I'm going to wait and see before I make up my mind about it.