A Netflix for Books?

For those people too lazy to visit a library:

BookSwim aims to be the "Netflix of books." Since 1998, Netflix has become the king of online DVD services by renting batches of DVDs via the mail for a fixed monthly fee, and letting subscribers keep the movies as long as they like.

That's how BookSwim is meant to work. For $15 to $20 per month, the company will send your top five book choices. Return three books in a prepaid envelope, and your next three choices will be mailed to you.

For now, the founders are the only employees and will handle the mailing themselves. Assuming demand develops, they plan to hire part-time helpers.

Link: A trip to the library, just outside your door (Minneapolis Star-Tribune),

via BookNinja.

I would strongly encourage people considering this service to look closer at what their public libraries offer for free.  Many now have weekend hours and special programs for people with disabilities, including book delivery by mail, not to mention a much bigger selection of books.