Moreover, Pew research suggests that a third of library eBook patrons might have bought the books they are borrowing had they been unable to find it at the library.

FORBES: Why Public Libraries Matter: And How They Can Do More

As a result, game-app makers, who used to rely mostly on word-of-mouth to move their products, have been forced to ratchet up the cost and fanfare of their marketing campaigns to rival those for lower-end videogames and books, even borrowing from Hollywood's playbook.

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When I was in grad school, I wrote my dissertation by going to the library and borrowing periodicals and books off the shelf.

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The 2% of Americans who currently do it are the vanguard, he said, and as more publishers join up with libraries and libraries educate more patrons about the benefits of borrowing e-books, that number will increase.

FORBES: What Is Going On With Library E-Book Lending?

When you lend one of your books, you earn credits toward borrowing someone else's book for free.

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You'll need a library card, of course -- so if you don't already have one (more than 40% of Americans don't), borrowing free e-books might be a good reason to finally visit your public library and get a library card.

CNN: E-book lending: Your public library's best kept secret?

And we'd like to make sure that parents have the ability to deduct a decent amount of the cost of college tuition, books, what have you, that they're borrowing money for, that they're saving for, for their children that are in college.

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African-Americans, Hispanics, and those who live in lower-income households are more likely than others to say they would be interested in borrowing pre-loaded e-reading devices and take classes about how to use the devices and download books.

CNN: E-book lending: Your public library's best kept secret?