Owners of the Kindle from Amazon.com will be able to download e-books from 11,000 U.S. libraries later this year, the company said Wednesday.
Most U.S. libraries already provide e-books, which work with nearly all e-readers except the Kindle. They're also accessible on many smartphones and tablets like the iPad.
Amazon.com Inc. says it's working with OverDrive Inc., which runs e-book systems for public libraries, to make the system compatible with the Kindle.
According to OverDrive, Kindle e-books will have the same lending terms as existing library e-books. Most libraries lend their books out for three weeks at a time. The e-books on Kindle will no longer open after that period of time.
Libraries have a limited number of "copies" of each e-book, so borrowers sometimes must wait for popular titles.
OverDrive said borrowers will browse for titles on PCs or phones, and can then choose to have them delivered to a Kindle or Amazon's Kindle applications for other devices, including phones and PCs.
On iPhones and Android phones, borrowers can browse for books and download them directly today.
Shares of Amazon.com Inc., which is based on Seattle, increased $5.05, or 2.8 per cent, to close Wednesday at $183.87.