# Online Libraries

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-libraries/345396>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 20, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-libraries/345396 "2006-02-20T23:47:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![EnginNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@EnginNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnginNerd)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-libraries/345396/1 "2006-02-20T23:47:10Z")

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Does such a thing exist? I’m not talking about getting books that I can read on my computer, I’ve found plenty of those types of sites.

But I’m thinking of something more along the lines of Netflix for books. You see, I often like to read books of a technical nature, and if you’ve ever had to purchase any of these, you know they typically run in the $40 to $100 range. I get what I can from my local library system, but they technology and engineering sections are very limited and fairly out of date for the most part. My library system also offers inter-library loans, but they are troublesome to locate items and can take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks to get a book once requested.

To combat this, I’ve taken to getting used books whenever possible, or having my employer cover it whenever I can get away with that (not often enough!). But what I’d really like is some system where I can get professional techincal books online for some (low) flat monthly fee (and maybe shipping if necessary).

Does anyone know if such a thing exists? If not, do I have a good idea for a business plan here 😃