Would You Use an Online Library?

langeland asks: "I have a friend who is selling subscriptions to an online library of computer literature (for example Books 24x7 or O'Reilly's Safari). He's trying hard to convince me that a library of 3000 books on anything from introductions to various programming languages and reference books to Windows 2003 Server, or MySQL is actually useful. I don't get it - nobody would read a whole book online anyway, so they can only be useful for trouble shooting ad hoc problems (or am I wrong here?). I'm thinking Google is a lot faster for solving problems at the busy job, and you'll probably find good plain web references on most technologies and stick with them. The price for a subscription to Books 24x7 is 400$ a year/seat! Do You have experience with these online libraries? Are they useful and worth the money?"

Comments

I tried it...

[Greasy Spoon]

and didn't get that much value from it. I was able to Google the information I needed. Cancelled my subscription after 3 months...

It's actually not bad

[bbuchs]

I had a subscription to Safari about 8 months ago. I only kept it for 2 months, but while I had it, it was pretty useful.

At the time, I was trying to "expand" my skillset, so I got to have access to several virtual books on one subject - for the same price as one physical copy. I also kept a few reference books in my virtual library - again, cheaper than having a hard copy sitting in the shelf.

In the end, it was only useful for me while I was learning new things - I didn't see it as a long-term solution.

I use O'Reilly Safari

[dakkar]

I am subscribed to the smallest service, 5 slots, 10 USD/month. I find it particularly useful for:

• evaluating books to buy (esp. big references to almost-non-changing subjects)
• looking up some part of a "cookbook"
• reading tutorial-style books (that I won't need around when I'm through with them)

Of course, it's always a matter of balancing the price they ask with the value you get...