>Anyway, libraries have done this book-passing for centuries, and writers and publishers are still afloat. What's the difference?
>
>Most libraries only carry a very very small % of what's available - and as far as new/recent books, an even lower %.
>
>And by the way, just to clarify, I am ONLY talking about computer books - very few are found in libraries.

True enough. The average library patron is probably not very interested in a book about VS 2010... And even if they were, they would probably want to own that particular book, because it is reference material rather than throwaway fiction. Same, I suppose, goes for circulating a technical book within a group of interested people, so I don't think Mike's initiative would actually affect sales of this particular book negatively, probably quite on the contrary -- at least if the book is good.