Is it the end of the line for your eReader?
In April, Amazon announced that as of May 20, 2026, it would discontinue support for Kindle ereaders that were released in 2012 or earlier. Even if the devices are in working condition, users will no longer be able to browse and download books via Amazon; rendering many ereaders useless.
This is devastating news for those of us who have been reading on a completely functional Kindle 4 gifted by their mum on Christmas of 2011. A device recently rediscovered at the back of a drawer after years of disuse because they’re “more of a physical books person” (Hi, it’s me!).
According to this BBC article, it is expected that 2 million devices will be unusable. This will result in an estimated 624 tonnes of e-waste.
If you are left with a Kindle ereader that you can’t use, find your local waste recovery centre here:
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Nillumbik: Recycling Centre - Nillumbik Shire Council
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Whittlesea: Recycling facilities | City of Whittlesea
As a librarian in Australia, I've never been a fan of Kindles. Overdrive's Libby is only available on Kindle in the U.S., meaning we have never been able to offer eBooks to our borrowers with this brand or ereader.
So, how does YPRL help relieve the financial burden of buying a new Kindle, when your fully operational device is the victim of planned obsolescence at the hands of a multi-trillion-dollar corporation?
Let me introduce you to the Library of Things!
This is a collection where our members can borrow useful, non-traditional items like tools, devices, and appliances.
Within our Library of Things, we have an excellent Kindle ereader alternative available to borrow – the Kobo Libra Colour.
When borrowing an ereader from YPRL, you will be able to log in to your Libby account to browse and borrow eBooks. EBooks that you have already borrowed from the Libby app on another device will automatically sync, meaning you won’t lose your position if you are reading across devices.
Highlights of the Kobo Libra Colour:
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Incredibly lightweight (under 200 grams) – no more lugging heavy books around!
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Download multiple books at a time – who doesn’t want more books?
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Fits nicely into your hand – say goodbye to hand cramps from your long reading sessions!
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Adjustable display to suit your needs – no more blue light when reading at bedtime!
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Colour screen – perfect for reading graphic novels!
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Built-in dictionary – no more going online looking for a definition and suddenly realising you’re somehow scrolling TikTok an hour later!
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Customiseable fonts – especially useful for readers who benefit from dyslexic font!
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Track your stats – see just how avid of a reader you are!
One thing I often hear from our library members is that they prefer physical books, and for this reason will not try eBooks. I was one of those people! There is no doubt that reading a physical book is a special experience, but as a reformed appreciator of ereaders, I urge our borrowers to give the Kobo Libra Colour a try. I found so many benefits by switching to an ereader, and I quickly went from being an occasional reader to someone who reads multiple times a day, every day.
You never know, you might just love it. Happy reading!