Not once per person who reads the book though, only once per library, or more accurately, once per concurrent check out.

In both this and a traditional library, one person buys the book and then a bunch of people read it for free. What are you saying is the difference between those scenarios?

NPR did a good and brief piece on digital lending economics which also talks about how those economics are different from physical lending. Libraries license materials, and the license for a physical book will typically last as long as that book can be circulated(basically until it falls apart).

I've started going to the library more often(and using Libby for e-reading), they might not have the exact book I want, but there is always something I am interested in there.

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/18/1118289764/the-surprising-eco...

I have not checked out a physical book in several years, but I use my library card to rent digital media (primarily audiobooks) all the time.

In many places in the US, anyone can get a card to a library.

So, if everyone had that knowledge, it actually would mean the entire world.

In the county I have my card with, they give a card number over the internet without any kind of address validation, so anyone willing to lie about their address can get a card there. I'm sure that's true for countless counties.

> Without authors getting paid for their work there won't be any books at all, except books from those authors who are willing to write them for free of charge.

You mean except for authors who are willing to write them without charging each reader for a copy.