Photo by spiggycat.

While 2010 seemed to be the year that you could hardly set foot on the Metro without bumping into someone entranced by their Kindle, the one big knock on Amazon’s popular e-reader was that it did not support any kind of e-book lending program, while the Nook and Sony’s e-reader did. That should change later this year. Amazon has announced that it has partnered with Overdrive to launch Kindle Library Lending at 11,000 libraries nationwide, likely including in the District.

You can check to see which libraries near you support Overdrive. D.C., Arlington County and Montgomery County should be covered.

But don’t read this as an advertorial for the Kindle. While Kindles have generally been getting cheaper and cheaper, there are also free Kindle apps available for most smartphones and tablets.