One of the most exciting things to observe is all the possible niches we can find for new technology; how someone’s great idea can be integrated into so many different lives. A blog can unite house wives, professionals, and dog lovers. A site like e-bay can bring together collectors, gift hunters, and those with crowded garages. And as for e books, they’re just beginning. We know they’re great for children and travelers and waiting rooms, but one hotel in New York City is taking the dream even further.

The Algonquin Hotel, long known and justly proud for its clientele of famous writers such as William Faulkner and Gertrude Stein, is extending its literary roots. In September 2008 (coinciding with National Literacy Month), the hotel launched a digital book service, offering free loans of Amazon’s Kindle, pre-loaded with requests and classics. It is a captivating combination of literacy and convenience, offering travelers a getaway within a getaway. We can only hope that more hotels will take the hint and offer a copy of Moby Dick along with a pillow mint.