>The direct to consumer model already exists.

Which doesn't imply that more aren't needed or possible.

Why couldn't overdrive simply cut a deal where a group of people (a school, a county, a company with benefits) is allowed to 'check out' a copy. Archive.org has that sort of concept for individuals of course (for free). I don't see any value added by getting the library involved (which are mostly just free internet, warming/cooling centers and bathrooms for the homeless, a source of self-help books and romance novels for a tiny section of an ageing population).

To be fair, the feature creep in public libraries is important to keep the iron rice bowl full. It would be more honest to put together a local 'activity center' that happens to have a few books.