That looks to be on the tentative mend, as the publisher and 3M have together cut deals with the Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library to bring Penguin's e-book catalog back as part of a test program.

ENGADGET: Penguin slinks back into e-book lending for New York City libraries, with a possible catch

Random House is the only major publisher to make e-books of its entire catalog available to any public library for unrestricted lending.

CNN: E-book lending: Your public library's best kept secret?