Public Libraries & ebooks...

[terrie]

There was an interesting article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/as-demand-for-e-books-soars-libraries-struggle-to-stock-their-virtual-shelves/2012/01/13/gIQAkIOXzP_story.html) in The Washington Post today (Sunday) about public libraries and ebooks. A few excerpts:

"Checking out e-books without having to leave home — just as you would buy a title online: click and boom, there it is — might be the fastest-growing segment in the library business these days. But the experience is often far from the on-demand satisfaction people have come to expect from their laptops, tablets and smartphones. Want to take out the new John Grisham? Get in line. As of Friday morning, 288 people were ahead of you in the Fairfax County Public Library system, waiting for one of 43 copies. You’d be the 268th person waiting for"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"... And the Steve Jobs biography? Forget it. The publisher, Simon & Schuster, doesn’t make any of its digital titles available to libraries."

"And thousands of books are simply unavailable — not because they’re checked out, but because many publishers have strictly limited the number of e-books made available to libraries or have withheld them altogether."

"Several library systems have pushed back against publishers who limit their content, refusing to buy from them and speaking out about how such restrictions upend more than 200 years of collaboration between publishers and libraries to make information available to the public."


The link above is to the main Post webpage for the article and if you have a problem accessing it--you may need to log in and The Washington Post website is terrible--then try this print version link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/as-demand-for-e-books-soars-libraries-struggle-to-stock-their-virtual-shelves/2012/01/13/gIQAkIOXzP_print.html).


Terrie

[annc]

Yes, it's a minefield in the US. And many publishers make their titles available for download in the US and Europe, but not in other areas such as Australia and New Zealand. This is not just for e-books, but for audio books as well. The publishing industry is just not getting it.

[Steve Rindsberg]

>> Want to take out the new John Grisham? Get in line.

I can see where that'd be a problem for our Instant Gratification GimmeGimme Now! society, but how is that any different from paper books? I'm not happy about some of the ways publishers have dealt with ebooks, but I'm inclined to land on their side on this 'un.

If there's no measure of fairness for them, no room for them to make a profit, why should they go along? The library buys 2 paper copies, they have 2 copies to distribute. That seems fair.

If they feel that this will be a hugely popular book, maybe they buy 100 copies. The patrons are happier, the author and publisher are justly rewarded, Maud's in her heaven and all's right with the world.

If the library can somehow distribute an infinite number of copies on demand for the same price as one, what sane publisher would agree to the deal?

Anyone who wants to read about violent tattooed scandinavian women can do so on demand. Just buy it. Just like the paper one only lighter and in their hands faster.

OTOH, publishers who impose silly limitations/paperwork on the libraries (renewing a license every 26 checkouts? c'mon, get real) are being unreasonable.

Refusing to provide eBooks to libraries when they're available for purchase elsewhere, well. *I* think that's being short-sighted, but they may consider it simple prudence; waiting to see how fragile the protections are before trusting the family jewels to them.

[terrie]

ann: Yes, it's a minefield in the US. And many publishers make their titles available for download in the US and Europe, but not in other areas such as Australia and New Zealand. This is not just for e-books, but for audio books as well. I was hoping you'd pop in because I was wondering if you guys had the same sorts of problems with publishers...they are indeed not getting it at all...

Terrie

[terrie]

steve: If the library can somehow distribute an infinite number of copies on demand for the same price as one, what sane publisher would agree to the deal?But I don't think that's what happening?

If I'm understanding things correctly, the library buys X number of ebooks just as they buy X number of physical books and lend out only the number available so on one level the question is how many of each is it appropriate to buy--what is the optimum mix of physical to ebook? I guess the sticky bit is that an ebook doesn't deteriorate as a physical book does so eventually there is a loss to the publisher because the library would not be buying replacement copies. Perhaps the publisher could adjust the price of the ebook to reflect that loss of future revenue but someone would need to do the analysis of what would be fair based on how often libraries buy replacement books?

I was really surprised that some publishers won't sell ebooks to libraries.

Terrie

[annc]

I was really surprised that some publishers won't sell ebooks to libraries.Libraries are discriminated against at all levels of the book trade. We cop heaps from borrowers who see their favourite author's latest title in Target while our copies haven't arrived, even though the order was placed as soon as the title was announced by the publisher(often over 12 months earlier). The distributors here dispatch orders placed by bookshops and other retailers before they dispatch those placed by library suppliers. Then we have to accession, catalogue and process them before sending them to the branches. And yes, I hate the use of 'accession' as a verb just as much now as i did in 1965 when I came across the term on my very first working day in a library. :)

[terrie]

ann: Libraries are discriminated against at all levels of the book trade.I had no idea...


>>And yes, I hate the use of 'accession' as a verb just as much now as i did in 1965 when I came across the term on my very first working day in a library. :)

LOL!!!

Terrie

[Steve Rindsberg]

>> If I'm understanding things correctly, the library buys X number of ebooks just as they buy X number of physical books and lend out only the number available

I'd assume so (where's Ann when we need a RealitySlap?). So I don't quite understand what the news article is whining about, apart from being a whiny "MeMeMe" type. ;-)

[Steve Rindsberg]

But I'll bet you hate "deaccession" more. ;-)

As much as I hang around museum folk, it still makes me cringe.

[Kelvyn]

And many publishers make their titles available for download in the US and Europe

They are available from a limited number of county libraries in the UK, but there are too many restrictions. A "loan" is for 21 days - it will be inaccessible after that time. But, if you read it in a couple of days you cannot "return" it to the library so somebody else can read it. And with a limited number of copies of each book available, and with each copy needing re-licensing by the library (at a cost) after every 28 or so downloads then it is not surprising that people are unhappy.

The format used here is epub, which is perfect for those of us using Sony, Kobo, netbook or tablet readers, but useless for Kindle owners. Not a problem for me with my Sony and Eee Pad readers, but my neighbour has a Kindle so is effectively cut off from this part of the library service.

Interestingly, most libraries now offer audiobooks for download. Here there is no problem with numbers, if a book is listed it is available for immediate download. You can "borrow" up to 10 audio books at a time, and eah is set to expire after 21 days. After this you can download it again if you wish. The system uses Windows Media Player for DRM, I don't know if there is a Mac equivalent.

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

Wouldn't a library buy one ebook file with a limited number of simultaneous downloads ?

It's a digital world ....

[Steve Rindsberg]

Well ... "buy" in a virtual sense, where # of simultaneous copies checked out would equal number of eBooks bought.

[terrie]

kelvyn: A "loan" is for 21 days - it will be inaccessible after that time. But, if you read it in a couple of days you cannot "return" it to the library so somebody else can read it.There was a letter to the editor in The Washington Post today that in Fairfax County (where I live--Virigina), the ebook loan time options are 7, 14 or 21 days and the letter writer makes the same point that if she returns the ebook before the end of the loan time, it is unavailable to anyone else until the end of the chosen loan time.

Another letter stated that publishers are happy to have long lines ("interminable" was the word used) at a public library for ebooks because it might push people to just buy the book. Of course, there is the option of going to the library and checking out the physical book...'-}}

Terrie

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

Virtually correct ....

[Kelvyn]

Of course, there is the option of going to the library and checking out the physical book...'-}}

Even better, I can request the book on-line and it will be reserved for 10 days waiting for me to pick it up. If a copy is not available in our local library then it will either be sent over from another branch or even a neighbouring county. If all copies are on loan, then the first one to be returned will be reserved. In these cases I get an email when it becomes available - and maybe a phone call from a friendly librarian. They make borrowing books so easy.

[terrie]

kelvyn: They make borrowing books so easy. Sure sounds like it...'-}}

Terrie

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

I'm no 188 on the list of 189 for the latest Alex Cross book ..... so I should get an email in a few months!

I love the online setup with physical books since I can request (and I've had them bring in some really unusual books including an Art book on a specific painter that I didn't expect to find in the USA ... and they found it across the bay in the University library. WorldCat is great for this.

And I can renew on line too.

[annc]

Interestingly, most libraries now offer audiobooks for download. Here there is no problem with numbers, if a book is listed it is available for immediate download. You can "borrow" up to 10 audio books at a time, and eah is set to expire after 21 days. After this you can download it again if you wish. The system uses Windows Media Player for DRM, I don't know if there is a Mac equivalent.Sounds like OverDrive (http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/), which is the most commonly used audio book download supplier for libraries. I introduced it in my library service in late 2006. They have a range of formats, and yes, there is a Mac version of their control panel now. There are also iPad/iPhone formats for many titles. The problem is still the licensing, which excludes Australia and New Zealand by some publishers.

[annc]

I'm no 188 on the list of 189 for the latest Alex Cross book ..... so I should get an email in a few months!Your library's collection development librarian will be watching the request rate for each title and getting a regular report on which titles have more than 5 current requests for each copy. For standing order authors, history will have taught her how many should be ordered when the publisher announces the forthcoming title. Check your online catalogue and see how many copies are in circulation. That should give you some idea of when you can expect to see your copy, bearing in mind that some borrowers will return theirs early, some will keep theirs until they get their second overdue notice, and others will never return theirs. :)

Oh, and depending on your library's ILS, you might be able to set up profiles so that you get an e-mail as soon as the titles of your favourite authors are ordered (sometimes more than 12 months before publication). The e-mail contains a link to the bib record for the title, so you can reserve it online and get it early.

I love the online setup with physical books since I can request (and I've had them bring in some really unusual books including an Art book on a specific painter that I didn't expect to find in the USA ... and they found it across the bay in the University library. WorldCat is great for this.ILL is one of the great library services. When I started working in libraries, we had to check massive looseleaf union catalogues and then hand-write 7-part forms to request ILLs. These were then posted off and we waited for either the item to arrive, or one of the copies of the request to be returned, advising that the item wasn't available. Then we'd go back to the union list and look for another possible supplier. This is one of the services that has had huge improvements in the past 20 years. As a junior I used to have to file the replacement sheets in those union catalogues, so I was thrilled when the microfiche versions came out, because we were sent a whole new set of fiche each time they were updated. :D

And I can renew on line too.Does your library allow you to renew after the item has become overdue as long as there are no reservations for it?

[Steve Rindsberg]

>> This is one of the services that has had huge improvements in the past 20 years.

It always surprised me that auto junk yards had an inter-yard parts system years before the libraries computerized. But then again, when there's money to be made, it's easier to find the money. And the junk yards had nowhere *near* the number of "parts" to catalog that a library does.

ILL's wonderful now, though. Herself can look a book up online, request it and like as not get a phone call within days to let her know that the book is available for pick up at the college where she teaches part-time. For her, access to the ILL system outweighs the pay as a reward for teaching there, in fact.

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

Plenty for me to work my way through and check out ...

The waiting list is for the whole county and they have 47 copies so it's not as bad as it seems with ILL inside the county system.

We can renew after overdue but have to pay the fine (and if we renew early it adds from the date of renewal not expiry) but they do have a one day grace period since they put the daily fine up from 10¢ to 15¢ .....

[annc]

We can renew after overdue but have to pay the fine (and if we renew early it adds from the date of renewal not expiry) but they do have a one day grace period since they put the daily fine up from 10¢ to 15¢ .....Depending on your ILS, your library service could also e-mail you a couple of days before the items are due, reminding you that they are due in x days, with a link to your account so you can renew then.

Most ILSs allow the libraries to decide whether renewals before the due date calculate the new due date from the renewal date or the original due date. But very few libraries choose the original due date, because library patrons work out that they can get a double loan period for everything. :)

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

I do get advisories -- well designed ones.

[annc]

I do get advisories -- well designed ones.Wow! Ours are basic text e-mails, no fancy formatting. Although they are xml files...