Ebooks for Libraries: Still a Ripoff, BY ANNOYED LIBRARIAN

Info courtesy: Suresh D Nair

Extract:

It’s rare to see informed journalism about libraries and ebooks. Most news articles I see are along the lines of “Libraries are now lending ebooks,” with a brief report of a few libraries that are now, in fact, lending ebooks. That’s neither informative or particularly new. continue reading

On the same shelf:

• The Battle of Building Library's Digital Collection, Revisited
• What are the advantages of e-books over print books
• Ten of the Best Web 2.0 Tools for Cybrarians, by Cybrarian’s Web!

• The Canadian Ebook: Market Trends

• Ebooks in libraries: an overview of the current situation, by Linda Ashcroft Library Management,  2011, Volume 32, Issue 6/7, pp. 398 - 407
• Follow the Ebook Road: Ebooks in Australian Public Libraries, by Duncan, Ross Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services,  2011, Volume 24, Issue 4, pp. 182 - 193
• eBooks As a Collection and a Service: Developing a Public Library Instruction Program to Support eBook Use by Brendan O'Connell and Dana Haven Journal of Library Innovation,  2013, Volume 4, Issue 1, pp. 53 - 66
• eBooks for Libraries and Patrons: Two Years of Experience, by Richard L. Rosy Liber Quarterly : The Journal of European Research Libraries, 09/2002, Volume 12, Issue 2/3, pp. 228 - 233
• Ebooks and Beyond: The Challenge for Public Libraries by Duncan, Ross Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services,  2010, Volume 23, Issue 2, pp. 44 - 55
• Ebooks and the Retailization of Research by Fister, Barbara Library Journal, ISSN 0363-0277, 08/2010, Volume 135, Issue 13, p. 24
• OverDrive Media Stations Engage eBook and Audiobook Readers Inside the Library Internet Wire, 11/12/2013

Libraries and Readers Wade Into Digital Lending

"Electronic book borrowing is a convenient way for libraries to remain relevant, but publishers are worried."

Libraian's View:
"Some librarians object to the current pricing model because they often pay more for e-books than do consumers who buy them on Amazon or in Sony’s online store. Publishers generally charge the same price for e-books as they do for print editions, but online retailers subsidize the sale price of best sellers by marking them down to $9.99.

“ ‘The Lost Symbol’ is $9.99 on the Sony Reader book page, and I just paid $29.99 for that for the library,” said Robin Bradford, the collection development librarian at the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. Ms. Bradford said she would consider buying additional digital copies if the price were lower. But “to buy nonphysical copies at the same price,” she said, “I just won’t do it.”

Reader's View:

"In libraries, readers are attracted to free material. Nancy Gobel, a dental hygienist who already downloads digital audio books from her library in Indianapolis, said she currently buys print books. But she is considering purchasing an electronic reader so she can borrow them for free. “I would still continue to buy, but I would download as much as I can,” she said. In many cases, she said, buying “doesn’t make sense.”" continue reading:

Libraries and Readers Wade Into Digital Lending

By MOTOKO RICH

Published: October 15, 2009

See on the same shelf:

The Elusive eBook, by Sue Polanka

"The elusive eBook: who knew it would come with so many questions, challenges, and issues for libraries and users? It seems logical that we could catalog an eBook just like a print book, add a URL and be done with it. If only it were that easy! Instead, we are confronted by cataloging, purchasing, access, and interface issues. So what’s a librarian to do? Be aware, get informed, be vocal, and ask for more standardization from publishers, aggregators, and distributors. Let’s take a look at some issues that librarians and users find particularly challenging." continue reading