There is a very strong connotation among publishers that library patrons are freeloaders and giving a book away devalues the product. A recent survey conducted by Overdrive and the American Library Association’s Office seeks to dispel this notion.An extensive online poll was conducted with over 75,000 library ebook readers and it found that these patrons purchase an average … [Read more...] about Library Customers Often Buy the Most Books
ALA
ALA, AAP Meet to Address eBook Lending Challenges
Cross words were exchanged when each entity sent the other its scathing stance on the state of ebook lending, but that didn’t prevent the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers from going forward with a planned meeting to discuss the issue.“Librarians understand that publishing is not just another industry. It has special and important … [Read more...] about ALA, AAP Meet to Address eBook Lending Challenges
3M, Polaris Partnership Strengthens Public Libraries
GoodeReader reported this week on the announcement of new features from 3M Cloud Library Systems and Polaris. This venture is aimed at streamlining the work of public libraries for greater efficiency and ease of use for both the librarians and their readers. I an interview with 3M’s Matt Tempelis, GoodeReader learned about the need for a more efficient system to enable all … [Read more...] about 3M, Polaris Partnership Strengthens Public Libraries
Some Hope for Library Digital Lending
One of the most frustrating aspects of digital publishing is the current sad state of affairs in ebook lending. At a time when libraries are already struggling to survive within the confines of dwindling budgets and patron apathy, the Big Six publishers haven’t been very supportive of library lending, at least in their actions if not their sentiments.All this time, Random … [Read more...] about Some Hope for Library Digital Lending
67% of All Libraries Now Carry eBooks
The American Library Association recently launched its 2012 State of Affairs documentation, and it seems libraries continue to thrive in the digital age. Over 67% of all libraries based in the USA now carry eBooks and 28% lend out e-readers.The number of libraries now offering eBooks is certainly growing at an exponential rate. In the last five years, the amount of digital … [Read more...] about 67% of All Libraries Now Carry eBooks
ALA President Raphael on the Current State of eBook Lending
Publisher’s Weekly caught up with American Library Association president Molly Raphael at the recent Public Library Association conference in Philadelphia to find out the latest state of affairs over ebook lending from public libraries. Over the last year and a half, major changes from both the larger publishing houses and the libraries and lending systems have left patrons … [Read more...] about ALA President Raphael on the Current State of eBook Lending
ALA Asks Random House to Remove 300% Price Increase
The American Library Association has been doing all it can to end the strife between the Big Six publishers and the public library systems, meeting with many of these publishers individually and collectively to negotiate the best possible ebook lending terms for all parties involved. However, the current battles over ebook lending have still left many patrons and librarians … [Read more...] about ALA Asks Random House to Remove 300% Price Increase
Penguin Severs ties with OverDrive and Strikes a Blow to Ebook Lending
GoodEReader reported last month that the American Library Association had asked for and gotten meetings with three of the Big Six publishers to discuss moving forward with ebook lending. In an era where public libraries are trying to meet the digital needs of their patrons, it seems that obstacles keep cropping up for the ALA.Today, Penguin spurned the ALA’s hopes for that … [Read more...] about Penguin Severs ties with OverDrive and Strikes a Blow to Ebook Lending
Random House Titles Available for Library Lending…with a Price Increase
The ALA Midwinter Conference was held in Dallas, TX, only a couple of weeks ago, but some major news came out of that event for the American Library Association. Essentially, the leadership finally expressed that it was fed up with the current upheaval in public library ebook lending, with different members of the Big Six publishing houses setting their own rules—from no … [Read more...] about Random House Titles Available for Library Lending…with a Price Increase
ALA Taking Action on eBook Lending
The American Library Association held its Midwinter conference this week, but the real news to come from that gathering is that the ALA’s key leadership has asked for and gotten a meeting with several major publishers to figure out where eBook lending is going from here. ALA will meet face-to-face with CEOs and executives from Simon&Schuster, Macmillan, and Penguin Group, … [Read more...] about ALA Taking Action on eBook Lending
Understanding the Restrictions on Ebook Lending
In February 2011, HarperCollins Publishers made a startling announcement that rocked the library world: it would impose a restriction on ebook titles limiting them to twenty-six individual check-outs, after which time the license would expire and the library would have to repurchase the title. Libraries were saddened and angered , to say the least, and the online outcry … [Read more...] about Understanding the Restrictions on Ebook Lending