The president of the American Library Association (ALA) said in a statement on Monday HarperCollins's decision to restrict library ebook lending was a "grave concern" that threatened libraries' ability to provide access to information. Nevertheless, libraries in the United Kingdom could also possibly face the same restrictions sometime soon.
"This new limitation means that fewer people will have access to an increasingly important format for delivering information," Roberta Stevens, the ALA president, said of HarperCollins's new policy, which limits the lending of ebooks to 26 checkouts per copy.
Stevens also announced that as a result of a working retreat held last week by the Equitable Access to Electronic Information Task Force (EQUACC) ALA will soon launch a website "dedicated to developing a model for e-book lending."
In addition, the organization's first virtual Membership Meeting on June 1 will address equitable information to information and ebooks.
"Crafting 21st century solutions for equitable access to information while ensuring authors and publishers have a fair return on their investments is our common goal. The transition to the e-book format should not result in less availability," Stevens said.
HarperCollins UK "not ruling out" checkout limit The HarperCollins revision, announced February 25, has unleashed a torrent of criticism and commentary.
Regardless, HarperCollins UK has said that "it is not ruling out" implementing the same model in the UK, according to the Bookseller. And Richard Mollet, the chief executive of the Publishers Association in London, has issued a statement on e-lending in public libraries.
"If ebook lending were untrammelled (as some comments seem to propose) it would pose an extremely potent threat to the retail market which in the long-term would undermine the ability of authors, and the companies which invest in them, to see a reward for their creativity. This would be hugely a negative outcome for everyone, including libraries and their communities."
"When you buy an ebook you are effectively buying a license to view a file," Mollet told the BBC. "Yes you're buying the manifestation of the work but what you can then do with that file is a separate question."
Reader Comments (2)
There is a better solution to the concerns which led HarperCollins and other publishers to limit the number of checkouts of a electronic book. The solution would benefit publishers, libraries, authors - and readers.
This is to create a modern version of the OTHER BOOKS BY list most publishers include in their printed books. There are several alternative ways to do this. Each (as with most solutions to problems) have their advantages and disadvantages.
Before we consider specifics, think instead of the use you have put to the OBB list. Many times you have come across a terrific author new to you, or a terrific series new to you by a familiar author. You go to the OBB list at the front of the book and then search for the first book by the author or the first book in the series.
Sometimes you must fumble a bit, and consult the OBB lists in several books, but finally you go to the library shelf and find the very first book ever written by the author or in the series. Perhaps you check it out immediately, or first sit and sample the book. It is not unusual for you to finish reading all the books, and realize you want your very own copy of one or several of them. Then you go to the bookstore, physical or virtual, and purchase it or them.
One electronic alternative to the physical OBB list is a link at the beginning of each e-book (which can be repeated at the end of it). It should be discreet but not easily overlooked. It could look like this.
Other books at HarperCollins by Joyce Carol Oates. Notice that both the publisher and author are links. Typically such links stay the same for years or even decades. But the pages at the end of the link DO NOT. The HarperCollins web site will grow and change its look, perhaps many times. Ms. Oates will write new books, or because of new interest have an out-of-print book reprinted. Perhaps a film of one of her books will become vastly popular and a picture book will be published with stills from the movie and even the script for the film.
In this scenario it becomes insane for HarperCollins to limit the number of checkouts of any of its ebooks. Because each ebook becomes a portal to the world of HarperCollins.
Perhaps many years from now HarperCollins will be bought and folded into a larger organization. Then the HC link become obsolete. BUT the new organization merely need create what is called a redirect link. This translates the HC link to an updated link.
And the ebook sitting on the virtual library shelf remains current.
Posted by Laer Carroll on March 16, 2011 04:28:03AM
DOES THIS SITE NOT RECOGNIZE PARAGRAPH ENDS????????
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There is a better solution to the concerns which led HarperCollins and other publishers to limit the number of checkouts of a electronic book. The solution would benefit publishers, libraries, authors - and readers.
This is to create a modern version of the OTHER BOOKS BY list most publishers include in their printed books. There are several alternative ways to do this. Each (as with most solutions to problems) have their advantages and disadvantages.
Before we consider specifics, think instead of the use you have put to the OBB list. Many times you have come across a terrific author new to you, or a terrific series new to you by a familiar author. You go to the OBB list at the front of the book and then search for the first book by the author or the first book in the series.
Sometimes you must fumble a bit, and consult the OBB lists in several books, but finally you go to the library shelf and find the very first book ever written by the author or in the series. Perhaps you check it out immediately, or first sit and sample the book. It is not unusual for you to finish reading all the books, and realize you want your very own copy of one or several of them. Then you go to the bookstore, physical or virtual, and purchase it or them.
One electronic alternative to the physical OBB list is a link at the beginning of each e-book (which can be repeated at the end of it). It should be discreet but not easily overlooked. It could look like this.
Other books at HarperCollins by Joyce Carol Oates. Notice that both the publisher and author are links. Typically such links stay the same for years or even decades. But the pages at the end of the link DO NOT. The HarperCollins web site will grow and change its look, perhaps many times. Ms. Oates will write new books, or because of new interest have an out-of-print book reprinted. Perhaps a film of one of her books will become vastly popular and a picture book will be published with stills from the movie and even the script for the film.
In this scenario it becomes insane for HarperCollins to limit the number of checkouts of any of its ebooks. Because each ebook becomes a portal to the world of HarperCollins.
Perhaps many years from now HarperCollins will be bought and folded into a larger organization. Then the HC link become obsolete. BUT the new organization merely need create what is called a redirect link. This translates the HC link to an updated link.
And the ebook sitting on the virtual library shelf remains current.
Posted by Laer Carroll on March 16, 2011 04:31:40AM
