Library consortia, organizations, and individual library systems around the country continue intensely to debate the HarperCollins decision to limit ebook checkouts to 26, and many are joining a growing list of those deciding not to purchase HarperCollins ebooks.
The Kansas State Library decided this month to suspend adding any HarperCollins ebooks to the statewide consortium platform, which services 330 public libraries in the state.
"We are not trying to punish HarperCollins," Jo Buder, the state librarian, told LJ. "We are just trying to figure out a way to provide these titles without damaging customer service. What do we do for a person who is 27th in line and has a hold? What does it mean to catalogers? It's just all very bad customer service decisions," she said.
Buder is now heading a task force that has been formed by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) that is debating a response to HarperCollins. The task force teleconferenced on March 9 with representatives from Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Alaska, Colorado, Ohio, Texas, and Tennessee participating.
"We decided that we really want to approach publishers [directly], HarperCollins in particular, because we want to understand the issues more," Buder said. "The interest is really so high."
A summary of some recent actions Here is a snapshot of some other recent actions (not including those previously reported by LJ):
- The Nebraska OverDrive Libraries, a 66-member consortium, has decided to stop purchasing both HarperCollins ebooks and audiobooks through OverDrive, according to Rod Wagner, the director of the Nebraska Library Commission. In addition, the Nebraska State Advisory Council on Libraries adopted the following resolution at its March 11 meeting: "The State Advisory Council on Libraries supports Nebraska libraries resisting any efforts of publishers seeking to or implementing any restrictions to ebook digital rights."
- Iowa's WILBOR consortium, which comprises 118 libraries in four library districts, conducted an online survey of its membership and, according to Karen Burns, the administrator of the Southwest Iowa Library Service Area, the "overwhelming sentiment" was no longer to purchase HarperCollins ebooks.
- The 34 libraries in New York's Southern Adirondack Library System have suspended purchasing HarperCollins ebooks, according to Sara Dallas, the system's director. In addition, the Pioneer Library System, which represents 42 small and rural libraries in four counties, is polling its membership regarding a boycott of HarperCollins titles in electronic and paper formats, according to Cassie Guthrie, the executive director. The survey is here.
- A majority of the North Texas Library Partners consortium has voted not to order ebooks from HarperCollins, according to Carolyn Brewer, the assistant director. The system comprises 70 public library entities in 20 counties, but since multiple libraries funded by a single governmental entity are considered one library entity, the number of library buildings in the service area is nearly 100.
- The Alliance Digital Media Library members in Illinois voted not to purchase HarperCollins ebooks for the consortia, according to Jane Easterly, who chairs the collection development group. Of the 49 libraries in the system, 41 participated in an online poll and 37 voted to suspend. "It was a difficult decision to make, but we don't feel that 26 is a reasonable checkout limit," Easterly told LJ.
- The American Library Association (ALA) Presidential Task Force for Equitable Access to Electronic Content (EQUACC) also established this month a blog and forum to invite commentary and to discuss libraries' role in providing free and confidential access to e-content for the public.
This is a delicate topic for the American Library Association to consider. I entered a discussion on LinkedIn on this subject and my consensus was that Libraries should have the right to purchase an eBook at a discounted price ($4.99 to $6.99) and after a hundred (or one hundred and fifty) checkouts purchase a continuation of their license for $1 to $2 per book. This would carry them through the next 100-150 checkouts. As the book ages the license renewal should drop down to 99ยข then down to nothing after five years.
Posted by Edwin D Ferretti III on March 29, 2011 04:35:42PM
"What do we do for a person who is 27th in line and has a
hold?"
I have an idea: buy another copy?
HarperCollins is looking for an excuse to stop providing
this service at all for public libraries. A boycott simply
plays into their hands.
This is not a "social service" product. It is a product
that the vast majority of users could afford purchasing
(they've purchased devices...they can afford the content).
Publishers know this and are simply making the right
business decision for themselves.
Posted by gefitz on March 30, 2011 12:47:45PM
So HC is looking for an excuse to stop providing services to libraries?
And they can't make the right business decision for themselves with out an excuse?
How do you know that they are looking for an excuse?
How do you know if they can afford the device they can afford the content?
Show us the data/HC comments else your commentary is an unsubstantiated assumption.
And for the record, HC can do as they like, and libraries will do as they like.
Posted by UNIT411 on March 30, 2011 04:57:29PM
"It is a product that the vast majority of users could afford purchasing (they've purchased devices...they can afford the content)."
I believe the music industry already tried taking that tack before with unpleasant results. Money is not the only determining factor of people's behaviors and habits.
Posted by Elaine Patton on March 30, 2011 07:06:51PM
It seems to me that the future of e-books will be a netflix type arrangement. You pay so much as an institution to get annual, unlimited access to our entire digital catalog. This will be negotiated on use, of course, and size of the system, but it makes much more sense to me than how it works now.
Posted by Spencer Smith on March 31, 2011 10:05:10AM
The comment "(they've purchased devices...they can afford the content)." Does not take into consideration gifts, and the fact that consumers may make a decision to purchase a device at a manageable price to read content they cannot afford or have easy access to acquiring. The device can be shared by all members of the family regardless of age.
Libraries have long served a varied population, providing consumer access to a wide variety of materials. They must also be fiscally responsible while meeting the needs of their consumers. Rural areas are not well served by physical libraries. The Bookmobile, if one is available, may visit the area from time to time but access is still limited. An electronic connection to a library and therefore a book can make a difference to a child learning to read and a family working to encourage that developing reader.
As a librarian, I feel that increased access to quality literature in any form is imperative in this age of electronic distractions. We all make choices daily on how to spend our time. Harper Collins may see the opportunity for monetary gain in the short term but at what cost to the libraries and intimately the end user?
Posted by Just a Librarian on March 31, 2011 11:36:49AM
gefitz, ebook devices has drop in prices in the last few years and will continue to do so. In a few years time when most personal computing devices will come with a touch screen interface, accessing ebook will no longer be a barrier.
Libraries has in the past and will continue to be a major income source for publishers. It's only logical that they would not want to alienate us.
Posted by Hung on March 31, 2011 11:56:46PM
In reference to Edwin's post, why not simply make ebooks $10, and leave it at unlimited checkouts? I think that this should be an available option, as many libraries would go for the $10 level for the most popular titles, and those that would eventually be weeded due to short-term popularity or outdated information could be purchased at the $5-7 level. I really like the idea of 150 checkouts, with a very reasonable "renewal" of the license, for an additional 150 checkouts. I think this is a solution that allows ebooks to continue to be attractive to libraries of all sizes.
Great solution! Thanks!
Posted by Joy Wandrey on April 1, 2011 11:31:17AM
Since libraries won't have to replace copies due to wear and tear or loss there probably does need to be a new model of purchase. Buying a new copy after 26 loans certainly isn't a reasonable option though.
The continuation license suggested by Edwin sounds like a better option than purchasing the book again.
Another option would be a per use fee after a set number of circulations. Perhaps a fee of a penny or two per loan after a the 50th circulation.
