Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

A Librarian Breaks up with Ebooks

Tags: cyberspace theory, networking, reading
Subscribe

  • Birdfeeding

    Today is cloudy and mild with a nice breeze, so I can work during the day. :D Last night it rained off and on for several hours, which is a big help.…

  • Birdfeeding

    Today is partly sunny and hot. It's supposed to rain later. I fed the birds. I've seen house finches and grackles, also doves. Wrens are…

  • Tree Guy

    The tree guys came out today. They cut off the rotten part of the trunk and shifted it to the pile of rotten logs. The cut the trunk and branches…

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    switch
    default userpic

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    When you submit the form an invisible reCAPTCHA check will be performed.
    You must follow the Privacy Policy and Google Terms of use.
    Help
  • 3 comments
kadharonon

kadharonon

September 3 2012, 10:41:04 UTC 8 years ago

"I really think that ebook authors need to get together and offer their stuff directly to libraries."

So, part of the problem with this sentiment is that, as far as I can tell, she is talking about ebook copies of traditionally published novels, and the horrible terms various publishers are offering to libraries. If you're traditionally published, chances are, you let the publishers have an exclusive right to distribute an ebook of your work for as long as the contract said they could. (Forever in some cases, if you didn't read your contract carefully.) But they're the ones who have the distribution systems that allow ebook borrowing at your local library.

And with self-published authors... well. There isn't a good distribution system for them. Libraries (or possibly the self-published authors) would have to build something from the ground up to support the distribution of self-published ebooks, and none of the libraries, at least, really have the time or funding to make it happen. I suppose Amazon.com could put together some sort of distribution system, but I don't really see them having any more favorable terms than the big publishers. And then the question is whether or not the library's patrons have enough interest in self-published ebooks to make buying in to a different distribution system a reasonable investment for the library...