Hello
I am assuming colleagues will be aware of the tussle over e-book borrowing. If not, please see below.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/01/restrictions-library-ebook-loans
Fury over 'stupid' restrictions to library ebook loans [Guardian]
There have been other more balanced, perhaps measured, views as illustrated here:
"HarperCollins, OverDrive Respond as 26 Loan Cap on Ebook Debate Heats Up"
http://tinyurl.com/4sabpy5
Regardless of publisher business models and discounts to libraries, as the latter article points out, there are larger issues involved here, in the form of the shift from ownership and all the related rights to leasing and all the restrictions included. This is a shift with consequences for everyone, whether librarian or reader, as it goes to the very heart of our ability to share information, ideas, and opinions freely.
Perhaps something like the eBook Bill of Rights might be effective (see:
http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/2011/02/ebookrights.html). Perhaps a more 'assertive' advocacy might be more appropriate. Whichever, librarians should influence this debate.
All best
Linda
(for further, more detailed info on the exchange with Harper-Collins, see http://librarianbyday.net/2011/02/25/publishing-industry-forces-overdrive-and-other-library-ebook-vendors-to-take-a-giant-step-back/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter )
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