That doesn't surprise me re usage dropping in US upon charging. Really
do think that free to borrow ebooks are the only way to go, even if it
does appear to be a good opportunity to drive revenue. In my opinion,
it is a great opportunity to demonstrate the value and relevance of
public libraries whilst attracting a whole bunch of users who would not
normally use the library service. Certainly a lot of techie
non-library types were excited at the prospect of my local authority
introducing ebooks.
I would certainly agree that ebooks should be treated as physical books
and the same rules (in terms of lending) should apply.
Ian Clark
Library Systems Officer,
Augustine House,
Canterbury Christ Church University
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel. 01227 767700 ext 3141
-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Chad [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 01 June 2011 16:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Charging for the loan of E books
There was some discussion on this point at the recent E-books and
E-content conference at University College London. (11th May 2011).
Martin Palmer (Essex) interpreted the 1964 act as insisting that
*reading* was free..ego ebooks (from public libraries) should be free,
whilst charges for audio/video were permitted under the act. Martin
wasn't claiming to be a legal authority on the Act ..just his
interpretation. Maybe others will have an authoritative view...
BTW Martin's excellent presentation (and others) are available (with
video). See this and other links on the Local Government Library
Technology (LGLibTech) 'E-books' page
http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/E-Books
<http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/E-Books>
I also seem to recall that in discussion Johanna Brinton, Business
Development Executive, OverDrive Ltd mentioned that an experiment with
charging for e-books in a US public library had been dropped as usage
had plummeted.
Ken
Ken Chad Consulting Ltd
Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. Email: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.kenchadconsulting.com
<http://www.kenchadconsulting.com/>
Skype: kenchadconsulting Twitter: @KenChad
Open Library Systems Specifications: http://libtechrfp.wikispaces.com
<http://libtechrfp.wikispaces.com/>
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gary Porter
Sent: 01 June 2011 16:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Charging for the loan of E books
My personal opinion is that it is wrong to differentiate between books
and e books...they are both books and as such should be free at the
point of use. The same applies to PN access. Our duty is to provide free
access to content (books, information, learning) and as such format or
medium should not be an excuse to introduce charges. In the era of the'
Argos Catalogue Family', access to the core, free service has never been
more important.
Regards
Gary Porter
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Laura Swaffield
Sent: 01 June 2011 15:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Charging for the loan of E books
Below is a news story written by my goodself in CILIP Update, March
2010, for what it's worth. Not quite as clear as I remember it.
There also seems to be a current kerfuffle in Somerset about charging
for something, I don't know what, & Ed Vaizey seems (vaguely) against
the idea.See
http://www.tessamunt.org.uk/2011/05/20/library-story-update/#more-1555
NEWS STORY
If any library service thought of charging for loaning e-books - and
none have, to date - it could be blocked by DCMS (Department for
Culture, Media & Sport). This is good news for public access - bad news
for cash-strapped services paying for a whole new reading resource.
The question has been raised recently as attention has focused on the
1964 Public Libraries & Museums Act. DCMS asked if it needed any
changes, in its modernisation review (see story, p.00). The Local
Government Association - and councils such as Wirral - are pressing for
it to be abolished completely.
CILIP, in its response to the DCMS review, raised a worrying question:
'As the digital world becomes ever more prevalent, so the dominance of
print-based material will recede, and it is only print-based
publications that have to be provided free under... the Act.'
If the Act is not amended, says CILIP, 'deprived, disadvantaged or
marginalised groups' could suffer. This is already happening with
online-only reference sources, as libraries increasingly charge for
People's Network access.
'It is important,' says CILIP, 'that we do not sleepwalk into a
situation where public libraries, in the main, become a paid-for
service.'
DCMS confirms that the 1964 Act allows charging for 'remote lending'.
But, the spokesman added, DCMS could act if it found libraries doing so:
'We could amend the law through secondary legislation.'
It would depend what material was being loaned (and charged for).
Charges for educational material would go down badly. So, probably,
would children's books.
Laura
On 1 Jun 2011, at 15:11, David Moger wrote:
Regarding the legality of charging, I was at the e-books community Of
Practice meeting back in October where it was said that one authority
(Southampton?) had approached the DCMS to ask about the legality of
charging. DCMS replied that it was not the preferred option but did not
dismiss charging out of hand. ALso, free e-books was part of the core
service in the Modernisation review in the dying days of the labour
government. As the review was not picked up by the coalition I'd argue
that free provision of e-books was not government policy until the
coalition says otherwise.
If anyone who was at the CoP meeting can add anything (or correct
anything) please do.
David Moger
North Somerset Libraries.
> Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:02:21 +0100
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Charging for the loan of E books
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> DCMS says it's illegal.
> Funny, though, they never said that about talking books....
> Laura
>
> ________________________________________
> From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Jon Scown [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 01 June 2011 10:09
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Charging for the loan of E books
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
-----------------------
> Sender: "lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries"
<[log in to unmask]>
> Poster: Jon Scown <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Charging for the loan of E books
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
>
> Dear all We are in the process of setting up an E =
> books service in LibrariesWest=0D=0Aand would be interested to hear
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planning t=
> o charge them - the=0D=0Amechanism used, amount charged, feedback from
user=
> s etc. We're also keen=0D=0Ato hear from authorities that have
considered a=
> nd rejected charging and=0D=0Athe reasons for this. Also, is anyone
chargin=
> g for e books but not e=0D=0Aaudio or vice versa? =0D=0A=0D=0A
=0D=0A=0D=0A=
> Happy to summarise any responses for the list if that would be
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> =0A=0D=0A =0D=0A=0D=0AMany thanks =0D=0A=0D=0A =0D=0A=0D=0A
=0D=0A=0D=0AJon=
> Scown=0D=0A=0D=0ALibrariesWest Development Officer =0D=0A=0D=0ATel:
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Centre, Mo=
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=0D=0A=0D=0Awww.librarieswest.org.uk=0D=0A<=
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> =0D=0A=0D=0A<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
style=3D=
> 'font-size:10.0pt'>Dear=0D=0Aall
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<=
> p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10=
> .0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<p
class=3DMsoNormal><=
> font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>We=0D=0Aare in =
> the process of setting up an E books service in LibrariesWest and
would=0D=
> =0Abe interested to hear from any authorities that either currently
charge =
> end=0D=0Ausers or are planning to charge them &=238211; the mechanism
used,=
> amount=0D=0Acharged, feedback from users etc. We&=238217;re also keen
to h=
> ear from=0D=0Aauthorities that have considered and rejected charging
and th=
> e reasons for=0D=0Athis. Also, is anyone charging for e books but not
e aud=
> io or vice versa? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<p
class=3DMsoNo=
> rmal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><o:p>&nbs=
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size=3D2 f=
> ace=3DArial><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Happy=0D=0Ato summarise
any re=
> sponses for the list if that would be helpful.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p=
> >=0D=0A=0D=0A<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
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cla=
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class=3DMsoNo=
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w:st=3D=22on=22>Bridgwater<=
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3ES</st1:PostalCode></st1:ad=
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Council=E2=80=99s net=
> work may be subject to
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