As has already been pointed out, e-readers have already had their
brief period in the sun. I really wouldn't be inclined to spend any
time or effort on them. To be honest, attempting to sell a piece of
kit like that would in any case be fraught with difficulties - taking
returns, sorting out problems, returning faulty units - more trouble
than it's worth.

I think a more interesting thing to do would perhaps be to hold a
technology day; ask colleagues and library members to come into the
library to show other people what their particular device could do,
how it works - even how light/heavy it happens to be. Help the
community to engage with the community and to promote the library as
being a good place to learn about tech. Then take video of the event,
or people showing off what their particular gadget does, advantages
and disadvantages, which could then be posted onto Facebook, YouTube
and so on.

If you're looking to make money, ask local tech companies, phone
companies, representatives from Dixons etc to take a stall which you
either charge them for, or ask for sponsorship for the day. You could
even do a session in a corner of the library where each company gets
some time to make a pitch, push their own products or run a Q&A. If
you don't like the idea of them selling stuff, they could perhaps hand
out discount vouchers valid for a period of time in their stores.

Then you also get people to come along who like making and repairing
things; if library members have something which doesn't seem to work
any longer, maybe they can be fixed, or if nothing else told it's
beyond repair, and should be thrown away. This then gives you the
opportunity to get someone giving a talk about recycling old computers
or phones, and have bins where people can chuck them.

All this shows the library is the place to be, engaged with the
community, a centre of learning, fun, up to speed and so on. I'd
certainly turn up to an event like that - I'd never buy an e-reader
from a library.

Phil.

On 21 May 2014 09:54, Steve Powell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> The two formats will continue together for the foreseeable future – at least
> until the next step forward which will probably be books being bluetoothed
> straight into our brains…
>
> Ebooks will probably pull ahead and stay there, but it will no doubt be
> subject to fluctuations.
>
>
>
> Like the Download/Vinyl/CD debate it’s actually a media fabrication [much
> like the Blur vs Oasis debacle at the tail end of Britpop, or does that show
> my vintage too much??].
>
> All these formats exist and all have positive and negative aspects, I will
> always love the analogue feel & sound of vinyl and I will always want to own
> an actual physical copy of albums I love [especially if it’s a rather nice
> deluxe edition box set with extra stuff] but I still download and I
> certainly rip CDs to my iPod…and this is the same for books.
>
>
>
> Nothing will ever replicate the sheer sensuous appeal of a paper book – the
> smell, the feel the sound of the pages turning etc. but there is a place for
> Ebooks alongside. Some OP titles are now only available digitally and as
> Librarians surely we appreciate that access to material in whatever format
> is vital… and anyway, the genie is very much out of the bottle now so we
> need to embrace all book formats and follow the trends!
>
>
>
> Hey, whoda thought it? Trendy Librarians, whatever next??  ;-)
>
> Steve
>
>
>
> Steve Powell BA (Hons) MCLIP
>
>
>
> Team Librarian – Children & Young People
>
>
>
> Retford Library
>
> Churchgate
>
> Retford
>
> Notts
>
> DN22 6PE
>
>
>
> T:01777 708724
>
> E: [log in to unmask]
>
> Children, Families & Cultural Services
>
> Nottinghamshire County Council
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of McNabb, Helen
> Sent: 20 May 2014 16:53
>
>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Selling eReaders in libraries
>
>
>
> If you look for Farriers instead of blacksmiths there are lots of them
> about, as lots of people still have horses and they all need to be shod.
> Far from being an extinct profession!
>
>
>
> Helen McNabb
>
> Library Resources Manager
>
> Library and Information Service
>
> Vale of Glamorgan Council / Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
>
> tel / ffôn: 01446 725383
>
> e-mail / e-bost: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> Visit our Website at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
>
> Ewch i'n gwefan yn www.bromorgannwg.gov.uk
>
>
>
> Find us on Facebook / Cewch ddod o hyd i ni ar Facebook
>
> Follow us on Twitter / Dilynwch ni ar Twitter
>
>
>
> Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you really
> need to.
>
> Ystyriwch yr amgylchedd. Peidiwch ag argraffu’r neges hon oni bai fod gwir
> angen.
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Ian Stringer
> Sent: 20 May 2014 16:12
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Selling eReaders in libraries
>
>
>
> Cold Hanworth in Lincolnshire has a village blacksmith but no Library!
>
> They also train people to be blacksmiths, but not librarians
>
> but as Henry Ford said 'History is bunk'
>
>
>
> On 20 May 2014 15:41, Gary Porter <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> To be honest I can't see Amazon 'kicking themselves' over anything the
> library sector does – we are just too small and getting smaller!
>
>
>
> My own view is that we are likely to have a mixed economy of e and physical
> books for longer than many people think. I'm not sure one format will wholly
> supercede the other – TV didn't kill radio, video didn't kill cinema (or the
> Radio Star), although to be fair Henry Ford did successfully see off the
> village blacksmith! It's difficult to call. Who would have thought the
> download generation would get into vinyl. I think the e/physical book
> balance will change in favour of the former with physical books becoming
> more niche. So…are librarians assuming the role of blacksmiths? Discuss…
>
>
>
> From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Ian Anstice
>
>
> Sent: 20 May 2014 15:20
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Subject: Re: Selling eReaders in libraries
>
>
>
> An interesting fundraising idea (and heaven knows we all need those) and
> another plus about it is we would have some stock in the library from which
> to demonstrate with.  At the moment, I bring in my own iPad.  I also agree
> with the reasons listed.
>
>
>
> Careful though as e-readers are likely to be a transitional technology ...
> I'm seeing a lot more interest in reading on iPads and other tablets than
> straight e-readers.  Now, if we became Apple agents, I'd be really
> interested!  Technology may also be moving too fast for a national
> consortia, even if for a moment we think that is possible, to cope with - by
> the time something is bought, it may be out of date.  There may also be a
> loss of impartiality with such a deal.
>
>
>
> There's also an element of turkeys voting for Christmas (it's so sad seeing
> the Waterstones staff having to sell e-readers don't you think?) but I guess
> that horse may already have bolted.
>
> Ian Anstice
>
> Public Libraries News
>
>
> On 20 May 2014, at 11:59, "stjohnknight, jan"
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Hi Sue
>
>
>
> I think a national/ consortium deal would be just the thing to help us get
> started. A better deal for income generation. I bet Amazon will be kicking
> themselves if it happens!! Lol
>
>
>
> Best wishes
>
> Jan
>
>
>
> From: Sue Lawson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 20 May 2014 11:56
> To: stjohnknight, jan
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Selling eReaders in libraries
>
>
>
> Hi Jan
> I think it's a great idea. Makes perfect sense to me as we could offer
> ereader support, information about library ebook services plus help
> navigating all the different types of ebooks including free, self published,
> fanfic and traditional publishers.
>
> Could even feed into the movement for libraries to become community
> publishers plus a source of income generation.
>
> Perhaps a good idea to negotiate a national/consortium deal with ebook
> retailers rather than 150 individual authorities talking to the vendors?
>
> Sue Lawson
> www.librarycamp.co.uk
>
> On 20 May 2014 10:49, "stjohnknight, jan" <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> Morning J
>
>
>
> Has anyone thought of selling eReaders in their libraries?
>
>
>
> Or is anyone actually selling them now?
>
>
>
> If so, is this successful?
>
>
>
> Just a thought… I’d be interested in your views of whether they should be
> sold in libraries or not and how you think they would be received.
>
>
>
> We offer eReader support for our members to borrow ebooks so I just wondered
> if we could offer the sale of compatible eReaders for potentials…
>
>
>
> Best wishes
>
> Jan
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________
> Jan St. John-Knight
>
> Library Development Officer
>
> Strood Library
>
> Medway Council
>
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> Strood
>
> Rochester
>
> Kent ME2 3EP
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>
>
> For key information and news about Medway Libraries visit
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