Hi Fiona

Thanks for this. Did they approach you?

I would make sure the following points are made:

Cost: although libraries may advertise this service as 'free' there is a distinction to be made between 'free at the point of access' and 'without any cost whatsoever'. Of course ebooks are not free; libraries pay subscriptions, for ebooks, for e-newspapers, for e-abstracts etc. And they have offered them free and remotely for ages without problems, and in accordance with publisher/aggregrator terms and conditions. (ok, a few problems but they have been resolved between parties).

Access: libraries as a group abide by the geographical terms of the licenses, and the exceptions are relatively few, both points confirmed by one of the aggregators, Overdrive. There is precedent for resolution of this problem in the past. Why not now? This seems like a fairly large sledgehammer applied to a couple of nuts...

Business: If this is not resolved in a reasonable manner it will be bad business for both libraries and publishers/aggregators. Readers' expectations are that when access is offered online, remote access is included, nay expected, demanded. If libraries don't offer this, then stats fall, and when that happens subscriptions are cancelled.

Readers: by demanding they have to come in to download books, libraries are disenfranchising the very readers they are hoping to target with a remote service: housebound, physically-challenged etc. In this way libraries are prevented from delivering on local and central government agenda.

I would emphasise that you understand the concerns and hope that a resolution can be achieved. However, publishers also have to understand the library position for this to happen.

Oh, I wouldn't mention directly that this has happened before. They might think we are habitual offenders!

All best
Linda Berube

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

From: "John Dolan" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:18:11 +0100
To: 'Linda Berube'<[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: RE: E-books

Thanks Linda, a great overview. As you say Amazon has stepped in, just after Stephen Page’s announcement, with their proposal to lend e-books.

 

For public libraries there will also be this tension between national and local. Compare Enquire which manifests itself differently – or not – in different authorities. Disaggregation might increase with the Government’s policy of devolving decisions to local level [public community library managers would have every sympathy with that principle] … except that this is an area for both efficiency and innovation for public libraries and their communities.

 

SCL and TRA have both published statements. What will be important is that all these bodies work together as one and I’m sure they must be in discussion. CILIP too can be at the centre of this as it has capacity, a great mix of skills and can draw of the knowledge across the sectors through its own amazing network of partnerships and Interest Groups.

 

The JISC provides expert and focussed direction and debate for academic libraries; the public library sector has to match that calibre of togetherness to maintain development momentum.

 

Ed Vaizey is Minister for Creative Industries as well as libraries and can speak fluently about libraries in the digital age. This is an ideal combination – libraries are about creativity … both purveying the creativity of writers, poets and thinkers and nurturing creativity in children, young people and adult users in all areas of society. The potential for cross government strategy is huge.

 

Action please!

 

 

John Dolan OBE, BA, Dip Lib, MCLIP

E. [log in to unmask]

T. 0121 476 4258

M. 07508 204200

 

-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Linda Berube
Sent: 25 October 2010 22:06
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: E-books

 

Hi John and everyone

 

It seems the PA's problem is especially with libraries allowing use outside their geographical boundaries.  This is not the first time publishers have objected to this practice.  Low those many years ago when a group of us were working with MLA on the negotiations for Reference Online, there were library authorities within my own region that fell afoul of this restriction of access.  I could see both perspective's at the time, and do so in this instance.  The difference, of course, is that I think MLA worked with the specific library authorities and publishers to reach a compromise, and things never came to this pass.  It would seem that the same type of intervention from national bodies offically representing libraries is called for, as John Dolan points out.

 

I looked on the American Publishers Association website to see if there had been any involvement or even a mention, as the UK PA references other trade associations, and it would seem with the multinational nature of these publishers, there would have to be some type of unilateral representation.  I didn't see anything, although my search was admittedly cursory.  It's just not clear to me how this type of action can be implemented if there is not a multinational agreement among publishers.

 

I did find, however, this statement from Overdrive (if someone else has mentioned this, please excuse the repetition):

http://overdriveblogs.com/distribution/2010/10/22/a-statement-on-the-publishers-associations-position-on-ebook-lending/

 

I think this is significant, and it calls to mind previous negotiations with Overdrive and their support of public libraries.  Once Co-East and Loughborough University completed it e-book pilot with Essex, Co-East looked to take the e-book offering regional with the Triple-e Commons (East of England e-Book Commons) where we were not simply looking to broker a deal for e-books for the region, but to build an interactive e-book service for the public and a cooperative collection and marketing development programme for libraries.  The aim was to attract the public to the site with e-book downloads and then keep them on the site with reviews, recommends, book clubs etc.  Overdrive was more than willing to help us to design a site with this level of interactivity.  Unfortunately, the service didn't get off the ground due to lack of funding (it was  bit before it's time).

 

However, I see from Jo John that an organisation will offer exactly this type of service, and it is the organisation upon which we modelled the interactivity in particular:

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/132239-amazon-to-introduce-kindle-e-book-lending.html.rss?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

Amazon went libraries one better with the book catalogue.  It appears that it will now do the job 'lending' e-books.

 

All best

Linda Berube