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

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] www.kenchadconsulting.com

Skype: kenchadconsulting Twitter: @KenChad

Open Library Systems Specifications: 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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