The compunction to debate charging for e-books undermines the national will to provide a free public library service … to anyone, let alone to “all those who are desirous to make use …..”

Ian Clark is right. E-books are a phase in the movement of change in learning, information, culture and communications in general. It raises therefore, the question, again: where is the continuity of principle about the public library purpose that carries imaginative forward planning through the various phases of technological, social or other change.

Many recent list discussions are about increasing income through

§ Associated services – shops, souvenirs [check the market], the ubiquitous “coffee” [need footfall and a product service to match – from restaurant to drinks machine], [Tried toilets? Stations do] or

§ Core business – like e-books, meeting facilities, community information display and even, heaven forbid, reference use of computers and internet

Fear not I’ve researched all of these and introduced some; tell your elected members there’s a bit of income to be had but there’s more to the library than this.

This is all understandable in the present economic – and political – climate, but there’s a fundamental principle:

Ø e-book = book

Ø Public library = free books

Ø Ergo, public library = free e-books

Now how do we move on to the fundamental issues of how we transform libraries into important cultural, learning, information and community centres that contribute to social justice and economic comfort?

Yet again … it’s not just about stamping out books!

John

John Dolan OBE, BA, Dip Lib, MCLIP

E. [log in to unmask]

Tw. @johnrdolan

T. 0121 476 4258

M. 07508 204200

-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian Clark
Sent: 03 June 2011 09:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Charging for the loan of E books

I found this online which quotes the DCMS as saying that libraries can

charge for ebooks, but that was before the election so may not apply:

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/libraries-can-charge-e-books-dcms-conf

irms.html

Ian Clark

Library Systems Officer,

Augustine House,

Canterbury Christ Church University

Email: [log in to unmask]

Tel. 01227 767700 ext 3141

-----Original Message-----

From: John Dolan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]

Sent: 03 June 2011 08:08

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: Charging for the loan of E books

Do you have a reference for this statement from DCMS?

John

John Dolan OBE, BA, Dip Lib, MCLIP

E. [log in to unmask]

Tw. @johnrdolan

T. 0121 476 4258

M. 07508 204200

-----Original Message-----

From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries

[mailto:[log in to unmask]]

On Behalf Of Laura Swaffield

Sent: 01 June 2011 11:02

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: Charging for the loan of E books

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------

----

---

Dear all We are in the process of setting up an E =

books service in LibrariesWest=0D=0Aand would be interested to hear from

an=

y authorities that either=0D=0Acurrently charge end users or are

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 helpful.

=0D=

=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:

01278 =

451201 ext 243 =0D=0A=0D=0AMob: 07739021344=0D=0A=0D=0ALibraries Centre,

Mo=

unt St, Bridgwater TA6 3ES=0D=0A=0D=0AEmail: JMScown=40somerset.gov.uk

<mai=

lto:JMScown=40somerset.gov.uk>

=0D=0A=0D=0Awww.librarieswest.org.uk=0D=0A<=

file:///C:=5CDocuments%20and%20Settings=5Cjmscown=5CApplication%20Data=5

CMi=

cros=0D=0Aoft=5CSignatures=5Cwww.librarieswest.org.uk> =0D=0A=0D=0A

=0D=0A=

=0D=0A=0D=0AThis communication is intended solely for the person (s) or

org=

anisation to whom it is addressed. It may contain privileged=0D=0Aand

conf=

idential information and if you are not the intended recipient (s), you

mus=

t not copy, distribute or take any action=0D=0Ain reliance on it. If you

ha=

ve received this e-mail in error please notify the sender and copy the

mess=

age to=0D=0AICTHelpDesk=40somerset.gov.uk=0D=0A=0D=0AIndividuals are

advise=

d that by replying to, or sending an e-mail message to Somerset County

Coun=

cil, you accept=0D=0Athat you have no explicit or implicit expectation

of p=

rivacy.=0D=0A=0D=0AIn line with the Surveillance and Monitoring Policy,

any=

e-mail messages (and attachments) transmitted over the

=0D=0ACouncil=E2=80=

=99s network may be subject to scrutiny.=0D=0A

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n-bottom:0cm;=7D=0D=0A-->=0D=0A</style>=0D=0A=0D=0A</head>=0D=0A=0D=0A<b

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class=3DSection1>=

=0D=0A=0D=0A<span

style=3D=

'font-size:10.0pt'>Dear=0D=0Aall

<o:p></o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<=

p class=3DMsoNormal><span

style=3D'font-size:10=

.0pt'><o:p> </o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<p

class=3DMsoNormal><=

font size=3D2 face=3DArial>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>=0D=0A=0D=0A<p

class=3DMsoNo=

rmal><span

style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><o:p>&nbs=

p;</o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<font

size=3D2 f=

ace=3DArial>Happy=0D=0Ato summarise any

re=

sponses for the list if that would be helpful.

<o:p></o:p></p=

>=0D=0A=0D=0A<span

style=

=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<p

cla=

ss=3DMsoNormal><span

style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'=

>Many=0D=0Athanks <o:p></o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<p

class=3DMsoNo=

rmal><span

style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><o:p>&nbs=

p;</o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<font

size=3D2 f=

ace=3DArial><span

style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></font=

>=0D=0A=0D=0A<st1:PersonName w:st=3D=22on=22><font size=3D3

face=3DA=

rial>Jon

Scown</s=

pan></st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<font size=3D3

fa=

ce=3DArial><span

style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>LibrariesWest=

=0D=0ADevelopment Officer

<o:p></o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<font=

size=3D3 face=3DArial><span

style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>T=

el:=0D=0A01278 451201 ext 243

<o:p></o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<=

font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span

style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aria=

l'>Mob:=0D=0A07739021344<o:p></o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<fon

t s=

ize=3D3 face=3DArial><span

style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Lib=

raries Centre,=0D=0A<st1:address w:st=3D=22on=22><st1:Street

w:st=3D=

=22on=22> Mount St </st1:Street>, <st1:City=0D=0A

w:st=3D=22on=22>Bridgwater<=

/st1:City> <st1:PostalCode w:st=3D=22on=22>TA6

3ES</st1:PostalCode></st1:ad=

dress><o:p></o:p>=0D=0A=0D=0A<font size=3D3

face=3DAri=

al><span

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man=22><span

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res=5Cwww.librarieswest.org.uk=22><font=0D=0Asize=3D2 face=3DArial><span

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yle=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>www.librarieswest.org.uk</spa

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t-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>

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t is addressed. It may contain privileged and confidential

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ribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this

e-m=

ail in error please notify the sender and copy the message to

ICTHelpDe=

sk=40somerset.gov.uk=0D=0A =0D=0A Individuals are advised that by

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