Comments on: Random House Not So Random with Library Ebook Price Increases

By: Wisconsin Public Library Consortium » Digital Media Buying Pool Webinar: archived recording

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:10:45 +0000

[...] Random House Not So Random with Library Ebook Price Increases [...]

By: Circulate ereaders, not ebooks « bringyournoise

Circulate ereaders, not ebooks « bringyournoise — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:00:11 +0000

[...] and thought-provoking discussions. Some of my favorites can be found here (Librarian by Day); here (Agnostic, Maybe) and here (Will Unwound). There are many more–too many to name or [...]

By: Articles of Interest – Random House edition

Articles of Interest – Random House edition — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:01:03 +0000

[...] – INFODocket ALA calls on Random House to reconsider major ebook price increase – ALA Random House Not So Random with Library Ebook Price Increases – Agnostic Maybe Necessary Evil? Random House Triples Prices Of Library E-Books – [...]

By: Dale Copps

Dale Copps — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:41:01 +0000

We need more militant action than boycotting reviews. It is time for libraries to boycott ALL purchases of ALL books in ALL formats from ALL Publishers who will not sell to libraries ALL their books which are available in eBook format to individuals at the SAME priced charged to those individuals. Because this is getting ridiculous. As some commentators have noted here, publishers have never been enamored of public library lending and of the First Sale doctrine (which needs to be extended to eBooks).

This is a pivotal element in the whole inequality/OWS/corporatocracy brouhaha which is currently splitting our country apart.

The lending model needs to be changed to adapt to changing technology, and eBooks need to be freed from the shackles that are currently holding back a renaissance in reading in this country (and the world).

Authors, take note! Your antediluvian publishers are a threat to your livelihoods.

Readers, take note! Your access to reading is being severely curtailed (and limited to those of you with the big bucks) by publishers.

And libraries, take note! Your very existence is threatened by current policies and practices.

The End of Libraries
http://alltogethernow.org/showtag.php?currid=85

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 03:57:03 +0000

Who says there isn’t anger towards the four publishers who don’t allow for library ebook lending? It’s not like we have to get out a list every time we get mad at one in some sort of way to spread out out the anger.

By: Random House Not So Random with Library Ebook Price Increases | School Libraries = Learning! | Scoop.it

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 15:36:51 +0000

[...] background-color:#1b1240; background-repeat : repeat; } agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com – Today, 9:36 [...]

By: Michael Henry Starks

Michael Henry Starks — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:03:46 +0000

Why so much anger directed at RH and not at the publishers who refuse to sell ebooks to libraries at all? But the behavior of publishers toward libraries isn’t really the issue. They will continue to act in ways that they perceive will give their shareholders the greatest return on investment. Any business would increase prices by 300% if they could.

The real issue for librarians is the fact that libraries will continue to have no leverage with publishers until libraries make it more costly for publishers not to sell ebooks to libraries. I don’t see that happening until libraries act collectively at the state or national levels in negotiating acquisition contracts with distributors such as OverDrive or directly with publishers.

RH has no reason to believe it cannot get away with raising prices on library editions of ebooks. We need to give them one.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 06:51:58 +0000

An excellent point about funneling outrage, Barbara. There really isn’t an outlet. I’d love to be able to drive people to a website. I have a feeling that the next step that needs to come forth is getting voices into the general media (NYT op-ed comes to mind). And it has to be sustained and uniform in terms of action sought. But that’s another undertaking.

In considering alternatives to spending money on eBooks, I look at those prices and think to myself, “I can get a couple more presenters to do programs at my library for the cost of 2-3 eBooks.” More than likely it’ll attract more people than that eBook will circulate (depending on the author) and create better bonds with the community than having them borrow an eBook.

I’m thinking to myself how many people asked me which eReader they should buy that works with the library. When library compatibility becomes part of the purchasing equation, I would surmise there will be some sense of betrayal when I tell them that there are less eBooks because publishers don’t want to lend eBooks anymore.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 06:39:35 +0000

Let me get this straight: Random House should get a pass because they still sell to us? So, under that logic, if they had increase their eBook prices by a factor of ten, they should *still* get credit because they are still selling to us. That, no how terrible the pricing or contracts are, at least we should be lucky to be able to get them? Is that what you’re saying here? Because I’m curious as to if/where you would draw a line at which the expense outranks the “luxury” of access.

By: Michael Henry Starks

Michael Henry Starks — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:38:24 +0000

Frankly, I’m surprised by how negative and widespread librarians’ response to Random House’s pricing announcement has been. No one likes to pay more, but doesn’t RH deserve at least some credit for selling ebooks to libraries? RH’s ebooks may be expensive, but the ebooks from other Big 6 publishers can’t be had by libraries at any price.