Comments on: Libraries and eBook Publishers: Friend Zone Level 300

By: Libraries and eBook Publishers: Friend Zone Level 300 | Bibliotheken en uitgevers | Scoop.it

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:49:36 +0000

[...] Uitgevers zitten vast. Ze zitten in de tang van Amazon en Apple, die ze niet kunnen negeren. Daarnaast zitten ze vast aan de bibliotheken, die nog steeds genegeerd worden door de uitgevers. Het is tijd dat de bibliotheken andere uitgevers zoeken voor het uitlenen van e-books. Andere dan Apple en Amazon. [...]

By: Birch

Birch — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:39:56 +0000

I’m 24-year-old library worker, and I had to look up the term “friendzone” on Google before I could decide if it was sexist or not..

By: Richard Naylor

Richard Naylor — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:13:12 +0000

Excellent analyses — why don’t we do more reviews of Library-Friendly publisher’s books?

By: Bibliotheks Polizei

Bibliotheks Polizei — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 23:55:10 +0000

I see nothing sexist… rather the assumption of sexism is rather heterocentric…but that is a whole other wave on a whole other ocean. Articulating a working partnership in terms of intimate personal relationships is a fine way to describe things these days between libraries and publishers.

I think a reasonable strategy libraries might want to take up is to frame the argument in the context of commons. When libraries own a book, it is the property of the people. When we rent (arguably) ebooks the people are spending money and not owning the material. I think that hits a populist theme that is understandable and resonates well with the public.

By: Libraries and eBook Publishers: Friend Zone Level 300 | eBooks and libraries | Scoop.it

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 23:35:37 +0000

[...] In returning from vacation last week, today’s social media catch featured a wonderful juxtaposition of library eBook oriented links: the ALA’s Digital Content & Libraries Working Group report, … [...]

By: Sarah Houghton (@TheLiB)

Sarah Houghton (@TheLiB) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:57:45 +0000

I don’t find the friendzone concept sexist at all. I have been put in the friendzone as a woman. It is a rotten place to be no matter who you are. And I think the metaphor is apt for where libraries are with eBooks. That being said, of course I still prefer my own neglectful, abusive boyfriend metaphor…but I’m also a little more prone to fits of anger about these things than Andy is He’s much more balanced and sane. Well done, sir. Well done.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:46:40 +0000

In pulling back the curtain for a moment, I had considered whether or not to use the term ‘friendzone’. I knew it was a charged term so I asked a female friend about using the word for the blog post I had in mind. She gave me an honest answer in saying that it could go either way; it was a rather subjective term that some would find offensive while others would not.

After I wrote the post, I asked her to read it before I placed it online; this is something I rarely do with any of my blogging. She did not object the term as it is used in the post, so I hit Publish and let the chips fall where they may. Whether you agree with the term or not, I would hope that you would consider the relationship between libraries and publishers and how it pans out for library eBook lending.

By: Emma Lawson

Emma Lawson — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:20:57 +0000

I find it interesting and that a woman using the abusive boyfriend metaphor while a man used the friendzone metaphor. The friendzone concept is sexist and not really helpful.