Some Things We Like, Something We Don't Like, and Link to Webinar

We have a few changes to celebrate, or at least smile about.

Thank you to W.W. Norton for changing their basic license terms. They previously used to have a hybrid license: libraries had a title for either 52 circulations or 2 years, whichever came first. Since many libraries offer three week checkout periods, 52 circulations would practically never be reached and the license would explode at two years.

They have changed to just 52 circulations, and often at an attractive price. For example, The Odyssey as translated by Emily Wilson is currently in at $40, less than $1.00 per circulation. This 52 circulation cost makes it far more attractive than the $4.00 individual cost per circulation model. The title dates from 2017, so there may be some lower cost factored in due to age. But it’s a classic, and many libraries might well take a chance even in a year when Mr. Christopher Nolan hasn’t released a blockbuster movie of this epic. We’re certainly far more likely to if given 52 circulations rather than the two year option. We encourage selection librarians to reward publishers that seem to be listening to various library and library organization requests for new (or revisited) models on reasonable terms.

So, Norton, how about a perpetual use model as well? $80 for on-copy/one-user at a time perpetually? One can get other older translation in ebook at no cost, but this one might we worth the expense for a modern and accessible version.

We also like that Hachette and Macmillan are experimenting with licenses metered by checkout rather than by time.

Hachette is offering 48 checkouts at the same price as their 24 month model: $75. Since 2 years is not likely to bring in 48 circs, even for books that sustain their popularity over time, the 48 circ model is the better deal.

Macmillan is offering 24 circs for $48. Their mid-list titles are coming in at $60 for 2 years. Popular new titles may not be a comparative bargain at the 24 circ price, but titles likely to expire due to time with fewer than 20 circulations could be. Certainly, we might be more tempted to take a chance—and anything that can help break us out of the cycle of constantly carousel of only the most popular titles is a good thing.

Does it seem odd to anyone else that W.W. Norton can do well at 52 circulations for $40, or $.77 per, while larger publishers charge respectively $1.56 and $2.00? Over two and nearly three times the cost? Really? Hurumph. All the more reason to look around!

Something we don’t like is that for several libraries in our Working Group, access to titles on a pay-per-use model has disappeared. Over 100 titles are just gone in this option, with no warning or word about why. OverDrive, you are not the cause, but hows about some notice and explanation? It’s unlikely things simply go away without publishers telling you.

Here is some follow-up information about the recent COSLA/Lyrasis/ReadersFirst webinar on fair digital costs:

RECORDING, October 13th: https://lyrasis.aviaryplatform.com/r/pc2t43mc56?access=GACsDEymkBA5xeomO0Gghg==

If you would like to receive a Certificate of Participation, please complete the Lyrasis Evaluation Form located at https://s.zoom.us/m/bPFbnnZcv. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!