A Small Opening for a New Business Model?

AT ALA Midwinter, Carolyn Anthony (Dir, Skokie Public Library), co-chair of ALA's Digital Content Working Group (DCWG), shared news that in DCWG's recent talks with three of the "Big 5" publishers,  the idea of a limited simultaneous access model was broached. For a short period of time, and on a limited important topic such as public health (i.e. Diabetes or Heart Health Awareness), might a suite of non-fiction library eBooks be made available to all who wished to access them without the waiting queue that can make library eBooks cumbersome to access? And for the first time ever (at least for more than a single and usually not well-known title), the publishers did NOT say "no."

Carolyn emphasizes caution. The publishers did not say "yes," either. They asked, however, how the model might work and seemed open to talking.

While hardly a breakthrough moment, then, this conversation is significant.  Perhaps it is a first step towards developing a business model (subscription? pay-per-use?) that will allow for simultaneous access to high-demand titles by library eBook readers. We thank DCWG for their careful and thoughtful advocacy. Their diplomatic approach is slowly reaping benefits. ReadersFirst has long advocated a business model that would eliminate eBook reserve queues. We welcome any developments that would move greater access forward and hope publishers will continue to come to the table with open minds.

Thanks for the news, Carolyn!

Michael Blackwell, St Mary's County Library, for RF

What do you think? Is a per-per-use or subscription model ever going to viable or even desirable? Is anything likely to come from this sort of approach to the publishers?  Please share! 

Survey Results: Is Library eBook Use Growing?

Thanks to all who responded to our post last week asking about growth in eBook usage in your libraries. The eleven libraries represented saw a 30% increase in the circulation of e-materials from 2014 to 2015, an even higher percentage than OverDrive’s 24% overall increase. Although this was an unscientific study with a very small sample size, the results show that, at least for some of our libraries, library ebook adoption among our customers is increasing. Growing collections, catalog integration, and improved ease of use are likely contributors to the increase. Additional advancements like those advocated for by ReadersFirst, including library card signup and catalog integration of all e-content, and continued improvements to ebook licensing terms could further library ebook adoption in the future.

Sara Stephenson, St. Mary's County Library

OverDrive uses Library Card as a Default

Last Year, ReadersFirst called for the library card to be a possiblity for readers creating vendor accounts to access eBooks. At the Overdrive booth at ALA Midwiner, Head of Product Development Ryan from OD demoed their new platform, and the library card signup is not only an option but the default. We don't usually mention particular vendors on our site (outside of our guide to library eBook vendors), but RF would like to thank OverDrive for being responsive and taking another small step in making thier sitre more library user friendly and in accord with RF principles. Thanks, Ryan! More news from ALA Midwinter to follow! 

Is Library eBook Use Growing?

Our friends at The Digital Reader have responded to an OverDrive Press Release citing record library eBook and eAudiobook circulation in 2015, with the former up 19% over 2014 (to 125 million) and the latter up 36% (to 43 million).

The Digital Reader then throws cold water on OverDrive's numbers, suggesting "the stats represent OverDrive doing more business more than an increase in library ebook adoption among patrons."  EBook adoption, DR avers, "remains either low or disappointingly low," citing surveys from BISG and Pew.

Time for very scientific, definitive study to settle the question, "Is library eBook use growing?" To contribute to this monumental piece of scholarship and trend tracking, you need only respond with your library's use of eBooks in 2015 compared to 2014. Did use grow, remain flat, or even shrink? Let us know! Thanks for playing.

MIchael Blackwell, St Mary's County Library

American Libraries: What's In Store for eBooks

American Libraries has interviewed four experts in the eBook area, speculating on the future of eBooks (and print) in retail and in libraries:  Andrew Albanese, James LaRue, Michael Shatzkin, and Maja Thomas.

We at RF would have liked to see somebody from DPLA, ALA's DCWG, Library Simplified--or perhaps RF itself :-) --included on the panel. Someone active in libraries today, with a stake in the game, would have been a good addition. Still, the article is wide-ranging, thoughtful, and well worth a look. Covering the potential and problems raised by Indie publishing, the importance of libraries in the market, and the need for innovation, the panelists hit on vital points:  http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2016/01/04/whats-store-ebooks/

RF wishes to thank Mr. Albanese for these words:  

"It would be a mistake to accept the current restrictions on library eBook lending as the way things have to be. For example, I don’t see any reason why a library should not be able to buy ebooks like they buy print books, and at the same prices. To me, there is virtually no difference between a print book and a copy of a digital book that is locked down and can be read by only one user at a time. And I have yet to hear a compelling argument otherwise."

"Amazon and Netflix are redefining consumer expectations for accessing digital content, and libraries cannot allow themselves to settle on a plateau of mediocrity. I understand the fear and caution that came with the early days of digital. But publishers and libraries are invested in the same things. Together, they should form a bulwark against companies whose innovation in the short term comes with a price in the long term."

Despite recent gains in access to content, today's library eBook experience is still inadequate to support robust reading. The wait for content, coupled with that same content's inexpensiveness to consumers, provides only the mediocrity Albanese fears. Why wait for a title from the library when it can be had so cheaply, instantly, elsewhere? While carefully choosing titles of local interest by local authors is a laudable goal, will our readers flock to get the latest Indie, library curated eContent? It's time for a change to multiple pricing models on the content most readers want, subscriptions with simultaneous user access for libraries, and a technologically simplified reading experience. In 2016, we hope more libraries will join ReadersFirst in saying so.  You have nothing to lose but your readers.

Michael Blackwell, St Mary's County Library

A Study on Digital Content in Public Libraries

ReadersFirst Members and all pubic librarians will likely be interested in the results of a Joint ALA/Book Industry Study Group,  Digital Content in Public Libraries: What Do Patrons Think?

"The results of this survey are available in an exhaustive, 85-page PDF report, compiled by Jim Milliot of Publishers Weekly, or as an executive summary (free to BISG and ALA members; email info@bisg.org for your discount code)."

Well worth a look.  Check it out!

Penguin Random House's New Price Model . . . is it really good for us?

On December 3rd, Penguin Random House announced January 1 2016 implementation of perpetual access for library eBook titles: Publisher’s Weekly notes “Currently, Penguin e-books are licensed to libraries with a one-year expiration date, and priced close to consumer prices. Going forward, all Penguin Random House e-books will be sold under the same perpetual access license terms—which means no cap on the number of loans—although, with higher prices ranging from just under $20 per title to a newly set maximum of $65. The $65 cap, however, is a reduction from the current Random House cap in the U.S. of $85 per title ($95 in Canada). Penguin Random House sales to libraries will continue to be handled exclusively by library wholesalers” (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/68838-penguin-random-house-unifies-e-book-terms-for-libraries.html).

ALA President Sari Feldman has responded “Libraries will be pleased that the combined Penguin Random House license will ensure perpetual access to e-titles, and all will be glad the previous ceiling of $85 per title has been reduced,” said ALA President Sari Feldman. “But I also know many of my colleagues will miss the flexibility of paying near-consumer prices for e-copies they may not wish to maintain indefinitely, and some will be unable to afford to provide access to the ebooks their communities seek” (http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/e-content/ala-responds-penguin-random-house-ebook-licensing-announcement/)

ReadersFirst suggests Ms. Feldman is on target but suggests something further. Thanks, Sari, for being a cogent voice for libraries! For SOME titles, perpetual access is nice. But in a library environment in which yesterday’s must-have 50 Shades is today’s must weed, and in which access and not ownership is all that matters, perpetual access isn’t the only consideration. Penguin Random, how about keeping a low cost/limited circ option on ALL your titles PLUS the new option? Offering options isn't too complex for us. We can figure it out. Yes, we’ll pay more for some perpetual access titles, but still keep buying other titles which we may not want perpetually at a more favorable rate.  You’ll make money. Likely you'll even sell more books that readers have tasted through libraries. We’ll give access to more titles at the same budget to our readers. And for us, it’s always Readers First.

Michael Blackwell, St Mary’s County Library, for RF  

Getting a handle on self-published eBooks

EBooks have had a profound effect on libraries in many ways, not only the need to provide support to patrons but also in publishing trends and how we track/acquire titles. Self-publishing is nothing new, but the ease with which eBooks are put out (compared to print) has caused this market to boom.  For librarians, the sheer amount of titles is a bit of a nightmare, challenging how we acquire and promote content. Libraries are still coming to grips with the ramifications. Shelf space is no limitation if we are linking to titles "in the cloud." (Many available for simultaneous access and no DRM!) But how do we know what’s "good"?  Is any of it good? Are there local authors we might want to promote in any case? For what, if anything, should we consider preserving/archiving access?

LJ and BiblioBoard have released Self-e Select (cute name, eh?) to try to help discover good self-published content.  Here's what they have to say:  Libraries have struggled for years to find an efficient and easy way to make ebooks available from local authors. SELF-e is the solution to this problem. Some of the top library systems in the country are using it in innovative ways to serve their communities and help local writers get recognition. We provide a turn-key technology for simple author submissions, plus promotional materials and marketing support to help you take full advantage of the service.

Look here for more info on a trial, who is using Self-e, and how it might help libraries:  http://self-e.libraryjournal.com/libraries/

ReadersFirst is not at this time endorsing Self-e, but we like the effort to expand access to simultaneously accessible content and to discover new authors.  Libraries need to be relevant in an increasingly digital world, as well as discover and promote local content, and this tool might help.  Check it out and post back what you think!

Michael Blackwell for ReadersFirst

A Trend for Libraries to Keep In Mind

As many in the library world have predicted for some time, that Swiss Army Knife of devices, the mobile phone, will displace the dedicated eReader. It's a trend to keep in mind as we promote reading of library eBooks. See this article in WSJ for a discussion.

Michael Blackwell for ReadersFirst

OverDrive Adopts a ReadersFirst Suggestion

When OverDrive released the update to their app last Fall, ReadersFirst liked moving away from the need for Adobe authorization for ePub titles but had reservations about the need for readers to provide a personal email to authorize the app. Our Working Group entered discussions with OverDrive, suggesting the possible use of readers’ library card numbers instead of emails. We are pleased to see that OverDrive has adopted our suggestion. At ALA, they explained library card numbers would be an option in their new and forthcoming platform. It is a win for library eBook Readers and for libraries. We appreciate OverDrive's responsiveness.

Use of the library card number to authorize apps or otherwise use eBooks offers many benefits:

·         It offers a small measure of privacy and anonymity in a world in which both are increasingly scarce, fitting in with libraries’ concern for patron rights.

·         No functionality is lost: Readers may still provide an email for necessary transactions, such as obtaining holds, with less concern about how their email addresses and personal reading habits are being used or tracked

·         It foregrounds the library as the provider of all content and offers fewer accounts for library users to remember

ReadersFirst calls upon all vendors to provide the option of authorization through library card number, especially via API working across systems. The technological hurdles, if any, can be cleared today using readily available means. A future in which readers could visit their libraries’ catalogs or apps, enter a library card number once, and enjoy access to all eContent across all platforms on all devices without once leaving the virtual "home" library is attractive in its simplicity and respect for readers’ time and privacy.

Michael Blackwell for the ReadersFirst Working Group