Recent blogs about the Kindle and library eBooks have sparked interesting comments from library users and non-users, showing new perceptions of libraries and eBooks. Check out ”Will Kindle ever add support for library books?” at Stephen’s Lighthouse and the Kindle Blog for more details. Libraries are constantly battling the perception of library obsolescence, and the comments in these blogs are no exception.
There seems to be some new elements to the library obsolescence myth, which generally refers to the misconception that libraries can be replaced by the Internet. A new perception of users and non-users is that library eBook selections are paltry. This impression is actually true for many libraries, because libraries have had many years to build their print and AV collections, and have only recently started building eBook collections in the last few years. It is going to take time for libraries to build up their eBook collections to equal their print collection levels, keeping in mind that libraries continue to serve print and AV users, and library collection budgets are spread across electronic, print, audiobook, DVD and music formats.
overdrive, with it’s
overdrive, with it’s ridiculous-to-use interface, the butt of a community-wide joke comic which was about 98% truth and 2% joke, is hosting a blog that talks about patron perception of library e-collections?
libraries should link to Amazon, B&N and sell ebooks
we should find a way to add links to Kindle and Nook editions of ebooks to our Overdrive digital libraries… the listing would have the Overdrive book, something popular like, Sexy Forever: How to Fight Fat after Forty by Suzanne Somers, which would already be checked out because it deals with sexy old ladies, one of my favorite topics, and under the book would be a link to “buy the book” for $9.99 just like in the real world.
so patrons would have the option to place a Hold/Reserve or to order it and get it now. there wouldn’t be any benefit to the library, except that we’d avoid looking like we can’t provide the book. “sure, we can get for you right now, for $9.99.”
don’t say libraries are obsolete until Amazon starts giving their bestsellers away for free; then we’re in trouble.
Hoo boy…
Here’s the part that stuck in my craw:
“However, eBook users are part of the “immediate gratification” generation, and their expectation is that libraries should have complete online collections equal to their print collections, NOW. These users will not be patient while libraries take years to build their electronic collections at a “supplemental collection” rate. If libraries are going to grab a share of the eBook user audience and find a secure place in the eBook industry, they need to focus on building their eBook collections immediately, to move from paltry to essential as soon as possible.”
Is it the library’s job to pander to the undisciplined whims of spoiled brats who want everything they want right when they want it, without consideration for others?
Methinks not. I’d rather weed print books every year like clockwork than listen to some entitled bitcah kvetch because we didn’t get enough digital copies of the new James Patterson. Case closed.
Behind the times
The comment form on this blog has it right when it says “Please use the comments to show us your own ignorance” because comments on this article thus far are a bit behind the times.
The comic is old news and bitterness about the DRM that is required by publishers. Even eHow.com rates OverDrive downloads as “moderately easy”.
Libraries *do* have “buy it” e-book links along with their e-book collections. Look — here’s one on NYPL’s e-book copy of “How to Fight Fat After Forty”! http://bit.ly/idROQq What’s better, is that some of the profits actually do go to the library.
Last, don’t assume that all e-book users are lightweight readers only interested in popular fiction. The e-book purchase requests I’ve gotten this week range from Man Booker and Orange Prize Literary fiction winners, to acclaimed memoirs “Crossing Mandelbaum’s Gate” and “Hiroshima in the Morning”. I don’t know about your library, but my library serves ALL patrons. Be it for spoiled brats or not, our 15,000 e-book checkouts last month were for readers and real library supporters.
“buy it now” library ebooks
that link still requires that intermediary step of downloading to a computer first, but it’s better than nothing.
I was thinking more of the instant gratification of getting a book directly to the Kindle/Nook asap.
been awhile since you’ve
been awhile since you’ve worked at a public service desk, I take it.
If by “spoiled brats” you
If by “spoiled brats” you mean children and teens, their parents pay taxes and/or support levies that fund the library. So, yes, they will have some say about a publicly funded institution in a democratic society. Also, those kids grow up in to tax-paying adults. Who will vote. (Unless authoritarians get their way, but that’s another discussion.)
Does that mean we have to rush-rush-rush at the pace “immediate gratification” demands? I hope not. We should take some time to consider how we are implementing these services to best meet user information needs — just like we do (or should) with every other service we provide in the library. My real concern about eBooks are the upfront costs of making the transformation to digital access during a time of severe budget cuts during the ongoing economic “downturn.”
I also nurture a perhaps irrational fear that we will “put all our eggs in one basket” at the expense of other collections.