07-23-2010, 04:03 PM | #1 | |
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New OverDrive venture: buy eBooks and support libraries
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LibraryBIN: Here's How it Works |
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07-23-2010, 04:07 PM | #2 |
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and some more thoughts...
Looking briefly at pricing, it appears some titles are discounted 10%, but I haven't delved deep enough to figure out if that is just Random House, or includes the Agency 5.
As a professional fundraiser and potential buyer/donor, I'd like more transparency on:
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07-23-2010, 05:33 PM | #3 | ||
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Quote:
They have a link with a (very simple) explanation of the program - which doesn't answer any of your questions! And beneath each ebook and audiobook, there's a link that says: Quote:
When I first saw the links, I went to LibraryBIN to see if I could change "my library" from the one I came from to one of the other ones I visit, but like you, was frustrated that you actually have to buy a book to find out which libraries participate. |
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07-23-2010, 06:03 PM | #4 |
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This is interesting, thank you. My local library is signing up to overdrive soon, and certainly the lady running it does not seem to know much about how the system works. I will be interested to see if they have been encouraged to sign up for the buy it now system.
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07-23-2010, 07:04 PM | #5 |
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I've never gone for the "buy this, we donate to that" deals. I buy what I want at the best price I can get, and if I want to donate to some charity, I write them a check. It's just a different form of greenwashing (or, given the Susan G. Komen foundation, pinkwashing?) and it's for the benefit of the corporation, not the charity, in the long run.
If I want to donate to my public library, I'll donate to my public library, not hope that they get a few pennies off of overpriced, DRM-restricted ebook purchases. That way, we both win. |
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07-23-2010, 07:06 PM | #6 |
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I did a quick price comparison using [I]61 Hours[I] by Lee Child.
Overdrive's LibraryBin is $26.60 for epub Amazon/BN/Sony/Kobo is $9.99 Moon Sworn LibraryBin is $7.59 Amazon/BN $6.39 Dont know if the additional mark-up goes to library or Overdrive is paying higher wholesale prices. |
07-23-2010, 07:13 PM | #7 |
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Interesting but I wish it was a way to buy the actual eBook for your library.
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07-23-2010, 07:36 PM | #8 |
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07-23-2010, 07:47 PM | #9 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
And don't get me started on breast cancer NFPs. Komen is a joke - if you asked 99% of the people who think they're donating to breast cancer, they have no idea how Komen (doesn't) spend the money. Last time I looked, Komen spent less on breast cancer research annually than all the other cancer charities combined, not to mention it has no outreach for cancer patients. But I'm sure there are a ton of marketing experts who manage their PR, and financial experts who manage their fund that are making nice commissions. It's a major problem that most donors don't understand the different functions of endowment vs. foundation vs. traditional charity. And its an even greater problem that 501(c)3 organizations pop up like mushrooms everyday, most providing duplicative services. Sorry, off my soapbox now. |
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07-23-2010, 08:26 PM | #10 |
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OK, so what this appears to be is a bookstore, run by Overdrive, that allows you and me to buy ebooks for our own pleasure, use and licensing. We can choose to buy at Amazon or B&N or Kobo or Overdrive.
Books purchased at Overdrive generate a "portion of the sale" margin (profit) which can be donated to a library of your choice, provided they participate. The library doesn't get the book you bought: you do. It gets some cash added to the bill. There's nothing wrong with that as far as it goes but it is much more direct to simply find a way to donate $50 to your local library (and maybe even get a tax receipt). What I would really like to see is an easy way for a library patron to help fund specific titles, or a bundle of titles, to be added to the local collection. My library (Toronto) is doing a decent job of adding ePub titles to the collection -- at least there are new titles appearing every week or two (not huge volumes, but there is movement). The drawback is I had no idea there were so many books being written about vampires .... I'd be delighted to help fund the acquisition of some traditional mysteries -- like Agatha Christie (the library has none to read, several to listen to) -- or the mysteries of home grown mystery publisher Dundurn Books which would add Canadian (and local) content. |
07-23-2010, 08:33 PM | #11 |
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if I donated money to the local library to be used for eBooks, I'd want to be able to tell the librarian what eBooks I want purchased with the money.
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07-23-2010, 08:43 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
That's why I am floating the "bundle of books" sponsorship idea. The library could choose a batch of ten titles, in various genres, and invite folks to donate specifically for this batch or that. That gives you the patron some direct influence without removing the role of librarian as final arbiter of content. |
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07-23-2010, 08:44 PM | #13 |
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What I would be worried about is that if I donated, the library would end up getting books I would not want to read and then that would be a total waste of my donate (for me).
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07-23-2010, 09:49 PM | #14 | |
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Quote:
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07-23-2010, 11:03 PM | #15 |
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Sort of like a "wedding registry"... cool!
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