Overdrive new selection going downhill

JSWolf · 01-14-2012, 02:11 PM

Has anyone else noticed that the selection of new eBooks via Overdrive from the library has been going downhill fast?

I'm seeing desperate purchases like Feng Sui for your Workplace for Dummies type of garbage. How to this that and the other thing that are worthless. It's a sad affair. How Overdrive can raise rates when the selection is getting worse is beyond reason.

SeaBookGuy · 01-14-2012, 02:34 PM

While I agree that there's little new that interests me at Overdrive - we got nearly 1000 new titles yesterday, of which I got out two (2) - this characterization of "garbage" regarding things you don't like is rather over-the-top.

rdfry · 01-14-2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Has anyone else noticed that the selection of new eBooks via Overdrive from the library has been going downhill fast?

I'm seeing desperate purchases like Feng Sui for your Workplace for Dummies type of garbage. How to this that and the other thing that are worthless. It's a sad affair. How Overdrive can raise rates when the selection is getting worse is beyond reason.

Well since four of the six major publishers aren't providing any new books what should we expect?

anamardoll · 01-14-2012, 02:57 PM

I donate money to my library, along with a "wish list" of books. I suspect others may do the same, so it's possible that people are simply asking for things that other people don't want/care about.

JSWolf · 01-14-2012, 03:05 PM

Well, you know the books are not that interesting when you have other books not available and these self-help type books are still available.

kiwipippa · 01-16-2012, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdfry

Well since four of the six major publishers aren't providing any new books what should we expect?

Is it up to 4 now? I thought it was only 2 (Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster). Sigh

Andrew H. · 01-16-2012, 01:53 AM

My Feng Shui book is finally in!

RainingLemur · 01-16-2012, 02:22 AM

When I go looking on my library sites' selection, I don't have anything in particular in mind. I'll usually check some out on a whim or if one has some good reviews. I've found a few good books I probably wouldn't have found otherwise that way.

But, I do see that there's a lack of "big" published books being tossed into Overdrive.

FizzyWater · 01-16-2012, 04:05 AM

At at least 2 of the Overdrive libraries I belong to, the librarians seem to buy at least some of the books to suit "the season". In January I wouldn't be surprised to see a preponderance of diet and self-help books.

abookreader · 01-16-2012, 07:50 AM

Our library does seem to have gone to a higher percentage of children's and YA literature, I assumed that was primarily demand though. Otherwise, we do get a bunch of books that I've never heard of from smaller publishers and many Harlequins which I'm guessing thrill some and anger others. It's the typical "You don't have the specific book I want to read so you don't have anything" kind of mindset.

I have tried a few smaller publisher action/thriller type books from Overdrive lately that I'm guessing would have never made the catalog if the big names would sell their ebooks to libraries. It's been hit or miss in enjoyment but that's pretty much the same with any author or publisher.

I think this is how it is the last I heard, could be wrong

Penguin - doesn't offer front list titles
MacMillan - no books at all
S&S - no books at all
Harper Collins -26 check-out limit. Our library is avoiding them unless there are requests for a specific title.

The big discussions at my library don't seem to be title availability but trying to do more with the stagnant funding levels. Print book demand isn't decreasing with the exploding eBook demand. In fact, it also was up a little over the past year.

SeaBookGuy · 01-16-2012, 10:42 AM

My library has set aside a rather significant ebook budget for this fiscal year, and now with the big publishers (pretty much) refusing to offer anything remotely popular, they're scrambling to fill those purchase slots, leaning towards kids' books and cozy mystery series.

pidgeon92 · 01-16-2012, 11:39 AM

I check the new ebook selection every week at the Chicago Public library, and end up putting a half-dozen or so on my wishlist. While I probably won't find a particular title I might be interested in, I can always find books I am interested in reading.

Right now there are 154 ebooks on my Chicago Public library wishlist.

AnemicOak · 01-16-2012, 04:48 PM

Our library keeps adding a great selection of books.

IIRC libraries that allow out of area access, like the Free Library of Philadelphia, have the selection of books they can buy being limited now due to new publisher restrictions as opposed to libraries that only allow access to patrons in their actual coverage area.

tubemonkey · 01-16-2012, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwipippa

Is it up to 4 now? I thought it was only 2 (Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster). Sigh

Macmillan and Simon & Schuster don't allow any ebook lending
Hatchette and Penguin don't allow frontlist ebook lending
Random House is clamping down on reciprocal libraries
HarperCollins has a 26x ebook loan limit

The Big 6 are cutting their own throats. If they keep it up, libraries will turn more and more to indies; and those authors are just as good as the majors.

Hamlet53 · 01-17-2012, 10:08 AM

I have not really notice much change with my local library system's ebook purchases. Then it was always very limited; few titles added each month and those heavily favoring the self-help/travel guide non-fiction, fiction mass production romance novels, and young adult/teen/children titles. Thankfully the whoever makes the choices seems to finally stopped with the vampire novels. Or maybe just run out of them?

I have noticed a reduction of good titles appearing at the Philadelphia Free Library. This is bad as that was my primary source. Though unless I am hoping to get a particular ebook as a temporary loan it is not something I need get that excited about.

01-14-2012, 02:11 PM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,974 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Overdrive new selection going downhill Has anyone else noticed that the selection of new eBooks via Overdrive from the library has been going downhill fast? I'm seeing desperate purchases like Feng Sui for your Workplace for Dummies type of garbage. How to this that and the other thing that are worthless. It's a sad affair. How Overdrive can raise rates when the selection is getting worse is beyond reason.

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01-14-2012, 02:34 PM	#2
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	While I agree that there's little new that interests me at Overdrive - we got nearly 1000 new titles yesterday, of which I got out two (2) - this characterization of "garbage" regarding things you don't like is rather over-the-top.

01-14-2012, 02:57 PM	#4
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	I donate money to my library, along with a "wish list" of books. I suspect others may do the same, so it's possible that people are simply asking for things that other people don't want/care about.

01-14-2012, 03:05 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,974 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Well, you know the books are not that interesting when you have other books not available and these self-help type books are still available.

01-16-2012, 01:53 AM	#7
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	My Feng Shui book is finally in!

01-16-2012, 02:22 AM	#8
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	When I go looking on my library sites' selection, I don't have anything in particular in mind. I'll usually check some out on a whim or if one has some good reviews. I've found a few good books I probably wouldn't have found otherwise that way. But, I do see that there's a lack of "big" published books being tossed into Overdrive.

01-16-2012, 04:05 AM	#9
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	At at least 2 of the Overdrive libraries I belong to, the librarians seem to buy at least some of the books to suit "the season". In January I wouldn't be surprised to see a preponderance of diet and self-help books.

01-16-2012, 07:50 AM	#10
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	Our library does seem to have gone to a higher percentage of children's and YA literature, I assumed that was primarily demand though. Otherwise, we do get a bunch of books that I've never heard of from smaller publishers and many Harlequins which I'm guessing thrill some and anger others. It's the typical "You don't have the specific book I want to read so you don't have anything" kind of mindset. I have tried a few smaller publisher action/thriller type books from Overdrive lately that I'm guessing would have never made the catalog if the big names would sell their ebooks to libraries. It's been hit or miss in enjoyment but that's pretty much the same with any author or publisher. I think this is how it is the last I heard, could be wrong Penguin - doesn't offer front list titles MacMillan - no books at all S&S - no books at all Harper Collins -26 check-out limit. Our library is avoiding them unless there are requests for a specific title. The big discussions at my library don't seem to be title availability but trying to do more with the stagnant funding levels. Print book demand isn't decreasing with the exploding eBook demand. In fact, it also was up a little over the past year.

01-16-2012, 10:42 AM	#11
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	My library has set aside a rather significant ebook budget for this fiscal year, and now with the big publishers (pretty much) refusing to offer anything remotely popular, they're scrambling to fill those purchase slots, leaning towards kids' books and cozy mystery series.

01-16-2012, 11:39 AM	#12
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I check the new ebook selection every week at the Chicago Public library, and end up putting a half-dozen or so on my wishlist. While I probably won't find a particular title I might be interested in, I can always find books I am interested in reading. Right now there are 154 ebooks on my Chicago Public library wishlist.

01-16-2012, 04:48 PM	#13
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Our library keeps adding a great selection of books. IIRC libraries that allow out of area access, like the Free Library of Philadelphia, have the selection of books they can buy being limited now due to new publisher restrictions as opposed to libraries that only allow access to patrons in their actual coverage area.

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01-17-2012, 10:08 AM	#15
Hamlet53 Nameless Being	I have not really notice much change with my local library system's ebook purchases. Then it was always very limited; few titles added each month and those heavily favoring the self-help/travel guide non-fiction, fiction mass production romance novels, and young adult/teen/children titles. Thankfully the whoever makes the choices seems to finally stopped with the vampire novels. Or maybe just run out of them? I have noticed a reduction of good titles appearing at the Philadelphia Free Library. This is bad as that was my primary source. Though unless I am hoping to get a particular ebook as a temporary loan it is not something I need get that excited about.