Pros and Cons of Publishers having their own e lending libraries

[Lynx-lynx]

What are the pros and cons of publishers setting up their own ebook lending libraries?

Such a library could have an annual subscription, and be set up similarly to Overdrive in terms of lending period and copyright protection. (I'm not talking about 1 book per title, but n books)

I don't see that it would 'take money from' sales of ebooks, because it seems to me the same principle exists now, those who want to buy - buy; those who want to borrow - borrow (eg public libraries).

Anyone know if this idea has been floated by the Publishing houses?

What are the pros and cons?

[tubemonkey]

Major con: fragmentation - too many subscriptions. Multiply $10~20 per month times six publishers (Big Six) and you have one hefty bill.

I subscribe to Netflix. I refuse to add other paid services like Hulu Plus or Prime Video.

[HarryT]

Yes, it's the same argument that applies to each publisher having their own eBook store. If I want to buy a book, I don't want to have to go to the trouble of having to find out who the publisher is, and then go to that publisher's web site to buy it. I want a "one stop shop" where I can buy all my books, and that (for me) is Amazon.

[Lynx-lynx]

And if the Publishers allowed the Book sellers to lend their ebooks?

For example, I use Sony and Kobo probably the most for my purchases .... so I would be prepared to use an e library arrangement with one or other (or potentially both, depending on lending prices etc).

It doesn't mean that I still won't buy ebooks, but I would no doubt 'borrow' fiction just like I do at my local library now (both paper and e).

[tubemonkey]

As long as I can borrow ebooks from a public library, I won't even entertain the thought of paying a subscription fee for a private library.

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

What are the pros and cons of publishers setting up their own ebook lending libraries?

O'Reilly has (or at least had) such a library and I seem to recall them picking up titles from other publishers. The problem is that it was rather expensive, though they did offset the cost by offering a few credits every month to buy books. It also worked well in O'Reilly's case because they catered to a particular audience and offered an extensive library to them. I'm not sure how well that would work for an audience who reads for entertainment, and may be reading books from multiple publishers.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

O'Reilly has (or at least had) such a library and I seem to recall them picking up titles from other publishers. The problem is that it was rather expensive, though they did offset the cost by offering a few credits every month to buy books. It also worked well in O'Reilly's case because they catered to a particular audience and offered an extensive library to them. I'm not sure how well that would work for an audience who reads for entertainment, and may be reading books from multiple publishers.

The O'Reilly Safari library is an excellent resource, but also doubt it is a viable model for standard fiction books. The Safari library has four big advantages:
a) It has a focused audience
b) That audience is, for the most part, comfortably off
c) The service improves the earning capacity of the audience
d) Most of the audience don't actually pay for the service themselves, their companies do
You can always charge more for a a service the recipient doesn't actually pay for themselves

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

The O'Reilly Safari library is an excellent resource, but also doubt it is a viable model for standard fiction books. The Safari library has four big advantages:
a) It has a focused audience
b) That audience is, for the most part, comfortably off
c) The service improves the earning capacity of the audience
d) Most of the audience don't actually pay for the service themselves, their companies do
You can always charge more for a a service the recipient doesn't actually pay for themselves

Most online journal subscriptions are in the same situation.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, it's the same argument that applies to each publisher having their own eBook store. If I want to buy a book, I don't want to have to go to the trouble of having to find out who the publisher is, and then go to that publisher's web site to buy it. I want a "one stop shop" where I can buy all my books, and that (for me) is Amazon.

Does every store carry every book now?
I am over half a century old.
I do not recall any store anywhere carrying every book or even most books I looked for within my lifetime. Maybe that existed before I was born, but if do there are few alive to remember it.

Strawman arguement, Harry.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Phogg

Does every store carry every book now?
I am over half a century old.
I do not recall any store anywhere carrying every book or even most books I looked for within my lifetime. Maybe that existed before I was born, but if do there are few alive to remember it.

Amazon is a reasonable approximation.

Strawman arguement, Harry.

No it isn't.
At the moment every store can carry at least the latest releases. With publisher only stores, those would be split between 6 different storefronts.

Originally Posted by Phogg

Does every store carry every book now?

For most people, book stores (physical and online) have carried every book for about 20 years now. Of course that's not quite true if you're looking for something specialized, but we've long since abandoned the idea of small bookstores.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

For most people, book stores (physical and online) have carried every book for about 20 years now. Of course that's not quite true if you're looking for something specialized, but we've long since abandoned the idea of small bookstores.

Every book or just most bestsellers? I know that physical bookstores will often order it, but even the larger bookstores in Vancouver do not carry every book by even the most popular authors in stock.

[HarryT]

Online sellers like Amazon have vastly greater stocks than even the largest physical bookstore.

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Every book or just most bestsellers? I know that physical bookstores will often order it, but even the larger bookstores in Vancouver do not carry every book by even the most popular authors in stock.

I haven't been to many Vancouver bookstores, but there was a very good chance of finding what you wanted in Toronto bookstores if it was in print recently. Of course, the situation was different if something was out of print for a while or specialized. (Examples: I had to order books on parallel computing and quantum physics, and I had to go to a specialized bookstore for teaching resources.) Yet even then you could usually go through the store's catalogue and order it in, much like you can with places like Amazon.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

I haven't been to many Vancouver bookstores, but there was a very good chance of finding what you wanted in Toronto bookstores if it was in print recently. Of course, the situation was different if something was out of print for a while or specialized. (Examples: I had to order books on parallel computing and quantum physics, and I had to go to a specialized bookstore for teaching resources.) Yet even then you could usually go through the store's catalogue and order it in, much like you can with places like Amazon.

I used to try ordering books from bookstores and it was not that easy even 10-20 years ago. I actually got one once and it was quite exciting. Smaller bookstores (in my experience only) the staff did not know how or could only order from certain publishers. Larger bookstores would place your order and take your credit card number and/or a deposit and the book would not materialise. I would check back weekly and then monthly and be assured it should be in soon. Six months later, I would be in there with my receipt and asking for the book or a refund if a deposit was placed. In one case I got the book, one I got a refund and an apology, one (nodeposit) denied I had ordered the book, and one I did not get the book or the deposit (company policy was you had to wait for the book no matter what).

I am sure most bookstores make a greater effort now because of increased competition, but they lost my loyalty when they did not appear to make an effort on their own.

I did not order bestsellers as I could have bought them easily without additional handling fees etc. They were mildly specialised but still in print and recent from major publishers, and in every case I eventually managed to order them from the publishers (in another country)

Helen