Amazon to launch Library Lending

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

How do they convince those libraries that already have several copies of a particular title that work with a couple of dozen readers, to buy more copies for the Kindle?

No need. It all works with everything they already have.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

As an author, would you go with any of the agency 6 and let them over price your eBook or would you try to go with one of them and try to get a reasonable eBook price in the contract?

My books are currently published by O'Reilly and MS Press, primarily. I think there are still some in print from PTR, but that was really before eBooks became an issue. It's to be noted that O'Reilly (who also does the MS Press books) does not use DRM.

In my line of work, I sometimes don't have a choice about pricing, and it's not at all the same as fictional books where volume is more important and a distorted cover price for eBooks is more to the point.

As for the contracts? Sometimes one can affect small aspects of the contract. But usually you live with what you get. Unless you're J. K. Rowling.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

I'm getting that old deja' vu feeling. This sounds like "Overdrive" which is already being used by libraries coast to coast. How do they convince those libraries that already have several copies of a particular title that work with a couple of dozen readers, to buy more copies for the Kindle? Not to mention installing another software package to run along side the Overdrive they're already using.

Please read the (multiple) threads here. NO additional costs or books for the libraries. The exact mechanics aren't quite clear yet, but it will not require libraries to buy additional books.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tomsem

I hope Overdrive will have a suitable web interface so that Kindle owners (K2 on) can access the library portal efficiently and download directly to their Kindles using the (still experimental) browser.

Hope is not needed.
Overdrive already has a system in place (for their android and iOS apps) that lists their partner libraries' catalogs, validates user IDs, and directly downloads the ebook.
The app could be ported to kindle as a menu pick or amazon could tie into the overdrive system through their storefront server. Either way, it should be a seamless process.

[JSWolf]

When ePub became the norm for Overdrive eBooks, libraries had to install newer Overdrive software. So installing yet another version should not be much of an issue.

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Hope is not needed.
Overdrive already has a system in place (for their android and iOS apps) that lists their partner libraries' catalogs, validates user IDs, and directly downloads the ebook.

... and Blackberry. I am using Overdrive on my Blackberry Torch to access Toronto Public Library titles on my "shelf" and the "native" Kobo app to access my purchased Kobo titles. For that matter, I have the Kindle app for the Torch as well. Overdrive is well covered.

[GreenMonkey]

I'm glad to see Kindle people will be able to get library books. My wife has a Kindle 3 (but we have no nearby Overdrive library).

On the other hand, I don't like to see a market monopolized. I hope this doesn't hurt sales for B&N and Kobo and the like. We need healthy competition. Then again with the absurd agency price fixing agreements we don't really have proper competition anyway.

[jocampo]

Competition is always there, but companies need to give interesting solutions to customers in order to win market and survive. Everything is about business.

People like Amazon because it's awesome customer support. If you add that to a great product like Kindle 3, the result is people choosing Kindle instead of Nook or Kobo, even Sony.

I love B&N stores and spending time there reading or with my wife, but Kindle eink reader is better than 1st gen Nook. Moreover, there are less "horror stories" about problems returning a defective Kindle than a similar customer returning a defective Nook.

[stickybuns]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Please read the (multiple) threads here. NO additional costs or books for the libraries. The exact mechanics aren't quite clear yet, but it will not require libraries to buy additional books.

Given that this announcement is being made by both Amazon and OverDrive, I'm thinking that there's a good reason for Spyderman to think that it sounds a lot like the OverDrive system.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Okay, going from the Overdrive blog post, they are following the logic that the libraries are buying licenses, not files (Baen takes the same position) so the book can be delivered in any format. Simple, straightforward and religion-free.
Epub, mobi, whatever, is irrelevant; what matters is the book, not the format.

I don't know how I feel about this.

Right now, CLEVNET has ebooks they own in PDF *and* ePub *and* Mobipocket formats.

This is super news for Kindle users. But it's frustrating it couldn't have been rolled out years ago.

Plus...what will this mean to the already alarming wait times?!

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I wonder if this explains the dramatic price increases Overdrive will be charging libraries starting 2012. The annual account administration fees are doubling for some libraries next year and then doubling again for 2013.

Wow; that's not good. Do you have any idea what those fees are in dollars? and where do you get info like this?

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Wow; that's not good. Do you have any idea what those fees are in dollars? and where do you get info like this?

Here's an article from Library Journal where the Kansas State Librarian discusses the issue. She provides specific details.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/new...eball.html.csp

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Plus...what will this mean to the already alarming wait times?!

Those will jump significantly if there's a large influx of Kindle owners into the system.

Libraries would be forced into some tough decisions. They may have to buy more copies of popular titles to keep the wait times down. To offset those purchases, they may have to buy fewer or no copies of other titles; or channel funds away from paper book purchases; or increase their budgets (extremely unlikely); or even shut down some smaller branches to better utilize available funds (extremely unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibility); or they may choose to do nothing and tell patrons to be patient and accept the realities of dwindling tax support.

No matter how they decide, they'll have some tough decisions to make.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Here's an article from Library Journal where the Kansas State Librarian discusses the issue. She provides specific details.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/new...eball.html.csp

Thanks for the link; I appreciate it.

Edit: that's a very interesting read and warrants a separate thread.

[Giggleton]

So this is going to cut down on the number of clicks I need to produce to read library books on my Kindle, this is a good thing.

I wonder why "individuals" aren't given the library rate for books though, if the price is low enough, we probably wouldn't need a centralized tax supported repository. I'm a fan of free before reading of course, but I admit that is still a bit far off.