Buy an ebook at HB prices but add a license for your public library?

[brecklundin]

just an idea, I would not find HB prices for ebooks much of an issue if the price also added to your local library's ebook catalog as well. Maybe for every two ebooks I buy at HB prices, the library gets a license for either the same book, or more practically, a license to add a title from their wish list.

Not sure how something like this would work but there has to be a way we can all benefit from paying more for ebooks if that is going to be forced on us.

[Connallmac]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

just an idea, I would not find HB prices for ebooks much of an issue if the price also added to your local library's ebook catalog as well. Maybe for every two ebooks I buy at HB prices, the library gets a license for either the same book, or more practically, a license to add a title from their wish list.

Not sure how something like this would work but there has to be a way we can all benefit from paying more for ebooks if that is going to be forced on us.

I would certainly find the $14.99 pricing model less ridiculous, heck I would probably even be willing to pay a bit more than that if I were able to have that much of an effect on the collection of the local library in this small town. However, considering that the publishers insistent on hiking prices already think they are doing us a favor by not further restricting our purchases or increasing prices even higher, I see very little chance of this happening. Especially given the contempt that some in the publishing business (Mr. Sargent, I'm looking at you) have for libraries.

[rhadin]

Excellent idea.

[fugazied]

Great idea, but I wonder if publishers would oppose such an agreement on principle.

I know I would donate a lot of e-books to the local library if I could. That's another way DRM is a pain in the backside I suppose - I could donate a normal print book to the local library but I can't donate any of my Kindle e-books... bah!

[SteveK]

Actually, you can do something like this now. You can buy ebooks through Librarybin.com, and they donate the net proceeds of the sale to the library you specify. The library can then use those proceeds to invest in ebooks. I have no idea how much a library benefits from each sale; obviously it's not a direct relationship (one book purchased = one license), but at least it's a way your library can benefit from your purchases. Note: the purchases are NOT tax deductible.

I'm sure they're not the cheapest place available, but at least you can feel like you're having a positive impact. You can specify your local library, or just have proceeds credited toward a general fund. Your local participating library will likely have a "Buy It Now" link on their website; that link connects you to LibraryBIN.com. You can also go directly to librarybin.com.

I haven't yet purchased anything from them, but it is an intriguing concept.

SteveK

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by fugazied

Great idea, but I wonder if publishers would oppose such an agreement on principle.

I bet they would.

If they charge HB prices, it's because they think that's what you should pay, and they aren't gonna feel they have to give anything else "for free". Besides, I'm sure they charge a higher price to libraries, so they won't see a reason to sell the lower-priced item and give away the higher-priced one...

As a promotion for selected titles and for a limited time? maybe, but not as a general model.

[pendragginp]

That's another way DRM is a pain in the backside I suppose - I could donate a normal print book to the local library but I can't donate any of my Kindle e-books... bah!

Exactly. I work at our little local library and donate many paperback and a good number of hc books. In fact that's usually a consideration when I buy a book - will this be good for the library collection too? Of course there are a certain number of books I only buy because I want to keep them. Not being able to donate an ebook has been a real stopping block as far as the choice to pay for new ones or just keep to the available free ones goes.

Actually, you can do something like this now. You can buy ebooks through Librarybin.com, and they donate the net proceeds of the sale to the library you specify. The library can then use those proceeds to invest in ebooks. I have no idea how much a library benefits from each sale; obviously it's not a direct relationship (one book purchased = one license), but at least it's a way your library can benefit from your purchases. Note: the purchases are NOT tax deductible.

I'm sure they're not the cheapest place available, but at least you can feel like you're having a positive impact. You can specify your local library, or just have proceeds credited toward a general fund. Your local participating library will likely have a "Buy It Now" link on their website; that link connects you to LibraryBIN.com. You can also go directly to librarybin.com.

I haven't yet purchased anything from them, but it is an intriguing concept.

That is great to know! Thanks so much for that address; I went there and in just a fast look it seems that popular fiction authors (Rita Mae Brown is the one I clicked on) are just a bit more than paperback prices - not bad. Others may be higher, and I haven't looked far, but it is indeed an intriguing concept.

ETA: I found this site, though I haven't had a chance to read beyond the first question yet.

Library-Bin FAQ: http://librarybin.com/614E5B53-C509-...LibraryBIN.htm

[pendragginp]

On looking a bit further I see that an author's new books seem to be hc prices, and older ones more in line with paper back. It's an Overdrive connected site, with epub and ade supports.

[GhostHawk]

Other way around. Sell me the ebook, and ship the hard cover to my choice of Library as a donation in my name.