As mentioned above, this is not the way any library system in the world works... what are all these wonderful renting publishers supposed to do with all these extremely used books when they are returned
Libraries buy books based on estimated usage and reader interest... which is why a hot, new book usually has a waiting list but after a while there isn't one.
Yes, some publishers do show a library edition on the copyright page... at one time hardbacks for many books were seen as being primarily sold to... libraries and were regarded as such... other books had a different version for libraries and said so (see some of early the Jasper Fforde books for examples) and finally some books were (and may still be) provided to large library groups without boards as the group had their own format...
Quote:
Originally Posted by VillageReader
I don't even think libraries own most of their popular fiction. Think about a Stephen King, DaSilva, Nora Roberts.... A small library may only want to own 2-3 copies of any popular fiction for the long term, but need 30 copies during the peak demand period when a book after the book is released. The solution is to rent 27 copies, not own them, and send them back when the peak demand begins to subside. If I'm not mistaken, I think there are some publishers that may even show a book as a library edition on the copyright page.
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