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I'm at the library about once a week, once every other week. I usually go on Saturdays, but sometimes during the week. On Saturdays there's a pretty good crowd. During the week (except during story time) it's me and maybe two other moms and a few kids and the three retirees that are always there.
Back in the dark ages before the internet here's what you saw at the library: People browsing books, sometimes using computers to write papers/presentations, people using the common spaces for meetings, people letting their kids play in the kid area.
What happens there now: People online. People waiting to get online. People using the common areas for meetings. People letting their kids play in the kid area. What I'm seeing almost none of is people taking out books. And what I'm seeing absolutely none of is people between the age of 15 and 40 taking out books. The few faces I see among the stacks are older or younger.
Ten years ago the books on hold section was the entire back wall behind the counter. Now it's two full book cases.
Libraries haven't noticed that it's time for them to change their structure. Their value now is not as a place to find books. It's as a place to meet other people or get online. From what I can see they'd be better off with a central warehouse for most of the books, with smaller satellite buildings that offer some adult books, but mostly focus on kids books, computer use, and public meeting space.
As for Harper Collins, they own the books, if they want to do a 26 download license, I don't see why they can't. Granted if they already have a contract for unlimited downloads, I don't think they can or should change it. But for any books going forward. I don't see the problem.
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