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Originally Posted by starrigger
A useful data point would be: How often do libraries buy replacement hardcovers or paperbacks for books that have been worn out? I honestly have no idea.
While I'm definitely a library supporter and generally a supporter of free exchange and DRM-free ebooks, I have some sympathy for the publishers on this one. Should ebooks in libraries really be infinitely lendable, especially if they're purchased at regular retail price? I'm not so sure they should be. I try to make my own ebooks DRM-free, but that's with an implied social contract that the purchasers will not share them with an unlimited number of their closest personal friends (or all of their Facebook pals).
I do think 26 is way too low a number--maybe 100 would be better, if this model goes forward. But maybe a preferable model would be, charge a "library binding" price and say it's a forever-license.
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I worked in a library and there really isn't a "Generally." I've seen books get checked out ONCE that came back mud spattered with pages ripped out. So that was "one time." I've seen other books that were older than I was (and I wasn't young when I worked there) get checked out again and again.
Paperbacks and trade paperback (which are becoming far more common) can last anywhere from "twice" to forty checkouts. Sometimes a popular paperback will be "hardcovered" by libraries. We did this if it was only the cover that was destroyed, but the book was popular. Sometimes it was done for very popular YA books BEFORE they were put in circulation (cost was about 8 dollars to turn it into a hard copy--not counting the salary of the librarian who made the decision and the paperwork overhead.)
One thing that is missing here is that ALL publishers (from my understanding and I could be ill-informed) ALREADY have a licensing agreement in place that is done either by checkout or by time period. So if library A wants James Patterson and gets the ebook, it isn't "forever." But books are in different licensing categories. A library can buy multiple licenses at a time for a popular book (thus decreasing the waiting list because multiple copies can be out from the same library at the same time.) They can then decrease the licensing as needed.
Another worm for the wiggle: Libraries can "share" overdrive. For example, my library could not afford the overdrive program so is in the program via a "group." Example: Five libraries are sharing the same overdrive books. The libraries have to figure out which x number of books to "lease" and for how long. Different books can be cycled in and out of the program.
There are "issues" with this as well because my library wanted (example only) 10 copies of James Patterson Title X, but Library B doesn't have many patrons so they voted for ONE copy...
Some of this has to be worked out--it's still very new. Some of the "lending rules" are being set by publishers (for example the 26 checkouts. But I believe other publishers actually pull books from the overdrive program entirely after a certain length of time. Or never offer them to the program in the first place.)
It's far from a perfect system. Perhaps better than "licensing" or "subscription" might be a small charge per checkout (the reader could actually be responsible for paying 10 cent or 25 cents or some fee.) Or the subscriptions have to be equitable and fair so that libraries can afford to get books for a decent amount of time.
I don't have answers and I really don't have a horse in the race. I would download ebooks from my library were I able to, but right now it's a complicated process and not all that friendly. It will get better--BUT I think it will get better because some enterprising company will come along and start a real "lending" program like Netflix. "Pay x, get access to Y number of books per month/year/etc."
Just a guess.