Quote:
Originally Posted by Kali Yuga
I know this will come as a surprise to many of you  but if my understanding of pricing is correct, then the vitriol is a tad overstated.
Apparently Harper Collins sells the ebooks to the libraries at a 20% discount. In comparison, many publishers sell it at a 150% markup.
For a $10 ebook, this runs the library about 38¢ per checkout. The library also saves in that there are no overdue fees and minimal checkout time.
With other publishers, they may charge $25 for that ebook. The title would need to be checked out over 60 times before it becomes cheaper than the Harper Collins option.
For some of the high-demand best sellers, yes the single fee is better. For everything else, the HC option isn't that bad.
So, if it isn't necessarily cost, what are people reacting to then? I'd assume that the publishers are treating library ebooks like a license rather than a purchase.
I won't say this is great, but I do think it's not that bad, especially if the checkout durations are extended and the prices do drop as the demand for a specific title drops. |
I basically concur. I used to buy books for a large university library in the US and at the time learned an amazing amount about the publishing industry. Generally, they do sell to libraries at a discount or through book consolidators who buy discounted multiple copies and then pass along part of the discount to individual libraries who buy only one or two copies each.
And libraries do buy hardback copies of popular new books, then sell them off at a fraction of their list price when there is no longer a need for multiple copies. It's a pity something of that function can't be retained with e-books, but perhaps it will be worked out over time.
It's possible to set up a system whereby the publishers would license rights to the libraries, basing their pricing on the currently available editions of books - but it may mean they have to go back to the old system of withholding the paperback editions of best sellers for a year or so. The idea of making the "renewal" of the license significantly cheaper than the initial purchase has some appeal - at least to libraries.
The publishers are running scared right now because they don't really understand the "electronics rights" market as well as they should given the nature of the changes headed their way. It's encouraging that the guy from HC is raising the issues he is in defense of their plan. It's not perfect yet, but they're thinking in the right direction - or so it seems.