Quote:
Originally Posted by Kali Yuga
26 most likely is low a number, but the renewal problem isn't going to be any different than a paper book that wears out.
To be clear, I'm not saying this is an optimal system, only that it isn't the train wreck some people imagine it is.
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Yes, publishers need to be a little more creative with their ebook pricing to libraries since ebooks never wear out. However, 26 sounds like a
really low number to me. I'm glad for the backlash, even if it's a bit misdirected.
Sure, 26 checkouts would be a year of constant use, but what about all those times the book is checked out and never even cracked open? Or checked out and returned immediately because it isn't what you were expecting? HC is being excessively conservative in their estimates of book wear and tear.
I'm more curious what happens if a publisher goes belly-up... for pbooks, the library would still have access to the books. But ebooks? What happens when the license expires and the publisher is out of business? The library loses that book forever?