MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Will $0.99 ebooks make library loans less needed?

GlenBarrington · 03-06-2011, 05:21 PM

It isn't the ebook that is killing the libraries, it's the internet. . .

I think the internet is becoming the repository of intellectual property for us all. What have the libraries traditonal function been? I think they have traditionally been the communal storehouse of intellectual treasure. Public libraries were the assurance that the treasure would be available to anyone regardless of resources.

The internet has really thrown a monkey wrench into that set up. For a while, I thought we would return to the pay library model for the internet, but there has been SOME movement to internet lending by public libraries. It's a very WEAK movement to be sure, but the rock bottom pricing some people are predicting may kill it.

The fact that the publishers are trying to wring every cent out of their property, has tossed yet ANOTHER monkey wrench into the works. They might kill libraries, but they also might just save them by the libraries being a model for inexpensive public access that they, the publishers, understand, can live with, and maybe even feel good about.

I have no idea how this will shake out!

03-06-2011, 05:21 PM	#16
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	It isn't the ebook that is killing the libraries, it's the internet. . . I think the internet is becoming the repository of intellectual property for us all. What have the libraries traditonal function been? I think they have traditionally been the communal storehouse of intellectual treasure. Public libraries were the assurance that the treasure would be available to anyone regardless of resources. The internet has really thrown a monkey wrench into that set up. For a while, I thought we would return to the pay library model for the internet, but there has been SOME movement to internet lending by public libraries. It's a very WEAK movement to be sure, but the rock bottom pricing some people are predicting may kill it. The fact that the publishers are trying to wring every cent out of their property, has tossed yet ANOTHER monkey wrench into the works. They might kill libraries, but they also might just save them by the libraries being a model for inexpensive public access that they, the publishers, understand, can live with, and maybe even feel good about. I have no idea how this will shake out! Last edited by GlenBarrington; 03-06-2011 at 05:23 PM.