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Originally Posted by Andrew H.
While the relationship between publishers and libraries is not ideal, the specific problem described in the article is a stocking problem: the library has not bought enough e-books to meet the demand.
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When libraries buy enough digital copies to meet demand, then it is easier to borrow the book from the library then to buy it. Under such a regime, I think book sales would decline, and fewer publishers would participate with Overdrive. So I'm with the wait-list-OK group.
I think that the system where you don't have to go into the physical library to borrow the book will seriously reduce public support for libraries.* My modest proposal for any lurking Simon & Schuster executive is to negotiate with Overdrive a requirement that borrowing their eBooks require some sort of physical checkout in a public library building. This would allow them to sell to libraries without losing the patronage of convenience-minded eBook buyers. And with the public continuing to actually go to libraries, it would help maintain taxpayer, and donor, library support.
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* If you don't believe this, and are an EPUB person, sit with a US Kindle owner as they check out a public library book, and watch how going to Amazon's web site, with its advertising, is part of the process. And Amazon, with its pay-for Prime lending library, directly competes with public libraries.