Quote:
Originally Posted by DaleDe
Before you use the library argument you should realize that the Library does not just go down to a store and buy a book to put in the library as you seem to suppose. Libraries pay an extra fee and in some cases I believe they may actually pay based on use. They are very particular about new books although as the books age there is not nearly as much of an issue. No longer published, etc.
Dale
|
Well... This varies, depending on what country you are in. In the US, libraries certainly can "just go down to a store and buy a book to put in the library." Their process is usually more complicated than that because they
- Buy in serious bulk, and want to get a suitable discount
- Generally try to have books that will survive circulation for a reasonable amount of time
As a result of these items, libraries tend to deal either direct with publishers, or with specialized distributers who both manage volume discounts and also provide services like reinforced binding.
US libraries DO NOT pay an extra copyright fee either at purchase time or based on actual usage. They simply buy the book. Some other countries have such fees (the U.K., for example). I've never yet heard a satisfactory explanation of how these fees make their way to authors (although I'm sure someone knows). I certainly hope that it isn't like record company accounting. Or Hollywood accounting, which is even worse.
Xenophon