Quote:
Originally Posted by nekokami
If you actually check out the book, and only read the downloaded version while you had the book checked out of the library, yes, I guess it would be pretty comparable. Checking out the book is important because otherwise the library doesn't know the author is popular and has no reason to buy their next book or recommend the current one (even assuming you don't live in a country that compensates authors for library loans).
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(bolding mine)
Just to add a little to the confusion, in Denmark, as far as I understand it, authors get paid on the basis of the number of their books that is in the library system, it doesn't matter at all if the book is checked out or not. The libraries buy books based partly on popularity AND partly to ensure that a wide range of literature is available to everyone, such as those people who can't afford to buy - also so-called 'narrow' books with a small audience, and films and music and other creative works that is avaliable through the library. The library 'compensation' is actually a type of state-granted artists support - that's the idea at least - it has nothing directly to do with 'reimbursing' for perceived lost sales because of library loans.