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bill by State Rep. Brian Sear (D) "to require publishers of electronic books to offer such books for sale to public and academic libraries at the same rates as offered to the general public." That bill would mean the publishers couldn't charge the public $12.99 for an e-book and charge libraries $85 for the same e-book, which is the practice now.
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Originally Posted by FizzyWater
Don't libraries pay more for print books (and other media, like books on CD, etc.) than the average consumer as well?
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That's what I thought. $85 is 6.5 times $13 - is the current pricing model for print books comparable?
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Originally Posted by FizzyWater
I can't imagine that the BPHs wouldn't find a way around this - "okay, you can pay the same, but you can only lend the eBook 6 times before you have to repurchase it!"
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I don't have a problem with this. If the prices are lower, but lending is restricted, that can work in the library's favour. eg buy several copies of the current bestsellers now, then in 6-12 months when the initial rush has been satisfied and it's time to renew the lease, only renew for a few copies. For less popular titles, if no one has borrowed it in 12 months, don't renew the lease. That keeps inventory fresh and readers happy.