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Interesting article but it could cite more facts, ie how much is the average cost per circulation for print and ebooks.
Ebooks are not susceptible to theft or damage in the same way that paper books are and do not need to be stored in expensive property, often rental, with scanners and magnetic anti-theft devices.
Staff costs to lend an ebook are minimal, no one has to reshelve them, and I would think that entering them into the online catalogue is trivial compared to preparing a paper book
The cost of circulation of an ebook is AFAIK generally 1/27th of the price paid with a few cents added on for computer administration costs. Online library services were in existence before ebooks were added so I assume the same cost applies to both paper and ebooks.
If the book costs $27 than the cost per circulation is about $1. A paper book is often said to cost 50 cents per circulation but this is based solely on the cost of the book without that additional costs of storing, replacing stolen books, preparing books and administering paper books, not to mention shipping costs which are generally nil for ebooks.
HAPLRS indexes pre 2000 give the average cost per circulation as being in excess of $1, typically in the $2-$3 range with some libraries actually having an average cost of circulation for paper books in excess of $10.
Additional savings of both time and money are seen by the library patron who no longer has to travel to the library.
While I do not say that books could not be cheaper and I think all books should be available as library books, I do not think it is a problem commensurate with world poverty or the homeless or lack of medical care.
Despite protests and articles like this one, most libraries seem to be jumping on the ebook bandwagon with abandon. Some libraries have jumped on the bandwagon to such an extent that they bought multiple copies, in one case 90, of JK Rowling's latest within hours of the author being revealed. VPL had 1 copy the first day and 8 the day after and today they have 10. While I would maybe like to see more balanced spending, it seems obvious to me that ebook pricing is not completely out of line in most cases or the libraries could not and would not be able to do this.
Helen
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