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Originally Posted by Andrew H.
More importantly, these books are different from pbooks because the library gets to basically outsource the whole storage/delivery/retrieval part of the lending transaction. The books aren't stored at the library and the library doesn't transmit them to the users and check to make sure that they're checked in - Overdrive (or whoever) takes care of all of that.
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It's true that this is outsourced at most libraries, but they pay quite a bit for the service (plus Adobe gets their $0.08 per checkout on books using their DRM), beyond the cost of the ebooks themselves. A few libraries are now running their own Adobe Content Server's in lieu of a service like OverDrive or 3M due to what these services cost some of them.
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But, really, it's a business decision. If the library decides it's not worthwhile to buy e-books, they are free to do that. And if they decide that e-books are worthwhile even though more expensive, they are free to buy them.
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Yes, it's up to libraries to take or leave ebooks and their costs. There is no harm however in ongoing discussion, especially on a relatively new business model that will evolve further.